The Drugstore Association of the Philippines made this position during the recent congressional hearing on controversies surrounding violations of laws on the grant of social discounts to seniors and PWDs.

During the joint hearing presided by Albay Rep. Joey Sarte-Sacleda, chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means, DAP president Vicente Briones stressed that booklets that list the discounted purchases allow drugs stores to prevent abuse of the privileges granted by law to SCs and PWDs.

Briones aired this reaction in response to a proposal among lawmakers and other concerned organization to do away with the use of purchase booklets.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development and the National Commission of Senior Citizens support the move.

Briones explained that DAP members do not enjoy big discounts from drug manufacturers for the small quantity of medicines they order unlike big retailers like Mercury Drug.

“When it comes to medicine, the purchase booklet is our basis if a senior citizen or a PWD is compliant with the medicine they purchase because booklets go hand-in-hand with prescriptions,” explained Briones.

Briones said prescriptions also forms as a means by them to control medicine purchases because it reflects information as to when the discount holder must return for check up with their doctor.l

NCSC Chairman Franklin Quijano said many senior citizens are being denied the discount privileges granted under Republic Act 9994 merely because their usually forget to bring their purchase booklets with them.

Quijano proposed a centralized database system to replace purchase booklets as a means by which seniors and PWD’s may avail of discounted purchases of medicines and other goods.