The landmark measure which provides medical benefits and free maintenance medicines to senior citizens authored by Vice Gov. Rene Relampagos got approved on third and final reading on Nov. 9, 2021, a report says.
The report adds that the measure known as the “Buhat ang Pasultihon Free Medical Assistance Program for Boholano Senior Citizens” is going to be fully implemented at the start of 2022.
The measure seeks to provide free maintenance medicines to senior citizens who are suffering from hypertension, arthritis and diabetes. The measure also provides free laboratory services and medical consultation to all senior citizens in Bohol that can be availed in provincial government-owned hospitals and health care facilities.
The measure, that will soon become an ordinance once signed by Gov. Arthur Yap, tasks the province-owned hospitals to conduct the profiling of the senior citizens and to cluster them to enable a seamless dispensing of free maintenance medicines.
“Ang programa nga atong gipahiluna pinaagi ani nga ordinance mao nga ang Provincial Government of Bohol maoy mo take care sa panginahanglan sa mga senior citizens sa ilang monthly maintenance needs sa medicines para sa mga common illnesses sa mga seniors. Ang atong ihatag mao ang mga tambal para sa sakit sa highblood, diabetes ug arthritis,”Relampagos said.
According Dr. Cesar Tonas Lopez, officer-in-charge of the Provincial Health Office (PHO), the senior citizens have four basic needs which are health care and health challenges, financial security, personal security and mental health.
Lopez added that the six most common illnesses of the elderly are arthritis, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease and related diseases, osteoporosis and diabetes.
According to the ordinance, Boholano senior citizens who wish to avail the benefits should enroll under the program and will then be issued a “Buhat Pasultihon Card”, which entitles them to all the benefits and privileges stipulated in the approved ordinance.
“Pinaagi ani nga program, if mo avail ka ani which is open to all senior citizens who are residents of Bohol, ang Provincial Government of Bohol na ang mo take care sa requirement sa imung monthly oral maintenance medicines needed para ani tulo ka kasakit. In other words, dile nka maguol if wala kay kwarta,” Relampagos added.
Data show there are around 180,000 senior citizens in Bohol.
“Kay mao nay usa sa hinungdan segun sa Senior Citizen’s Federation, tungod sa kawad-on daghan ang dile tinud-anay nga molahotay nga magtake sa medicines. Pinaagi ani matabangan sila. By doing so, hopefully, mapataas ang ilang kinabuhi, moabot ug 100 and more ilang tuig ug maka avail pod sila ug laing benefits under sa administration ni Gov. Art Yap ug dugang nga cash incentives nga P100,000.00 sa mga centenarians,” Relampagos said.