Question & AnswerQ&A (BFAD MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 4)
A senior citizen is entitled to a minimum of twenty percent (20%) discount in the purchase of medicine for his personal use and according to his personal needs.
A senior citizen must present a prescription by a professional medical practitioner for both prescription and non-prescription (over-the-counter or OTC) drugs to avail of the 20% discount.
The requirement of a doctor's prescription even for OTC drugs aims to curb possible abuse of the privilege in the absence of an effective control mechanism and to substantiate claims for tax credit to the BIR.
Senior citizens who cannot afford the consultation fee of a private doctor may consult at their government health center or hospital and get a prescription free of charge.
The prescription must include the name of the doctor, his PTR Number, the patient's name, the generic name of the medicine prescribed, and must fully comply with the Generics Law.
Any single dispensing should not be more than one (1) week's supply, but the prescribing physician may indicate refills up to a maximum of one month's supply.
Drugstores must record the name, address, national ID number of the senior citizen, the generic name of the drug/medicine, and the number of units dispensed in a special record book for Senior Citizens Discount.
Both the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) can inspect the special record book.
The pharmacist should indicate the quantity partially filled in the special record book and note the unfilled balance on the prescription. The senior citizen retains the partially filled prescription to present later for completion, and the drugstore should request a copy of the prescription for record purposes.
Each senior citizen should have a personal record of availment of the discount privilege on a form provided by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) or the Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) effective July 1, 1994.
The discount privileges are limited and exclusive for the benefits of senior citizens only.
All drug outlets are enjoined to comply with the discount rules, and all Food and Drug Regulatory Centers (FDRC) are instructed to report any non-compliance if evidence warrants it.