Place of indident: Mercury Drug Mambajao, Camiguin Province Branch
Date of incident: December 08, 2019
Time of incident: around 5 to 6pm
Main Concern:
Availment of Senior Citizen discount as per RA 9994, known as "EXPANDED SENIOR CITIZEN ACT OF 2010"
INCIDENT SUMMARY:
At around the date and time specified above, a 74 y. O. Male patient admitted at CAMIGUIN GENERAL HOSPITAL with chief complaint of continous anal bleeding, infrequent vomiting of blood, on urinary bladder catheter, nasal Oxygen, Nasogastric tube (NGT), Severe Hypoglycemia (Blood Sugar Level of 20), Severe Anemia ( Hgb og 5), had a prescription of medicine coming from the admitting hospital with Senior citizen ID but without booklet which was explained that was misplaced due to elderly which I do note that happens to most elderly most probably due to dementia or alzheimer disease. The staff wont give any senior citizen discount just because we cannot present the booklet. Do take note, booklet?...
Despite of the given circumstances that my uncle was in an EXTREME EMERGENGY CASE,( I intentionalyly make it a capital and redundant to emphasized the matter and situation) explaining what happen and I persistenly insist on the phone that it's a privilege given by law and by country and the right of the patient to live and breath, the right to accesible healthcare which includes purchases of medicine that can help extends one's life with discount given due to the Senior Citizen RA 9994. I told her have she talked with the manager (MARIE SANLEE BANDRANG) and she told me yes and they can't give the discount due to lack of booklet. I even told her that ROSE PHARMACY with cases like this can give discount but why can't you. Still to deaf ears and persistently saying no to discount.
My main questions and opinions are:
1. A leading pharmaceutical company in the country cannot be CONSIDERATE and HUMANE to one single emergency SC CASE, so how can we expect them to comply their social responsibility? Where can we put Easy accesibility to healthcare here? Don't worry I won't stop unless there's a CHANGE in that kind of system. If I need to go to DOH, TO PRES Duterte, write to Congress and Senate, spread it through social media, then I am not afraid to do it for I will make it my responsibility as a citizen of this country and as a humane individual.
2. My own understanding of the law and of logic is that booklet is there for the monitoring especially for the basic needs like food, for it is important to monitor their weekky allowed consumption in order not to abuse it. But with regards to purchasing medicine which in our case is an emergency, Where does it states in RA 9994 that there's a maximum amount given for it's purchase? As long as the sick individual need it, it must be given. So, therefore presenting of booklet is unnecessary. And haven't you heard of the golden rule" In every law there's an exemption. " And the law is vague for it does not indicate for every situation, that's why courtesy leniency for SC must be uphold and applied at all times. That's the main reason why there is a RA 9994, it is because it is intentionally for them.
3. DISCOUNT from SC ACT, is a great help for every individual who have patient admitted in serious situation. In our time where every thing is expensive, any small amount earned is always a welcome. I do emphasized here, we are getting what is RIGHTFULLY for the SC which is a PRIVILEGE for them alone.
4. PROPER TRAINING, ATTITUDE, COURTESY and being HUMANE is a MUST for all your employees especially that you are a pharmaceutical company.
5. We are given already a discount on the first purchase, then why can't we avail that kind of privilege in the succeeding procurement? By technicality, you are already bound by law, an episode of one incident allowing the SC DISCOUNT even without the presentation of the booklet but with the SC ID presentation is a silent YES from your end. It is a silent admission that even without the booklet we can avail the SC discount.
6. So, the life of one in need of medicine in an emergency case is not a priority thus presenting the booklet is one. How very ironic for the law and for the people.
7. Imagine that this is hapening on the FEAST DAY OF IMMACULATE CONCEPTION and on Christmas time and the fact that we are a Very Catholic country, hmm, I wonder where does Values and Education took place?
I do hope that this will be an eye opener to your company and to others. I just hope and pray that this incident will not become sensational and has a resolution very soon. In our time where there's easy access to social media, I'm sure it does not take longer to make it an ISSUE FOR EVERYONE ESPECIALLY TO POLITICIAN.
Hoping that when I get home to Camiguin there's already a resolution to this incident.
Thank you.