Bill providing meds support to elderly filed

A MEASURE that seeks to provide monthly maintenance medication support to senior citizens has been filed in the House of Representatives.

House Deputy Majority Leader and ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo, together with four other lawmakers, filed the bill on Monday.

The four other lawmakers joining the filing of House Bill (HB) 9569 were Representatives Jocelyn Tulfo and Edvic Yap, Benguet Rep. Eric Yap and Quezon City 2nd District Rep. Ralph Tulfo.

«One of the primary challenges faced by senior citizens, especially those with ongoing medical needs, is the financial strain associated with obtaining essential medications.

»Chronic illnesses often require regular and costly treatments, imposing a substantial burden on seniors and their families. This bill recognizes this burden and aims to alleviate it by providing financial assistance," the bill's explanatory note reads.

HB 9569 seeks to mandate the government to provide P1,000 monthly, as maintenance medication support, to all Filipino senior citizens.

«By offering a monthly stipend of P1,000 for maintenance medications, this bill is designed to improve the quality of life of our senior citizens and ease the financial constraints they encounter, making it more feasible for them to access the medications they require. It acknowledges that managing chronic diseases should not be compromised due to economic limitations,» the explanatory states.

Under the bill, beneficiaries will use monthly maintenance medication support cards.