By Mae Singuay

The proposed ordinance which will provide maintenance medicine for indigent senior citizens in Bacolod City has been approved.

Members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod approved, in the third and final reading on April 12, the proposed ordinance which will allot P4 million fund for the purchase of maintenance medicines for hypertension and diabetes.

The measure aims to provide medical assistance to the city’s indigent senior citizens by appropriating funds to the Bacolod City Health Office (CHO) for the maintenance medicine.

The maintenance drugs to be procured are medications prescribed for chronic, long-term conditions and are taken on a regular and recurring basis.

Only indigent senior citizens, who are unable to purchase maintenance medicines and sustain their day-to-day living due to lack of funds, who have been residing in Bacolod for at least six months, have undergone a free check-up, and have a prescription from a public health practitioner assigned at the CHO or the Barangay Health Center, will be eligible to avail of the free medicines under this ordinance.

However, the funding could be available next year as this year’s annual budget has already been allocated, the city council said./MS, WDJ