Tuesday, April 19, 2005
Senior citizens put up alternative medicine stores
By Aurelia l. Castro
Sun.Star Correspondent
THE United Senior Citizens Association (USCA) has put up its own stores selling alternative medicine.
This came after its members had the bad experience of being denied the 20 percent discount drug stores are mandated to give them under the law, said Bonnie Obaob, USCA president.
USCA is a government organization of senior citizens composed of around 3,000 members from 55 barangays in Cebu City.
“We occasionally have problems in food establishments, but drug stores have always been the top heartache for us when it comes to availing (ourselves) of the discount we are supposed to enjoy,” he said.
“We get free admission in movie houses, thank you very much. We appreciate that. But it’s not what we need the most. What is important to us on a daily basis is our health,” he added.
Last February, a small stall of alternative medicine at Obaob’s residence in Sambag 1 opened with capital of P20,000 taken from USCA’s membership fund and other projects, like its garbage buy-and-sell business. USCA buys and sells wastes, like steel, cans, bottles, paper and glass.
Other stores have been put up in Hipodromo, Lorega, Bacayan and Parian.
“We aim to put one store in every barangay to help our fellow senior citizens,” said Obaob.
Partner
USCA partnered with International Pharmaceuticals Inc. (IPI), which gave a 10 percent discount on its products’ original price.
IPI products sold at senior citizens’ stores are around 50 percent cheaper than IPI products sold at drug stores, said Obaob.
“We are now using alternative medicine because it’s affordable and effective.
Now with our store, I spend only P10 a day. I used to spend P220 on medicine as part of my daily health maintenance,” said Isa Inocerta, chairperson of the USCA health committee.
Alternative medicine includes herbal medicines that lower blood pressure, cure dengue, ulcer, hyperacidity, urinary tract infection, indigestion, diabetes, and other health concerns.
Obaob said their buyers are mostly their fellow senior citizens, but there are also buyers who are not members of their federation.
Senior citizens are granted many benefits under the law.
Approved in February this year, Republic Act 9257, otherwise known as the “Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2003,” grants additional benefits to senior citizens. It amends RA 7432, known as “An Act to Maximize the Contribution of Senior Citizens to Nation Building, Grant Benefits and Special Privileges and for Other Purposes.”
Free services
RA 7432 grants senior citizens free medical and dental services in government hospitals anywhere in the country, and a 20 percent discount in hotels, restaurants, cinemas, and on public utility vehicle fares and purchase of medicines.
But under the new RA 9257, all citizens 60 years old and above are now entitled to these benefits regardless of their income, and they can avail of the benefits by presenting any valid ID card that would indicate their date of birth.
Under the old law, the senior citizens had to present their senior citizen’s ID card validated by the Office of Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA).
Violators
“We encourage our senior citizens who are denied by any establishment any of the privileges provided by the law to come to us and inform authorities so we can call the attention of the violators, or even assist them to take legal action,” said Urso Ibañez, executive assistant of Councilor Rodrigo Abellanosa who heads the OSCA.
RA 9257 imposes a penalty of P50,000 to P100,000 and six months to two
years of imprisonment for first-time violators. The penalty for subsequent violations will range from P100,000 to P200,000 and imprisonment of two to six years.
However, Obaob admitted that the legal process of bringing violators to court is tedious and costly.
“Many of us don’t have the patience and time anymore. We’d rather find other options to solve our problems. Our alternative medicine store is one of them,” he said.
(April 19, 2005 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
