Thursday, April 24, 2008 Botika ng Barangay benefits hinterland barangay folks
THE not less than 50 Botika ng Barangay (BnB) establishments sprouting in the rural and hinterland parts of Negros Oriental have benefited the poor people living in far-flung areas in the province.
Provincial pharmacist Joyce Napigkit of the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) and Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital made this assessment recently. She said the BnBs have provided residents in the localities, especially those in the hinterland areas, access to cheaper medicines.
"The medicines sold in the BnBs are cheaper because the cost of acquiring the drugs is being subsidized by the government. The poor people in the mountains have easy access to cheaper medicines sold at the BnBs," she explained.
Napigkit added that unlike commercial drugstores, BnBs have a special operating license issued for free by the Department of Health (DOH).
Napigkit urged barangay officials to open a BnB outlet by writing a letter of intent to DOH for site validation and approval.
In 2003, the Provincial Government of Negros Oriental and the DOH started setting up BnBs in five identified local government units here, namely Sta. Catalina, Amlan, Basay, Bindoy, and the cities of Bayawan and Dumaguete.
The establishment of BnBs in insurgent areas ensures the public’s access to low generic over-the-counter drugs and eight prescription drugs, Napigkit said. (EBS)
