THE Food and Drug Administration (FDA) yesterday warned pharmacies and drugstores that still require presentation of purchase booklets from senior citizens (SC) availing of the 20 percent discount and VAT exemption from the medicines they are purchasing.
In its Circular No. 2025-005, the FDA said there are penalties awaiting individuals and entities that demand the purchase booklets when an elderly is purchasing medicines.
“This Circular is hereby issued for the guidance of concerned industry stakeholders and the general public,” said the FDA.
“Sanctions and penalties shall be imposed,” it added.
Under Republic Act No. 9994, any person who violates the law shall suffer the penalties of imprisonment between two to six years and fine amounting to P50,000 to P200,000.
And if the offender is a corporation, partnership, or organization, the officials directly involved, such as the president, general manager, managing partner, or such other officer charged with the management of the business affairs, shall be held liable.
According to the FDA, the Department of Health (DOH) had already removed the purchase booklets from the list of requirements to avail of the medicine discount for seniors via Administrative Order No. 2024-0017.
The order covers all FDA-licensed establishments engaged in dispensing medicines, including pharmaceutical outlets, drugstores, community and institutional pharmacies, boticas, and retail outlets for non-prescription drugs.
“(This is) to streamline the requirements and remove undue regulatory burden to the availing senior citizens,” said the agency.
“(This will) ensure rational access to medicines for senior citizens,” added the FDA.
To avail of the discount on purchases of medicines, senior citizens or their representatives are required to present any of the identification documents, such as senior citizens’ identification card issued by the Office of Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) in the city or municipality where the elderly resides; the Philippine passport of the elderly person or senior citizen concerned; and other valid documents that establish the senior citizen or elderly person as a citizen of the Philippines and at least 60 years of age.
And for prescription drugs, it is necessary to present a doctor’s prescription that contains the name, age, sex, and address of the senior citizen; date; generic name of the medicine; dosage form; dosage strength; quantity; name, signature, and address of the prescribing physician; professional license number; and S-2 license number, if applicable.
