The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is considering extending the permit that allows persons with disabilities (PWDs) to buy discounted medicines and medical devices without carrying a booklet.

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(Photo shared by Diana Mendoza)

According to the FDA, Administrative Order No. 2024-0017 solely focuses on senior citizens who are allowed to purchase medicines and medical equipment without bringing their senior citizens booklet.

In a meeting led by FDA officials, headed by Director General Dr. Samuel Zacate, they are examining the possibility of no longer requiring a booklet for PWDs who will buy medicines or medical devices at pharmacies.

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(Photo of FDA)

The FDA is also studying how to further improve the implementation of value-added tax (VAT) exemptions (under the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises or CREATE law) on some medicines.

The FDA also plans to conduct a broad information drive regarding this.

"It is expected that these steps will facilitate transaction processes and provide significant assistance to senior citizens and PWDs, especially in poorer communities," according to the FDA's official statement.

Previously, some PWDs had complained about the Department of Health (DOH) order regarding the purchase booklet, which was only aimed at senior citizens.

Diana Mendoza, a journalist and a PWD, posted on her Facebook page, "Some government offices need to be on the same page. Went to the drugstore to buy meds. Pharmacist said discount booklets for meds are still required from PWDs, as the DOH AO applies only to senior citizens. I told DOH friends that we need a unified policy. They said the AO was based on the recently-enacted expanded senior citizen law. Only the DOH can amend the requirements it issued earlier. The DOH friends said they have been receiving plenty of calls from PWDs, me included, about this issue. But for PWDs, it's the National Council for Disability Affairs. So what now? Fix this."