TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Health, now on its second year full-swing implementation of the “Botika sa Barangay” program has already established all over the region a total of 279 pharmacies that sell medicines at prices 50 percent lower than those sold in commercial pharmacies.

DOH Regional Director Benita Pastor told newsmen that for this year alone, 191 out of the 248 targeted “Botika sa Barangay” were already given medicine allocation. In 2005, she added, 88 out of 150 targeted rural areas where the program would be implemented are now servicing poor people who cannot afford to buy the expensive medicines being sold in commercial pharmacies.

Director Pastor said that in this year’s target, 56 “Botika sa Barangay” would be set up in Leyte, 37 in Southern Leyte, 39 in Samar, 52 in Northern Samar, 21 in Biliran, and 43 in Eastern Samar.

“Botika sa Barangay” is being seen in rural areas and municipalities that have no pharmacies, and this was chosen by people’s organization in the community,” Pastor told reporters.

It was also learned from the DOH officials that people who are running the “Botika sa Barangay” were properly trained by knowledgeable health personnel who have expertise in the field of medicine.

Pastor said that the medicine for this year of the 191 “Botika sa Barangay” is now ready for distribution while the 49 others are still waiting for budget allocation and the others are still complying with the required documents.

At least P25, 000 worth of medicine is being given to every “Botika sa Barangay” every distribution. Concerned local government units will come in and give their counterpart in case medicines would run out in the “Botika sa Barangay.”

Pastor said the medicines being sold in the “Botika sa Barangay” are much cheaper, like amoxicillin suspension which only costs P16.45, ascorbic acid at P1.80, aluminum hydroxide at P21.60, and these are being supplied by the Philippine International Trading Corporation.

It can be recalled that the “Botika sa Barangay” was organized after the first State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in 2004 when she pledged to set up government pharmacies in rural areas, to help less fortunate barangays residents who could no longer afford to buy medicines because of the high price.

The National Poverty Commission has recently recommended that 80 percent of the barangays in the country be given this opportunity of having a government pharmacy up to the last term of the President in 2010.

Pastor admitted though that it is impossible to have a “Botika sa Barangay” in all the barangays because of budgetary constraints.

Pastor, however, assured that all operating “Botika sa Barangay” are being regularly monitored by the food and drug regulation officers to ensure that they are properly displayed in a proper place.