The Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has warned several drugstores in the region that refuse to give discounts to senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs).

FDA Regulatory Officer III Rex Jardiolin said they received complaints from several senior citizens regarding some drugstores that did not give them discounts.

Upon verification, Jardiolin said these are small-time drugstores owned and managed by single proprietors.

"Even if they are small-time drugstores, they are not exempted from the law," said Jardiolin.

The list of erring drugs stores was forwarded to FDA Legal Office in Manila for legal action.

Jardiolin added they gave warning to erring drugstores that will be held liable for violation of Republic Act 9994 or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010.

The R.A. 9994 provides that there should be a 20-precent discount on essential goods and services, including food, medicines, and professional fees of doctors for senior citizens and PWDs.

Under this law, any person who refuses to honor the senior citizen card issued by the government or violates any provision of the said act will suffer imprisonment of not less than two years but not more than six years and a fine of not less than P 50,000 to P 200,000.

More than 1,000 drugtores are currently operating in the region apart from drug manufacturers.

Meanwhile, Farmer Felicisimo Turba, 67, said the discount given to him as a senior citizen especially in buying his hypertension maintenance is really a big help.

So far, he said the pharmacy in Leganes, Iloilo where he buys his medicines, honors his discount card.

"I have never encountered a problem with my card," he said.

Henedina Janaysay, 62, said she seldom uses her discount card because she usually forgets to bring it. Janaysay, however, said her card was then honored by big pharmacies like Mercury drug store and Rose pharmacy even if it was her daughter who purchased them as long as she sends an authorization letter and important documents like the discount card and an identification card.*