Makati City Mayor and senatorial aspirant Abby Binay on Friday, October 4, said she will push for free maintenance medicine for the country’s poorest of the poor as part of her legislative agenda.
Mayor Abby Binay
“Yung mga walang kakayanan na bumili ng maintenance medicine, yung tinatawag na poorest of the poor, dapat mabigyan ng libreng gamot. Dyan tayo magsimula. Isa yan sa mga priorities ko (Those who don't have the capability to buy their maintenance medicines, those that are called poorest of the poor, should be provided with free healthcare and medicines by the government. This is where we are going to start. That will be one of my priorities)," Binay said during the filing of her certificate of candidacy (COC).
According to her, the Congress can either allocate a portion of the budget for the said program or the government can explore public private partnerships for better access of the poor to quality healthcare, or do both.
"We need to build better social programs, primarily on health and education. Sa akin importante po yan hindi lang para sa kapakanan ng ating mga kababayan, kundi maging sa pag-unlad ng ating ekonomiya (We need to build better social programs primarily on health and education. This is very important for me not just because this will determine the future of our countrymen, but also the prosperity of our economy)," the mayor explained, noting that that addressing the healthcare concerns of the people will enable them to focus more on their livelihood and providing for the needs of their family.
“Kapag hindi na namomroblema ang ating mga kababayan sa kanilang kalusugan, kung hindi nila iniisip kung saan kukuha ng pambayad sa gamot, doktor, ospital; mas nabibigyang pansin nila ang kanilang pamilya at ang kanilang hanapbuhay (When citizens no longer have to worry about their health and how they are going to pay for the costs of medicine, doctor’s fees, and hospital bills, they can take better care of their family and livelihood)," the mayor noted.
Since 2017, the Makati city government has invested around P8 billion to provide maintenance medicine and other pharmaceutical needs of hundreds of thousands of city residents.
Makati's free medicine program covers medicines and pharmaceutical products for hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, high cholesterol, enlarged prostate, gout, cough, colds, sexually transmitted infections, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, seizure disorder, allergy, ulcers, vertigo, gastrointestinal problems, and other diseases.
The free medicine program is part of Makati’s comprehensive health strategy, which includes preventive care, chronic disease management, and emergency medical services, all covered by the innovative Yellow Card or Makati Health Plus Program.
“The Yellow Card ensures that financial barriers do not prevent Makatizens from accessing essential, life-saving healthcare. My administration has always focused on bridging the gap between social classes and guaranteeing that no one gets left behind - be it in education, social services, and healthcare delivery,” Binay said.