ILOILO City – The Iloilo City Government is readying the rollout of free maintenance medicines for qualified senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs) with hypertension and diabetes, with the procurement of medicines now underway under the MediSen+ Program, a flagship healthcare initiative of Mayor Raisa S. Treñas.
Backed by a ₱20-million budget, the program aims to ease the financial burden of vulnerable residents by ensuring continuous access to essential medicines for chronic illnesses.
Mayor Treñas formally launched the MediSen+ Program on August 3 at the Office for Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) in City Hall, where she introduced the initiative and explained how qualified beneficiaries can enroll.
“This program is the result of listening to our senior citizens and understanding their most urgent needs. We reviewed their concerns, and one of the top issues they raised was access to maintenance medicines. That is why we made sure to allocate funds for this program to provide assistance,” Mayor Treñas said.
According to City Health Officer Dr. Mary Ann Diaz, the procurement process is now underway. Once the medicines arrive, the City Health Office will immediately notify beneficiaries through Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) and barangay officials.
While awaiting the delivery of the medicines, the City Health Office is encouraging eligible senior citizens and PWDs to register at their nearest Barangay Health Station or District Health Center to ensure they are included in the list of beneficiaries.
The MediSen+ Program will be implemented through the city’s nine District Health Centers and their respective Barangay Health Stations, making the medicines more accessible to residents across Iloilo City.
Residents who have not yet consulted with a doctor may visit their nearest health facility for consultation and registration. Those who are under the care of private physicians may present their latest prescription, which will be validated by a City Health Office medical officer before enrollment in the program. Bedridden senior citizens and PWDs may also be assessed and registered through home visits coordinated by caregivers with the nearest health center.
The program covers commonly prescribed maintenance medicines for hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, cholesterol management, and related conditions, including Losartan, Valsartan, Telmisartan, Amlodipine, Metformin, Gliclazide, Atorvastatin, Rosuvastatin, Trimetazidine, and Omeprazole.
“This program is just part of our commitment to making quality healthcare more accessible and affordable. For our senior citizens and PWDs, we want them receive the medications they need to better manage their health and improve their quality of life,” said Mayor Treñas./PN
