MANILA 4th District Rep. Giselle Mary Maceda has filed House Bill 6725 which aims to provide senior citizens with monthly maintenance medication support of P1,000. Filed on Dec. 9, the bill’s explanatory note cited Section 11, Article 13 of the 1987 Constitution, which mandates the State to “adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development which shall endeavor to make essential goods, health and other social services available to all the people at affordable cost.” Maceda said that by providing monthly maintenance medication support, the financial burden on families is reduced, as most senior citizens require consistent and costly monthly medical treatment. Under the bill, senior citizens are eligible for monthly support. They must submit an application to the Department of Health (DOH) or its designated agency, along with a valid prescription for maintenance medications issued by a licensed medical practitioner within six months of the date of application. Once approved, a Monthly Maintenance Medication Support Card will be issued to them. The support shall be used exclusively to purchase prescribed maintenance medications from all public or private pharmaceutical establishments, including but not limited to medicines for chronic illnesses, vitamins and supplements. Under the bill, the support cannot be transferred to a person other than the one named on the card, and unused amounts are not convertible to cash. It added that the DOH, in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development and other relevant agencies, must promulgate the Implementing Rules and Regulations within 90 days of the measure’s effectivity, should the bill become law.