Manila: Senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs) in Iloilo City will soon receive free maintenance medicines under the city government's newly launched MediSen+ Program. Mayor Raisa Tre±as introduced the program with an initial allocation of PHP20 million, addressing one of the most pressing needs of the city's vulnerable residents.

According to Philippines News Agency, the initiative aims to ease the financial burden on senior citizens, many of whom lack a steady source of income. "After reviewing the needs of our senior citizens and PWDs, we found that medicines topped the list. That is why we launched MediSen+," Tre±as explained in an interview. The city government plans to conduct registration and medical checkup caravans in every barangay to identify each beneficiary's maintenance medicine requirements.

Medical teams are set to visit bedridden senior citizens and PWDs to ensure their enrollment in the program. Additionally, residents can register and seek consultations at their barangay health stations or health centers, where prescriptions will be validated by the City Health Office. Once enrolled, beneficiaries may claim their monthly medicines at any of the city's nine district health centers.

Tre±as emphasized that the initial PHP20 million allocation will cover the program's implementation this year, with plans to secure future funding to ensure its continuity. The program will initially focus on providing maintenance medicines for hypertension, high cholesterol, and diabetes, benefiting the city's more than 40,000 registered senior citizens.