Comprehensive geriatric program in city okayed

The City Council, during last Monday’s regular session, approved on third and final reading a proposed ordinance institutionalizing a comprehensive geriatric program of the city.

Under the proposed ordinance authored by Councilor Betty Lourdes F. Tabanda, city legislators stated that pursuant to the policy of the State of caring for its elderly, the local government extends programs, services and facilities, and explores all means to provide quality health care to its senior citizens, hence, there is a need to institutionalize the comprehensive geriatric program for the senior citizens of the city.

The City Health Services Office (CHSO) will be tasked to lead in the implementation of the pertinent provisions of the ordinance including formulating the guidelines and implementing the comprehensive geriatric program of the city.

The said program shall include prevention, treatment, care, and social and psychological support, medical and laboratory examination or services, vaccine administration and provision of maintenance medicines. It shall also include health problems like Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, dementia, diabetes, epilepsy, heart disease, osteoporosis, Parkinson’s disease, sleep disorder, memory loss, incontinence (involuntary loss of urine) and medication side effects among others.

The ordinance stipulated that the district health centers, in coordination with the respective barangay councils and the barangay senior citizens associations, shall make a registry of all senior citizens within the area of jurisdiction. The CHSO, through the district health centers, shall issue a health card to the registered senior citizens. No fee shall be charged for the health card. The local government, through the CHSO, shall designate one day in a month in each district health center to attend to the medical and other health needs of the senior citizens. A medical officer, duly licensed to issue prescriptions, shall likewise be stationed during the consultation day. The senior citizens may also avail of the 2 days a week consultation, together with the other clients of the health centers. Medical consultations that may require further assessment, treatment or management, and other laboratory referrals shall be directed to the main health center and to the nearest government hospital if the need arises. The senior citizens shall also be entitled to an annual medical check up at their respective district health center or at the main health center. The mandatory 20 percent discount shall apply to the medicines dispensed by the district or main health center. Indigent senior citizens certified by the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) and other government agencies are entitled to avail of the medicines and services.

The ordinance asserted that only senior citizens who are bonafide residents of the city may avail of the aforesaid program.

Moreover, funds to sustain the implementation of this program shall be included in the annual budget of the CHSO.

Ordinance No. 014, series of 1999, providing for the regular medical examination and other medical services to senior citizens in the city, was passed on May 1999. Ordinance No. 07, series of 2013 amended the same, especially the procedures and mechanics in the availment of the same. – Dexter A. See