Senior citizens discount on mineral supplements

My wife and I, aged 84 and 88 respectively, with high blood sugar and unable to eat much of our regular food, have been instructed by our doctor to take Ensure or Glucerna, a full cup serving of which is said to be equivalent to a full meal.

But grocery stores do not grant the 20-percent senior citizens discount on these items which cost about P800 per can, even with a doctor’s prescription, on the ground that they are not medicines covered by the Senior Citizens Law. Thus, not many senior citizens can afford to buy these mineral supplements for prevention of diseases, illnesses or injuries resulting from old age.

I suggest that Rule IV, Article 7, Section 1 of the implementing rules of Republic Act No. 9994 (the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010) be amended to include specifically nutritional/mineral supplements like Ensure (which is advertised as a source of nutrition in connection with aging, recovery from illness, injury or surgery, and managing physical and mental conditions that cause an inability or refusal to eat, appetite loss, or overall weight loss) and Glucerna (which is said to be specifically designed for people with diabetes to help minimize blood sugar spikes and manage hunger as part of a diabetes weight loss plan).

If the 20-percent senior citizens discount is granted in purchases of such supplements, these products will become more affordable to many senior citizens and the sellers’ margin of profit will not be affected since the discount will be reimbursed by the government.

—AMADO F. CABAERO,

founding chair and

past national president, Philippine Association of

Retired Persons, [email protected]