In line with a previous order by the Department of Health (DOH), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a circular that allows senior citizens to avail of their 20% discount for medicine and medical devices without having to present their purchase booklets.

According to FDA Circular 2025-005, the purchase booklet requirement in buying medicines and medical devices has been delisted. 

The move seeks to “streamline the requirements and remove undue regulatory burden to availing Senior Citizens,” the circular read, which complies with the DOH order issued late last year.

Health Secretary Teodoro “Ted” Herbosa earlier issued Administrative Order 2024-0017, which amends two previous administrative orders that provided guidelines to implement Republic Act 9994 or the Expanded Senior Citizen Act of 2010.

 

The requirements

As for the FDA circular, the agency noted that the purchase booklet requirement was not included or listed under the Expanded Senior Citizens Act.

The circular provides that beneficiaries only need to provide their Senior Citizens’ card or any valid ID card that establishes them as Filipino citizens, and their prescription.

The discount is valid only for medicines and devices approved by the FDA. 

Read the full FDA circular by clicking on this link or through the agency’s social media post below:

 

The National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) earlier called on business owners to go digital in monitoring the transactions of senior citizens in case their purchase booklets are removed as a requirement to avail of government-mandated discounts. — VDV, GMA Integrated News