THE CITY Health Office will open six more Botika ng Bayan (BNB) hubs in district health offices to provide accessible medical services and assistance to residents.
During the iSpeak media forum on Thursday, Feb. 6, Gemma Pujanes, CHO BNB officer-in-charge, said there are 12 existing BNBs in 12 district health offices, one in the Southern Philippines Medical Center Malasakit Center, and one in the CHO main office.
When it was first launched in 2018, Pujanes said the city targeted 18 BNBs to be opened in 18 district health offices.
This year, the office is eyeing to establish BNB in Baguio district, District C Miniforest, Talomo Central (GSIS), Talomo North (SIR), Talomo South (Puan), and Tugbok.
The existing BNB in the city is in Agdao, Buhangin, Bunawan, Calinan, District A, District B, District D, Marilog, Paquibato, Sasa, Toril A (Proper), Toril B.
“The existing BNB already has a license from the Food and Drug Administration, however those that do not have, are functioning as a pharmacy, they only lack the license,” Pujanes added.
Following the BNB, the city health will also deploy 12 LGU-hired pharmacists in these district offices, on top of the existing pharmacists from DOH.
CHO logged 1,055,261 clients served in 2024, which increased from 1,036,847 in 2023.
Pujanes said the spillage of medicines was minimized as all district offices have existing pharmacies managed by pharmacists from the Department of Health XI and LGU-hired.
Most of the spillage included antibiotics since they need a prescription while medicines for cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, cough and colds, maintenance, and vitamin B complex often fall short due to the demand.
