Where And How To Buy Medicines Now

Since we are still on enhanced community quarantine following the COVID-19 outbreak in the country, we are highly encouraged to stay at home if we can, and step out of the house only for certain vital activities like buying food and medicine.

Just like how groceries and cleaning agents are considered part of our everyday needs, medicines and vitamins are of tantamount importance. From physical drug stores to delivery services, we round up some stores that could help you meet your health needs during this enforced downtime. Read on!

Physical drug stores

Thankfully, some drug stores in the country are still open to serve us amid the coronavirus pandemic. It’s important to keep in mind, however, that we need to continue practicing safety measures and sanitary habits to prevent us from contracting the disease. These include washing your hands regularly, wearing a mask outside, and social distancing especially in long queues.

1. Mercury Drug

Apart from their physical stores, we can also order our meds online and claim it at their designated branches to avoid having to wait in long lines and reduce the risk of infection. Spending hours inside a pharmacy is the last thing you want to do right now.

2.  Watsons

Certain Watsons branches are likewise open except for these stores, according to a post on their official Facebook account. In Metro Manila, they are accepting deliveries via call between 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day, with a cut-off time for same-day delivery at 4 p.m.

3.  The Generics Pharmacy (TGP)

From Monday to Saturday between 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., The Generics Pharmacy (TGP) is open to provide available medicines and supplies to the public.

Medicine delivery

To make it convenient and safe for everyone, there are stores that offer medicine delivery during this crisis with medical consultations that can be done through text, call, or online.

1. AIDE

AIDE—an online application that focuses on professional and personalized health care—is now accepting orders made through the app for medicine delivery within Metro Manila. In an Instagram post, they wrote that it may take 1-3 days, though, depending on the availability of our orders so stock up on your medical essentials while you can! 

2.  Telemedicine

According to Taguig’s official Facebook account, the government has launched Telemedicine, which offers text and online medical consultation for free as well as medicine delivery. “Medical services such as immunization is also done house-to-house,” the post said.

3. MedGrocer

Online pharmacy MedGrocer is also providing medicine delivery services within NCR, but we might encounter delays and unavailability of chloroquine and certain supplies because of our current situation. It works in three easy steps: upload our prescription or make an order via message, have it confirmed by the pharmacist who will also provide some professional advice on taking the medicine, and have it delivered to our homes after presenting our payment and other required documents.

4. MedExpress Drugstore

Serving at Makati Medical Center, Saint Luke’s Medical Center, Cardinal Santos Medical Center, Manila Doctors Hospital among other trusted hospitals in the country, MedExpress Drugstore—a hospital outpatient pharmacy—offers a nationwide delivery service for prescription and over-the-counter drugs from orders made through their delivery hotlines. They are accepting cash or credit card payment, with a Php 50 delivery fee for orders under minimum purchase amount of Php 250. Note that the delivery charge is free for purchases that exceed P1,000.