Cristina Dorado is a 23 year old, 4th year medical student at the University of the Philippines, Manila. She is the National Officer for Research Exchange of the Asian Medical Association Philippines and was the first to develop an International Medical Student Research Exchange in her country. She has spearheaded numerous researches and projects and has been merited by the university for her excellent leadership skills, innovation and acts of service.

The geriatric population is a significant, overlooked, portion of the Philippine society. Many suffer from a number of chronic lifestyle diseases, requiring out-of-pocket expenses, a difficult resource to obtain for elderly without a source of income. Secondary data on the most commonly prescribed medications to geriatric patients and their prices were obtained. The annual percent allocation required for each of these medications by both GSIS and SSS pensioners was determined and compared to Philippine Statistics Authority data on average percent allocation for major expenditures of an individual. Results showed that the most common lifestyle diseases and their corresponding maintenance medications were: hypertension (Enalapril, Losartan, Losartan + Hydrochlorothiazide, Terazosin and Metoprolol), osteoporosis (Alendronate), diabetes mellitus (Glibenclamide and Metformin), peripheral vascular disease (Cilostazol), dyslipidemia (Simvastatin) and cardiovascular diseases (Metoprolol, Enalapril). Furthermore, GSIS and SSS pensioners were found to require an average allocation of 7.65% and 19.37%, respectively, for the pharmacological management of chronic lifestyle diseases, much higher than the percent allocation required for the health of a healthy individual (2.8%), leading to less allocation for other essential major expenditures. Results further revealed that an average geriatric patient has a much greater percent allocation (GSIS:9.46% and SSS:24.44%), without the government provided 20% senior citizens’ discount. The scope of this study was limited to secondary data which covered the direct cost of medications frequently prescribed to geriatric patients, however this study could trigger further studies covering indirect costs of diseases and assessing the general economic burden of geriatric patients in the Philippines.