Operation Bigay-Lunas

The eight pharmaceutical companies under the InnoGen Pharma Group, mobilized their men and women in coordination with this year’s Operation Bigay Lunas. The humanitarian annual project marks the anniversary celebration of Mercury Drugs.

The 13^th annual nationwide free clinic was held on March 1, 2007, in the covered courts in

Libis Quezon City and Ceriaco Tinga Gym in Hagonoy, Bagumbayan Taguig City. With volunteer personnel from Metz Pharma, Randril Pharma, Eadriex Pharma, Vitalink Health Products, Solvang Pharma, Westfield Pharmaceutical , Aldril Pharma, and Dr Zen’s Research; and gave out free medicines to about 3,000 low-income and destitute patients in the two places. Aside from free medicines, consultations were also given free courtesy of volunteer-doctors from various hospitals.

Everyone of the volunteers were busy running around attending to the patients and despite the warm weather, adrenalin was high and they said they enjoyed it. I had a brief talk with some of them and they had these to say.

Metz District Supervisor Marcelino Merced Jr. said Operation Bigay Lunas was their 3^rd year in a row where he got involved with. Jun Merced said: “It gave me a sense of fulfillment and the opportunity to get to know more about the InnoGen’s mission and vision and developed camaderie with the other personnel from sister companies. There were about 60 volunters from InnoGen plus the volunteer doctors.

In the meanwhile, Pharmacist Wendell Doria and marketing supervisor Dhang Espejo observed; the medical mission was a source of fulfillment and satisfaction, and mind you, they did not mind the hitches and warm weather either.

Vitalink Area Sales Manager Haydee Paras commented too that “The medical mission served as a venue for exposure of pharmaceutical products of the pharmaceutical companies under InnoGen, which took us about a month to prepare.” He added that the free clinic mission was fulfilling.

Solvang product manager Len Britos was also in the thick of the activities, and said such community service to the low-income group in the area was the biggest so far in terms of residents that took advantage of the free clinic project. She added: “It took us one month to prepare and map out our participation to be of service to the depressed areas.”

For her part Sheila Marie Pablo of Solvang said “it was the biggest turn out so far in terms of residents since they got involved in a project like this.”

JOEY ZAFRA

Mercury Drugs Branch manager in Taguig told us that they have doing similar medical missions since 1994. This is done simultaneously in 600 branches all over the country. He added:”He was happy that the event was a success”.

VAMSLER’s Associate Product Manager Hershey Reyes mentioned the good coordinated and team efforts. However, it said, it would be nicer if we improve it a lot more. We should not settle for Good or Better but for BEST. The medical mission made us closer to the people and to one another.