Sari-sari stores fill medicine gaps in the Philippines
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Researchers from Ateneo de Manila University in the Philippines studied how small sari-sari stores, neighborhood convenience stores, provide medicine to people in remote communities.
Many Filipinos in areas like Barangay Kalawakan, Bulacan, face significant challenges accessing pharmacies, sometimes requiring travel of nearly 12 kilometers and costing a day’s wages.
The study involved interviews with 14 sari-sari store owners, called tinderas, and found they commonly stock over-the-counter medicines for common ailments like headaches and diarrhea, selling them in small quantities to meet local needs. These stores often stay open later than pharmacies and adapt to the specific health concerns of their neighbors, filling a gap created by distance and cost.
The tinderas learn what medicines people need and can afford through regular interactions with the community, becoming a trusted source of basic healthcare items. However, the researchers noted the tinderas generally avoid selling prescription drugs like antibiotics, instead directing customers to doctors. While selling medicine through sari-sari stores is technically illegal without a license from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the study suggests policies should consider the difficulties people face accessing formal healthcare, particularly in geographically isolated areas.
The researchers propose recognizing the role of these stores rather than simply prohibiting them, as they occupy an important space between home care and the formal health system.
