University pharmacy now open to serve MMSU community
By Ian Paul Villanueva
To bring safe, accessible, and affordable medicines closer to its constituents, Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) officially launched the MMSU Pharmacy on October 28 at the Health and Wellness Building.
Established and operated as a flagship program under MMSU’s Health and Wellness Services (HWS) unit, the pharmacy is aimed at strengthening the university’s healthcare services and promoting the overall well-being of MMSU students, faculty members, and administrative staff. The pharmacy is manned by licensed pharmacist Ms. Bernadette Manzano and pharmacy assistant Ms. Grace Orcino.
MMSU President Virgilio Julius P. Manzano, Jr., who greatly supported the project, led the launching event. In his speech, he described the facility as a meaningful milestone in advancing institutional health and wellness by making essential drugs more accessible and affordable to the MMSU community.
Apart from providing medical supplies, the facility is also intended as a training and internship site for pharmacy students of the university. The pharmacy will also offer free health education and blood tests whenever testing consumables are available.
For her part, HWS Director Dr. Maria Theresa Rasos, who also chaired the MMSU Pharmacy Technical Working Group (TWG), led the institutional efforts to secure the facility’s license to operate from regulatory authorities.
“Opening the MMSU Pharmacy today is a symbol of service, compassion, and excellence. It can not only provide medicines but also inspire confidence in our healthcare services and remind us that caring for the MMSU community is at the heart of everything we do,” Dr. Rasos stressed.
The realization of the facility was also backed by the partnership of the HWS with other units in the university. Mr. Crystal James T. Polendey, a faculty member of the College of Health Sciences Department of Pharmacy, served as co-chair of the TWG, while Dr. Angelina Abrogena, Director of Strategic Business Development, was instrumental in the project’s feasibility and return-on-investment analyses.
The Pharmacy is open to employees, their families, students, and community members. It extends mandatory discounts to senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs), apart from institutional discounts for MMSU personnel and students. University employees may also avail of a salary deduction scheme for their purchases.
The launch commenced with a site blessing officiated by Rev. Fr. James Padamada of the Immaculate Conception Parish Team Ministry.
Joining President Manzano at the event were Vice President for Resource Generation and Management Bjorn Santos, Vice President for Planning and Strategic Foresight Mee Jay Domingo, along with members of the university’s Administrative Council, faculty, and health personnel.
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