“A pharmacy is an institution that remains resistant to economic crisis. Despite the decreasing population and income, the medication needs of the people continue to go up, and for that, we are here to stay and serve the community,” PHI Pharmacy owner/vice president Bruce A. Cohen said.
Looking back at their humble beginnings, Cohen said he started with only eight staffers when PHI Pharmacy opened on July 29, 1996 inside the Commonwealth Health Center. Now, PHI Pharmacy has three outlets and over 25 staffers, including nine pharmacists.
Cohen said they are targeting to open a fourth outlet inside the Joeten Store in Kagman to cater to residents in the area.
Product range
PHI Pharmacy provides prescription medicines, medical equipment, medical office supplies, counseling, health care information and they fill in special requests clients make.
“We supply most of the clinics in the island, and when you need something, we will try our best to get your orders for you as quick as we can,” Cohen said.
As an added feature, PHI Pharmacy does home delivery of prescription medicines for people who can’t make it to the pharmacy.
“People need their medicines filled out, and we are willing to deliver,” Cohen said.
He said PHI Pharmacy also supplies the medical prescriptions of clients on Tinian and Rota.
Cohen said they are continuing with the Medically Indigent Assistance Program or MIAP, giving huge discounts to people who can’t afford to pay for their prescription medicines.
“We had been offering MIAP since we opened 14 years ago,” he said.
Beginning June 15, 2010, PHI Pharmacy also started to accept all health insurance including Medicare, Medicare Part D, Moylans, Staywell, Calvo’s, Aetna, and Tricare/Active Duty.
PHI Pharmacy also offers quarterly sale and promos to give clients a chance to avail of discounted products and stock up on their needs.
PHI has just concluded the Fourth of July promo, and coming up will be the three-week Back to School promo so clients can avail of 25 to 50 percent discount on various products.
Internship site
With Cohen’s connections with the pharmacy world in Hawaii, PHI Pharmacy was chosen as one of the internship sites of pharmacy students at the University of Hilo Hawaii.
He said every six weeks, they have two pharmacy interns who will devote their time and services to the island and work toward their licensure requirements.
PHI Pharmacy’s first two pharmacy interns Benjamin Curry and Steven Evans came up with a set of information-packed pamphlets about the leading diseases on island such as asthma, diabetes, gout, hypertension and others and these pamphlets have helped a lot in spreading awareness to the people.
Improved website
In September, another pair of pharmacy interns who are computer-savvy will arrive. Cohen said the interns will revamp the PHI Pharmacy website to make it more informational and reader-friendly.
Cohen said once revamped, the new website will enable clients to fill in prescription orders online and get their orders at the same prices.
PHI Pharmacy CHC outlet is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday, and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. Joeten Dandan outlet opens from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday, while the Marina Heights outlet opens from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday.
For inquiries, contact the PHI Pharmacy CHC at 323-5000/01, Joeten Dandan Center at 235-6170/72/74, and Puerto Rico Marina Heights 2 at 235-5100.
