Sari-sari stores may bridge medicine gaps in remote Philippine communities

Medicine should never feel out of reach. Yet for many Filipinos, a trip to the pharmacy can mean literally crossing mountains and streams for a handful of tablets. In a remote location in Barangay Kalawakan, Bulacan, getting to the nearest pharmacy can mean traveling almost a dozen kilometers without public transportation. A single trip to town can cost more than ₱400—almost an entire day's minimum wage. For some, the only alternative is more than an hour's walk, even in good weather.

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