Sari-sari Stores as Community Pharmacies? A Qualitative Exploration of Sari-sari Stores Selling Medicines in the Philippines.
6 affiliations
- 1Department of Anthropology, College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines.
- 2School of Government, Ateneo de Manila University, Quezon City, Philippines.
- 3Social Medicine Unit, College of Medicine, University of the Philippines Manila, Manila, Philippines.
- 4College of Medicine, University of the Philippines Manila, Manila, Philippines.
- 5General Education Department, Bulacan State University-Meneses Campus, Bulacan, Philippines.
- 6Department of Development Studies, Ateneo de Manila University, Quezon City, Philippines.
Abstract
Background and objective
Despite laws prohibiting the sale of pharmaceuticals outside licensed pharmacies, sari-sari stores continue to informally sell medicines, bridging access challenges especially in remote areas. The study explores the roles and perceptions of sari-sari stores as informal medicine providers.Methods
The study draws on ethnographic insights from key informant interviews with fourteen (14) sari-sari store owners or tinderas, probing into medicines sold in sari-sari stores and their perceived effectiveness. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis.Results
Sari-sari stores serve as informal yet critical points of access to common medicines for everyday illnesses, especially in remote areas where pharmacies are distant and transportation options are limited. Many tinderas began stocking medicines initially for personal and family use, but later extended them to the community in response to demand, even offering advice based on their lived experiences. Nevertheless, tinderas distinguish their role from pharmacies by limiting sales to non-prescription drugs, although a few exceptions revealed access to antibiotics and prescription medicines. These position sari-sari stores as central to self-medication practices, arising as a reflection of health inequities in the Philippines.Conclusion
The study underscores the critical role played by the sari-sari stores in local healthcare practices in the Philippines, especially in areas with limited formal healthcare access. It highlights the need for regulatory approaches that consider the socioeconomic realities of both storeowners and consumers, ensuring policies do not inadvertently restrict healthcare options for those who need them the most.
Related
- Accessibility of essential medicines and vaccines among fisherfolk, artisanal miners and pastoralists in Mainland Tanzania: a qualitative study of barriers and strategies from the perspectives of healthcare professionals and community leaders.
- A qualitative exploration of community health workers' roles and motivations in delivering care during and after the COVID-19 pandemic: experiences and community perceptions in rural and urban Delhi, India.
- “Even with one Man, but with many women, you can get cervical cancer”: Qualitative exploration of women’s perceptions and experiences of cervical cancer screening in Uganda: A community-based study
- The Role of Community Pharmacies in Creating Harm Reduction Infrastructure to Address the US Opioid Crisis.
- Prescription-Duration Patterns of Outpatient Macrolide Use in Participating Community Pharmacies in Tokyo, Japan: A 24-Month Repeated Cross-Sectional Study
BibTeX
@article{prieto2026sarisari,
title = {{Sari-sari Stores as Community Pharmacies? A Qualitative Exploration of Sari-sari Stores Selling Medicines in the Philippines.}},
author = {Melissa Louise M Prieto and Gamaliel P Galigao and Ana Rica S Navarra-Cruz and Louise Gabriel R Jimenez and Gideon Lasco},
journal = {Acta medica Philippina},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.47895/amp.v60i15.13577},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42923535},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Sari-sari Stores as Community Pharmacies? A Qualitative Exploration of Sari-sari Stores Selling Medicines in the Philippines.
AU - Melissa Louise M Prieto
AU - Gamaliel P Galigao
AU - Ana Rica S Navarra-Cruz
AU - Louise Gabriel R Jimenez
AU - Gideon Lasco
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/15
JO - Acta medica Philippina
DO - 10.47895/amp.v60i15.13577
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42923535
AB - Background and objective Despite laws prohibiting the sale of pharmaceuticals outside licensed pharmacies, sari-sari stores continue to informally sell medicines, bridging access challenges especially in remote areas. The study explores the roles and perceptions of sari-sari stores as informal medicine providers.Methods The study draws on ethnographic insights from key informant interviews with fourteen (14) sari-sari store owners or tinderas, probing into medicines sold in sari-sari stores and their perceived effectiveness. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis.Results Sari-sari stores serve as informal yet critical points of access to common medicines for everyday illnesses, especially in remote areas where pharmacies are distant and transportation options are limited. Many tinderas began stocking medicines initially for personal and family use, but later extended them to the community in response to demand, even offering advice based on their lived experiences. Nevertheless, tinderas distinguish their role from pharmacies by limiting sales to non-prescription drugs, although a few exceptions revealed access to antibiotics and prescription medicines. These position sari-sari stores as central to self-medication practices, arising as a reflection of health inequities in the Philippines.Conclusion The study underscores the critical role played by the sari-sari stores in local healthcare practices in the Philippines, especially in areas with limited formal healthcare access. It highlights the need for regulatory approaches that consider the socioeconomic realities of both storeowners and consumers, ensuring policies do not inadvertently restrict healthcare options for those who need them the most.
SN - 0001-6071
SN - 2094-9278
ER -