New Omron Complete BP + ECG 2-in-1 Device is Now Available at Mercury Drug for Convenient Heart Monitoring at Home

A device that makes it possible to check and monitor hypertension and signs of atrial fibrillation at home is now available to Filipino families. OMRON Healthcare Philippines, the country’s leading provider of health monitoring and management solutions,  has launched the Omron Complete hypertension and heart monitoring device in Mercury Drug stores nationwide.

 

The newest innovation combines blood pressure monitoring with electrocardiogram (ECG) capability, allowing users to check for both hypertension and signs of atrial fibrillation (AFib) in one unit. Hypertension and atrial fibrillation are often called the “silent twin killers"; conditions can go unnoticed until they lead to serious emergencies. With Omron Complete, high-risk groups such as the elderly, diabetics, and those struggling with obesity can now monitor their heart health more proactively, right at home.

 

The launch was  made possible through the partnership between OMRON Healthcare, Mercury Drug, and Medical Center Trading Corporation (MCTC),  underscoring the value of  trusted technology,  pharmacies, and medical expertise working together to advance heart health in the Philippines.

 

According to Jaime Espiritu, Mercury Drug vice president for operations, "Many of us don't realize how much can be caught early with the right tools—a home blood pressure monitor that can also detect signs of atrial fibrillation, for instance, can be the difference between early intervention and a preventable emergency. That is exactly why today's discussion matters so much.”

 

“Heart health isn’t something we should leave to chance, and it isn’t something any of us has to manage alone. Today,  three organizations work together toward one shared mission: to make sure that reliable heart health solutions are within reach of every Filipino family, whether that’s through the technology we build, the pharmacies you trust, or the medical expertise that guides you along the way,” said Jim Martin Ancla, Sales Manager at OMRON Healthcare.

 

During the launch held at the Mercury Drug Shangri‑La Plaza branch, Dr. Marlon T. Co, cardiologist and treasurer of the Philippine Society of Hypertension,  delivered a short lecture to Mercury Drug pharmacists on the importance of detecting hypertension and AFib early. He emphasized the critical role pharmacists play in bridging the gap, ensuring that patients receive the right medications for their specific conditions, and guiding them on appropriate medications and the use of reliable monitoring tools such as Omron Complete.     

 

“Hypertension is the number one modifiable risk factor for atrial fibrillation, and it affects about 70% of AF patients. That’s why early blood pressure control matters—it reduces atrial changes that lead to complications. If we screen hypertensive, high‑risk patients with ECG, we can catch subclinical AF before a stroke happens,” emphasized Dr. Co during his lecture. “Devices like Omron Complete, which combine BP and single‑lead ECG, make this practical. You don’t have to wait for hospital tests; you can do it at home. And because it’s validated against 12‑lead ECG studies, with sensitivity and specificity consistently above 85 to 99%, you can trust the results.”

 

Alongside Omron Complete, OMRON also showcased the HEM‑7383T1, another advanced monitor designed to detect irregular heart rhythms while providing accurate blood pressure readings. Both devices work seamlessly with the OMRON Connect app, giving users a simple way to track and share their health data with doctors or caregivers.

 

To bring trusted heart health devices even closer to Filipino families, OMRON is offering a FREE trial of Omron Complete at select Mercury Drug branches, including Shangri-La Plaza, Trinoma Mall, Manila Ermita Taft Apacible, Rockwell Center, Makati, The Link, E. Rodriguez Sr. Broadway, Quezon Avenue, Scout Borromeo, Q-Plaza Cainta, Pasig Meralco Comm'l Strip, Bonifacio Global City Market Market, Taguig Bonifacio Global City, San Juan Green Hills, Ortigas Avenue, Lag Southwoods Eco Centrum, and Paseo de Sta. Rosa, with more branches nationwide to follow soon. This initiative reflects OMRON’s commitment to making preventive care accessible, reliable, and part of everyday life.

 

With trusted technology now available at the country’s most trusted pharmacy, and pharmacists empowered with the knowledge to guide patients, OMRON, Mercury Drug, MCTC, and Collins are making preventive care part of everyday life. Together, they are helping Filipino families take charge of their heart health before emergencies happen.

 

For more information, visit https://omronhealthcare.com/

GCash now available at over 500 Southstar Drug outlets

With the current safety precautions many Filipinos take in their everyday lives, it’s no surprise that many look for less direct ways to interact with sellers especially in a pharmacy space. Drugstores may be the best source to purchase all your health needs, but safety is also an aspect many consider before they step out of the comforts of their homes.

Because of this growing habit, GCash, the country’s leading mobile wallet, has now made over-the-counter Cash In and “Scan to Pay” options available at Southstar Drug, one of the largest drugstore chains in the Philippines with over 559 stores — offering customers convenient and safe payment options when they buy medicine, personal care, and other essential items amid the pandemic.

“With this strategic partnership with Southstar, which has so many branches across the Philippines, now in place, Filipinos have a more convenient and safer way to infuse funds to their GCash accounts,” said Martha Sazon, President and CEO of GCash. “Making over-the-counter Cash In options available in all Southstar branches is proof that GCash is aggressively pursuing our commitment to make innovative financial services accessible to Filipinos from all walks of life, especially amid the pandemic.”

“Our customers rely on us now more than ever for their health and wellness needs; hence we continue to further innovate and offer services that will support access to these needs. This partnership with Gcash will surely help us serve our customers with more ease and confidence. At a time when we need assurance, Southstar Drug will remain to be a partner for a healthy and safe lifestyle that Filipinos can trust,” said Christine Tueres, General Manager of Southstar Drug.

Southstar Drug carries a wide range of prescription and over-the-counter pharmaceutical products, and a variety of food, personal care, and health and wellness items. The health retailer operates stand-alone dedicated pharmacies to stores inside supermarkets and pharmacies with self-service convenience sections.

Customers just need to go to any Southstar Drug outlet and simply inform the cashier that they would like to Cash In to their GCash wallet. Then, they just need to launch the GCash app, then tap “Cash In” and choose “Southstar Drug.” Next, just tap on the “Generate barcode” button and show the generated barcode to the cashier. The cashier will then process and confirm the transaction, collect payment, and print the receipt. A text confirmation will be then sent to the customer’s mobile number upon successful Cash In.

GCash has also made payments via QR Codes available at Southstar. For customers who also wish to buy items using GCash QR Codes, they simply need to log in to their GCash account, choose “Scan to Pay” as the mode of payment and click on “Pay QR,” then tap “Scan QR Code.” Alternatively, they can also simply tap on the QR button on the navigation bar found at the bottom of the homepage, align their phone's camera over the cashier's GCash QR code to scan it, input the amount in the payment screen, tap “Next” and choose whether to pay with GCash or GCredit. After selecting the payment option, an SMS confirmation message will be sent to the customer’s mobile number as the receipt and proof of purchase.

With the availability of the GCash Cash In and QR Code feature at participating Southstar Drug branches, customers can easily load funds in their GCash accounts or pay without the need to carry cash or a credit/ATM card to avail of cashless payment.

"This is the next level of safety, convenience and security in cashless payments because with the GCash Cash In and QR Code, they don’t need to type in the numbers, or share their mobile numbers with others. And it’s available to anyone with the GCash app – that’s real financial inclusion for all Filipinos across the country," said GCash GM for Business Center and Financial Products Gina Salgado.

For more information, visit www.gcash.com.


About GCash

GCash is the leading mobile wallet in the Philippines. Through the GCash app, customers can easily buy load; pay bills at over 600 partner billers in the app; pay at more than 7,000 online partners; send and receive money anywhere in the Philippines; pay using QR codes at over 130,000 partner merchants nationwide; save money while earning interest; and invest money at local and global funds — all through the convenience of their smartphones.

GCash is part of the portfolio companies of 917Ventures, the largest corporate incubator in the Philippines wholly-owned by Globe Telecom, Inc. GCash was recognized by The Asian Banker (TAB) in 2021 for its outstanding digital financial inclusion programs impacting more than 40 million Filipinos in the country today.

First OTC Potassium Food Supplement Launched

To boost overall wellness and help maintain healthy day-to-day productivity, Neutra K, the country’s first potassium food supplement with no prescription needed was recently launched. Proudly Philippine-made, without artificial flavors and preservatives, Neutra K uses non acidic potassium that is sourced from one of the world’s leading producers of natural ingredients. Potassium is an essential mineral that regulates fluid and mineral balance in and out of body cells, and functions as an electrolyte and helps regulate the body’s nerve signals and muscle contractions. Neutra K is FDA-approved and comes in 300 mg film-coated tablets. It is available exclusively in all Mercury Drugstore branches nationwide in boxes of 100 or boxes of 12. In photo (L-R): Nutra Tech Biopharma’s Holly Ann Ramos, Vince Velasco, Paracelsus Life Sciences Corporation president Elizabeth Lietz, Oxford Distributions’ Lito Anzures Jr., and Neutra K brand manager Angelito Zabala.