Forty percent of Filipinos’ out-of-pocket health expenses go to buying medicines, state insurer Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) bared on Tuesday, August 26.

To ease this burden, the agency has launched its Guaranteed and Accessible Medication for Out-patient Treatment (GAMOT) program, which provides 75 essential drugs for free.

“Ayon po sa mga pag-aaral, napakalaking bahagi, 40 percent ng atin pong inilalabas sa bulsa ay napupunta po sa pagbili ng mga essential drugs na kailangan po para sa ating maintenance at iba pa (According to studies, 40 percent of what we spend out-of-pocket goes to buying essential drugs needed for maintenance and other treatments),” Rey Baleña, the acting vice president of PhilHealth’s Corporate Affairs Group, said during an interview with state-controlled PTV-4.

“So, ito pong GAMOT program ang tutugon po para po iyong mga kababayan natin ay tuluy-tuloy po silang makainom ng gamot na kailangan nila para bumuti iyong kanila pong kondisyon at manatili po na malakas, malusog (So, this GAMOT program will address the need of our countrymen to continuously take the medicines they need so that their condition will improve and they can remain strong and healthy),” he went on.

According to Baleña, the GAMOT program expands PhilHealth’s Konsulta Package, now under the broader YAKAP or Yaman ng Kalusugan Program. 

From the original 21 medicines, he said the list has grown to 75 essential drugs covering common chronic illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and high cholesterol.

“So, ito pong GAMOT ay naglalayon po na matulungan po natin iyong atin pong maraming mga kababayan na gumagastos po ng malaki para po sa kanila pong pagpapagamot, pag-inom ng gamot po, tutugon po para po iyong mga kababayan natin ay tuluy-tuloy po silang makainom ng gamot na kailangan nila (The GAMOT program aims to help many of our countrymen who spend heavily on their treatments and medicines, it ensures that they can continue taking the medicines they need),” he said.

PhilHealth said the program covers all Filipinos, but members must select and enroll in a YAKAP clinic or Konsulta provider using the eGovPH app or by registering on-site at their preferred clinic.

 “Kapag nakapili na sila at natala na sila doon sa YAKAP clinic po ay dumiretso na po, magpa-checkup na po kayo, makipag-usap na kayo, titingnan po kayo ng doktor doon sa YAKAP clinic na napili po ninyo para malaman po iyong lagay ng inyong kalusugan. At mula po doon, malalaman po ng kababayan natin kung talagang kailangan sila na resetahan ng gamot (Once they have chosen and registered with their YAKAP clinic, they should proceed to a checkup. They will be examined by the doctor at their chosen YAKAP clinic to determine their health condition. From there, our countrymen will know if they really need to be prescribed medicines),” said Baleña.

He stressed that members must select and register with a YAKAP clinic, where a primary care physician will handle their checkups and oversee their treatment.