PhilHealth launches free medicine allocation under YAKAP program in Western Visayas
By Tara Yap
PHILHEALTH launches the YAKAP-GAMOT program in Western Visayas in Iloilo City. (Tara Yap)
ILOILO CITY – The government-owned Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) has launched its annual free medicine allocation under its primary care benefit program known as Yaman ng Kalusugan (YAKAP) in Western Visayas.
Under YAKAP’s Guaranteed and Accessible Medications for Outpatient Treatment (GAMOT), PhilHealth members and their dependents can avail of P20,000 worth of free medicines.
PhilHealth-6 Head Larry Tabsing said the YAKAP-GAMOT is an expansion of PhilHealth’s “Konsulta" program, which offers free medical checkups, medical lab tests, and medicines.
Tabsing said the annual free medicine allocation started by the Marcos administration can help cover medicine costs of those who avail outpatient care for hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, and pulmonary diseases such as asthma.
The initial roll out of YAKAP-GAMOT covers the province of Iloilo which has 42 towns and the component city of Passi as well as Iloilo City.
YAKAP-GAMOT will also be implemented in Aklan, Antique, Capiz, and Guimaras provinces.