UNDERSCORING the need for accessible healthcare for every Filipino, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday introduced a broader range of free primary care services, including free access to 75 essential medicines, laboratory tests, and cancer screenings.
President Marcos launched the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation’s (PhilHealth) Yaman ng Kalusugan Program para Malayo sa Sakit (YAKAP) that enhanced the existing program to bring healthcare services closer to communities and reduce the need for hospital confinement.
“Binaba (made accessible) natin ang serbisyo ng healthcare natin para mas malapit doon sa pinanggagalingan ng ating mga magiging pasyente at hindi na kailangan magpa-confine sa malalaking ospital,” President Marcos said during the program launching in Quezon City.
YAKAP expanded on PhilHealth’s Konsultasyong Sulit at Tama (Konsulta) program that sought to shift the focus from treatment to prevention and make healthcare more accessible especially at the community level.
The Filipino word for “embrace,” YAKAP, reflects the Marcos administration’s commitment to inclusive and accessible healthcare.
“Pinalalapit natin ang healthcare system natin sa taong-bayan para naman unang-una, sila ay magpapatingin kaagad kapag sila ay may nararamdaman, at bukod pa doon, makakatulong pa tayo kung sakali man kailangan silang magpagamot ay tutulungan natin sila,” President Marcos said.
A wider range of primary care services is now available under YAKAP, including access to 75 essential medicines compared to the previous 21 medicines. These medicines are available in PhilHealth’s partner pharmacies.
YAKAP also offers 20 tests from the original 15 basic laboratory tests. The new package now offers high-value and specialty services including cancer screenings for colorectal, lung, liver, and breast for early detection.
PhilHealth said members can avail of cancer screening tests, free of charge, at select hospitals. Members need to present their doctors’ orders from their accredited primary care providers.
The availment of the expanded medicine list is subject to a maximum benefit limit of P20,000 per patient per year. The laboratory tests and cancer screenings are free of charge.
Registration to avail of the primary care packages will be made easier and accessible through the eGov PH app.
“Tinutulungan natin sila para pagpamura ng gamot para bayaran na ng PhilHealth ‘yung mga gamot at saka ‘yung mga ibang tests, at ‘yung mga ibang serbisyo,” said President Marcos.
President Marcos added that the government is doing everything to bring quality healthcare services closer to the people.
“Lahat po ‘yan ay sa aming layunin na talagang pagandahin ang healthcare system natin dito sa Pilipinas,” said the President.
“At sa palagay ko, dito (sa) YAKAP na programa ay mararamdaman ng taumbayan na ang pamahalaan ay nandito at ginagawa ang lahat, at ginagamit lahat ng kakayahan ng buong pamahalaan upang tulungan kayo, lalong-lalo na kapag kayo ay may sakit,” President Marcos stressed.
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