SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on Sunday hailed the upcoming implementation of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation’s (PhilHealth) expanded Guaranteed and Accessible Medications for Outpatient Treatment (GAMOT) package, calling it a vital step in easing the healthcare burden of millions of Filipinos.
Set to take effect on Aug. 21, the PhilHealth GAMOT package expands the initial 21 free medicines to 75, covering a wide range of conditions such as infections, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes, high cholesterol, hypertension, and other heart ailments, as well as nervous system disorders and other supportive therapies.
Speaker Romualdez commended President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. for his vision and guidance in directing PhilHealth to broaden healthcare services beyond inpatient benefits.
“The continued improvements to PhilHealth’s primary healthcare initiatives demonstrate the Marcos administration’s vow to make healthcare inclusive, responsive, and compassionate for all Filipinos. No one should have to fall sick or die because they were not able to get medical treatment,” he said.
Romualdez stressed that improved access to 75 free medicines at select clinics and pharmacies—with a yearly cap of P20,000 per member—is not just an economic relief, but also a vital step toward prevention and primary care, rather than expensive tertiary treatment.
“Marami tayong mga kababayan ang nagtititiis na lang sa kanilang karamdaman at hindi nagpapatingin sa doktor—hindi lamang dahil kailangan nilang magbayad para sa consultation fee at laboratory tests, kundi dahil dagdag gastos pa ang gamot na kailangan upang sila ay gumaling,” he said.
He noted that this problem affects not only poor Filipinos but also middle-class households.
“Kahit na sa mga may trabaho, pagsubok ang pagpapagamot lalo na sa mga chronic illnesses gaya ng sakit sa puso, diabetes, atbp. Mabigat pa rin sa bulsa ang pagbili sa mga gamot dahil isinasaalang-alang din ng mga middle class earners ang ibang gastusin gaya ng upa o bayad sa bahay, pagkain, at edukasyon ng kanilang mga anak,” Speaker Romualdez said.
He added: “Sa tulong ng GAMOT package ng PhilHealth, maiibsan ang mga gastos sa pagbili ng gamot ng ating mga kababayan at magagamit nila ang perang nalikom para sa iba pang mahalagang gastusin, o hindi kaya ay maitatabi nila ito para sa kanilang kinabukasan.”
According to him, PhilHealth’s move to provide additional free medicines to its beneficiaries will encourage early medical consultations to address any health problems.
“Mas maeenganyo sila na magpatingin para gumaling o ma-manage ang kanilang karamdaman. Pahahalagahan nila ang preventive at primary healthcare bago pa lumala ang kanilang mga sakit, at maiingatan ng ating pamahalaan ang yamang-kalusugan ng ating kapwa Pilipino,” he added.
PhilHealth members may avail of the free medicines after registering under the PhilHealth Yaman ng Kalusugan Para Malayo sa Sakit (YAKAP) program through the eGovPH app, the PhilHealth member portal, PhilHealth offices, and other official channels.
Beneficiaries must secure a prescription with a unique security code from a physician accredited under the GAMOT program before claiming the free medicines at partner clinics and pharmacies.
Currently, there are 4,300 GAMOT partner clinics nationwide. Initial partner facilities include: Vidacure (Muntinlupa City and Quezon City), Pharma Gen Ventures Corp. (Generika Drugstore) with branches in Parañaque, Navotas, Quezon City, and Taguig, CGD Medical Depot Inc. at Vertis North, and the Chinese General Hospital.
Speaker Romualdez lauded PhilHealth for expanding healthcare access and urged the agency to sustain improvements under its mandate of universal healthcare.
“As public servants, it is our sworn duty to prioritize measures to promote our countrymen’s health and well-being. As we deliberate on the proposed P6.793-trillion national budget for 2025, we in the House of Representatives will ensure that PhilHealth’s funds are properly spent and accounted for, always prioritizing the health and welfare of our people,” he said.
In the proposed 2026 National Expenditure Program, PhilHealth is allocated a total of ₱53.261 billion in support of its mandate to provide health insurance coverage and ensure affordable, acceptable, available and accessible health care services for all citizens of the Philippines.
Romualdez assured Filipinos of transparent budget deliberations to safeguard public funds and encouraged the public to take full advantage of PhilHealth’s YAKAP and GAMOT initiatives.
“Walang pinipili ang sakit, mayaman man o mahirap. Ngunit sa isinusulong nating Bagong Pilipinas, lahat ng Pilipino ay maaasahan ang pamahalaan na katuwang nila lalo na sa oras ng mga pagsubok sa kanilang kalusugan. Ang paggamot sa mga karamdaman ng ating mga kababayan ay laging dapat mabilis, mabisa, abot-kaya, at may kasamang kalinga at pag-aaruga,” the Leyte lawmaker added.
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