The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) announced last week that more than 300 pharmacies across the country are now accredited under its Guaranteed Access to Medicines for Outpatients and Treatment (GAMOT) Program, which aims to make essential medicines more affordable and accessible to Filipinos.
“As of September 30, 304 pharmacies are accredited nationwide, of which 56 are in Metro Manila,” said PhilHealth President and CEO Edwin Mercado during a media roundtable in Quezon City. He added that several pharmacy chains, which initially took a “wait-and-see” approach, are now in talks to have more of their branches accredited following positive experiences with the program.
The GAMOT initiative complements PhilHealth’s *Yamang Kalusugan Para sa Pamilyang Pilipino* (YAKAP) primary care program, ensuring that members can access both medical consultations and prescribed medicines from accredited providers nationwide.
PhilHealth currently has 36 million registered YAKAP members, with nearly 16 million already having completed their first patient encounter since the program’s launch. The agency aims to reach 50 million registered members and 20 million patient encounters by year-end.
“All Filipinos are covered by Universal Health Care and therefore eligible for YAKAP and GAMOT,” Mercado emphasized, noting that former Konsulta members automatically continue their benefits if their clinic has transitioned to a YAKAP facility.
This year, PhilHealth allocated ₱15.3 billion for YAKAP and ₱2.9 billion for GAMOT. The program currently offers 75 essential medicines from the Department of Health’s Essential Drug List, with insulin and other critical medicines slated for inclusion based on recommendations from the Health Technology Assessment Council.
Mercado also noted that PhilHealth is continuously adapting its services and medicine supply to address changing health trends linked to climate change, such as the rising cases of leptospirosis.
To enhance public awareness, PhilHealth Corporate Affairs Group Vice President Walter Bacareza said signages and mini-billboards will soon be installed in accredited YAKAP and GAMOT facilities nationwide to highlight available services, including primary care, free medicines, and cancer screening programs.