PhilHealth expands access to checkups, medicines amid El Niño

Filipinos facing health risks from extreme heat can turn to the Philippine Health Insurance Corp.’s (PhilHealth) expanded primary care benefits for medical consultations, laboratory tests, medicines and cancer screening, Malacañang said.

Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the government was bringing affordable medical services closer to communities as the country prepares for a possible increase in heat-related illnesses amid El Niño.

Citing the Department of Health, Castro urged Filipinos to take advantage of PhilHealth’s Yaman ng Kalusugan Program (YAKAP), which aims to promote preventive care and help members access essential health services.

The program covers primary care consultations, laboratory examinations, medicines under the PhilHealth GAMOT benefit and cancer screening tests.

YAKAP is open to a broad range of Filipinos, including employed and self-employed workers, household helpers, low-income families, senior citizens, overseas Filipino workers, solo parents, lifetime PhilHealth members, and children and young adults below 21. Beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program are also covered.

To access the benefits, members must register with PhilHealth, obtain a PhilHealth Identification Number and ensure their membership information is updated. They can then select a YAKAP clinic through the eGovPH super app or PhilHealth member portal, or seek assistance at a PhilHealth office.

At the chosen clinic, patients undergo an assessment of their medical history, health screening and health education before receiving a consultation. Doctors may prescribe medicines and recommend laboratory procedures or cancer screening, depending on the patient’s condition.

Medicines covered by the GAMOT program may be obtained from PhilHealth-accredited GAMOT pharmacies using prescriptions issued by authorized doctors within the system. Meanwhile, 21 essential medicines under YAKAP must be provided through accredited YAKAP clinics. Patients encountering stock shortages may ask clinic personnel about the proper procedure for obtaining their prescribed medicines.

Castro said PhilHealth has nearly 4,000 YAKAP clinics nationwide, providing members with broader access to primary healthcare services.

The program’s expanded coverage offers Filipinos an avenue for early consultation and preventive care, particularly as extreme heat and changing weather conditions raise concerns over public health.