The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) has registered over 1.41 million members or 17.21 percent of the projected 8.22 million population of Western Visayas for the Yaman ng Kalusugan Program (YAKAP) package provider as of the end of last month.

YAKAP enhances the previous Konsulta (Consultation) Program, offering comprehensive primary care services, including free access to 75 essential medicines, 15 laboratory tests, and cancer screenings.

PhilHealth Western Visayas Field Operations Division chief Junie Sabusap, in a press conference on Tuesday, said their initial target was to register over 1.3 million from the region this year.

The over 1.4 million registered members is one of the top registrations among the regions across the country.

As of Feb. 28, PhilHealth recorded 119,123 YAKAP registered members who already had their first-patient encounter.

“We are more on the readiness of the YAKAP facilities and GAMOT, wherein we have set a criteria for them to comply. We would like to create the supply and demand so that eventually, the members will be the ones to approach,” Sabusap said.

The state health insurer has accredited 209 YAKAP clinics, 740 physicians, 80 Guaranteed Accessible Medications for Outpatient Treatment (GAMOT) providers, and 15 cancer screening test facilities in the region to serve registered members.

Meanwhile, Accreditation and Quality Assurance Section chief, Dr. Jennifer Go, said GAMOT aims to decrease out-of-pocket spending on medications in outpatient disease management.

Under the GAMOT package, each member and dependents have up to PHP20,000 allocation for medicines.

”We aim to expand access points through engagement with pharmaceutical service entities,” Go said.

Of the 80 accredited clinics, 23 are ready to dispense medicines depending on their commitment. The rest are waiting for the testing of the GAMOT application.

Sabusap said they will be holding a simultaneous launch of the program on May 1. (PNA)