President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday launched the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation’s (PhilHealth) Yaman ng Kalusugan Program (YAKAP) Para Malayo sa Sakit, an expanded package of accessible health services, including medicines and basic laboratory tests.
President Marcos said the revitalized primary care benefit package aims to give Filipinos, especially those in remote areas, better access to more responsive primary and preventive healthcare.
“Ang katotohanan hindi naman talaga ito bagong programa. Ngunit ito ay dating programa na pinalawak namin ng husto. Dahil po sa aming karanasan, ang nangyayari bakit masyadong mataas ang mortality rate kung tawagin sa malalaking hospital, sa regional hospital, sa mga provincial hospital (The truth is that this is not really a new program. But it is an old program that we have expanded. Because based on our experience, the mortality rate is so high in large hospitals, in regional hospitals, in provincial hospitals),” Marcos said.
“Nagtatanong kami, ang sagot sa amin, simple lang: Dahil napakalayo ng ating malalaking ospital doon sa kanilang pinanggagalingan. Kaya napakahirap pumunta (We asked and their answer is simple: Because our big hospitals are so far from where they come from. So, it’s very difficult to go),” he added.
Marcos said the PhilHealth’s enhanced primary care program would bring healthcare services closer to Filipinos without the need to go to big hospitals.
With the more comprehensive primary care package, Filipinos may avail of 13 laboratory tests; six cancer screening tests such as mammogram, liver ultrasound, low-dose CT scan, and colonoscopy; and 75 medicines from the previous 54 available medicines covered by PhilHealth, Marcos noted.
“Iyan ay malaking maitutulong natin sa ating mga kababayan at mas malaki na ang coverage (That’s a big help for our countrymen and the coverage is expanded),” he said.
Marcos said PhilHealth would streamline its processes by digitalizing registration and consultations.
“At sa palagay ko dito pagpatuloy ng YAKAP na programa ay mararamdaman ng taumbayan na ang pamahalaan ay nandito at ginagawa lahat at ginagamit lahat ng kakayahan ng buong pamahalaan upang tulungan kayo, lalung-lalo na kapag kayo ay may sakit (And I think that with the continuation of the YAKAP Program, the people will feel that the government is here and is doing everything and using all the capabilities of the entire government to help you, especially when you are sick),” he said.
To avail of the benefits, Filipinos are encouraged to download the eGov mobile app for a convenient registration process to PhilHealth YAKAP (formerly Konsulta).
Registration may also be conducted through other channels such as the PhilHealth Member Portal (www.philhealth.gov.ph), any PhilHealth local health insurance office nationwide, or the nearest PhilHealth-accredited primary care provider.
The state insurer’s YAKAP Program was developed as an evolution of the Konsulta to combine other primary and outpatient care initiatives of PhilHealth. (PNA)
