CALAMBA CITY, Laguna (PIA) — With benefits covering laboratory, outpatient consultation and access to free medicine, the Philhealth Yaman ng Kalusugan Program (YAKAP), which expanded primary care benefit packages, is seen to become a ‘game changer’ in the country’s implementation of the Universal Healthcare (UHC) framework.
In an interview with the Philippine Information Agency and Radyo Pilipinas Lucena’s Sulong Southern Tagalog radio program, Arturo Ardiente, Field Operations Division chief for PhilHealth CALABARZON, noted that YAKAP will encourage more Filipinos to seek not only medical treatments but also preventive care.
“Sa ating kultura, kapag tayo ay nagkakasakit ay doon pa lang tayo nagpapa-check-up. In fact, ito ‘yung challenge natin sa YAKAP. Binabago natin ‘yung mindset ng tao na hindi lang kung kailan malala na ‘yung pagkakasakit ay saka ka tatakbo sa ospital.”
As part of the UHC, the PhilHealth YAKAP expands the benefits provided by the Konsulta program.
“Medyo limitado ‘yung kakayanan ng Konsulta na matugunan ‘yung mga pangangalagang pangkalusugan, pang-primary ‘yung preventive care ng ating mga mamamayan.”
Ardiente underscored that members do not need to be hospitalized to avail of their YAKAP benefits.
“YAKAP ‘yung preventive approach natin [dahil] hindi na kailangang ma-ospital para ma-avail ‘yung benefits. This is our preventive approach at hindi kailangang may sakit ka para ma-avail ‘yung benefits.”
Aside from room and professional fees, patients also normally need to pay for their own medicines even when receiving inpatient care. But with YAKAP, patients can access up to 54 free medicines in accredited facilities nationwide.
“We want to ensure na kapag dumating ‘yung pagkakasakit, ay hindi malulugso ang kabuhayan. Sinisiguro ng UHC Law na hindi magiging dahilan ang karamdaman para maghirap ang mga Filipino.”
PhilHealth YAKAP covers a wide range of medicines from over-the-counter drugs such as paracetamol to antibiotics and maintenance drugs.
“Makukuha mo ito nang libre at ang bawat kababayan natin ay mayroong allotment na P20,000 per year. Pero para ma-avail mo ito ay dapat YAKAP physician ang mag-prescribe nito sa iyo.” (PB-PIA CALABARZON)