By Rachel Magday
NUEVA VIZCAYA, Philippines — Governor Jose V. Gambito has pledged the provincial government’s support for PhilHealth’s expanded outpatient medicine benefit, as he pressed for closer coordination to ensure that more Nueva Vizcaya residents can access consultations, diagnostic tests and essential maintenance drugs.
Gambito expressed support for the Guaranteed and Accessible Medications for Outpatient Treatment, or GAMOT, program during a courtesy call by PhilHealth officials led by Acting Regional Vice President Dr. Salvacion S. Madarang. Provincial Health Officer Dr. Anthony S. Cortez joined the meeting at the governor’s office on Nov. 3, ahead of the program’s launch at the Carlos M. Padilla Convention Center.
The governor said the province would help encourage residents to enroll in PhilHealth’s Yaman ng Kalusugan, or YAKAP, program, the agency’s primary care initiative and the entry point for members seeking GAMOT benefits.
Under GAMOT, qualified PhilHealth members may receive essential outpatient and maintenance medicines worth up to P20,000 a year.
Madarang said YAKAP seeks to shift health care toward prevention by allowing members to consult doctors and undergo health assessments even before they develop serious illnesses.
“The goal of YAKAP is for a member to be seen by a doctor even before he or she gets sick. It is more of a preventive program rather than a curative one,” Madarang said.
She clarified that PhilHealth membership alone does not automatically qualify an individual for YAKAP services. Members and their dependents must register with an accredited YAKAP facility to avail themselves of the program’s benefits.
Enrolled members may receive regular primary care consultations, medical assessments and a First Patient Encounter, which includes a baseline health evaluation, physical examination and review of medical history by a YAKAP physician.
The program also covers up to 13 baseline laboratory tests and selected screening services for breast, lung, liver and colorectal cancers. Members may access essential outpatient and maintenance medicines through the GAMOT benefit after consultation and assessment.
Madarang said all 15 rural health units in Nueva Vizcaya, along with the Provincial Health Office, have been accredited under the YAKAP program.
Six hospitals operated by the provincial government and three private facilities—PLT Hospital, Sentro Health Medical Diagnostic Center and CFA Long Care Diagnostic Center have also been accredited for YAKAP services. Grovic Health Care Facility has been accredited for the GAMOT program.
The rollout also introduced the GAMOT Tracker application, a tool intended to help beneficiaries and health-care providers monitor the availability and dispensing of covered medicines.
A YAKAP caravan, PhilSys registration and on-site PhilHealth assistance were likewise conducted to help residents enroll in the program, update their records and access government health services
