Antique: The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) is in the process of accrediting pharmacies in Antique for the Guaranteed Accessible Medications for Outpatient Treatment (GAMOT) program. PhilHealth-Antique Social Insurance Assistant Liza Joyce Songcayawon shared in an interview that the Konsulta (Konsultasyong Sulit Tama), a comprehensive outpatient benefits program mandated by the Universal Health Care Law, aims to enhance healthcare accessibility.
According to Philippines News Agency, the accreditation of pharmacies in Antique is part of the Konsulta program, now renamed as Yaman ng Kalusugan Program (YAKAP). This initiative will focus more on prevention and aim to make medicines and laboratory tests more accessible. Songcayawon emphasized that patients will have access to medicines even if YAKAP service providers such as rural health units, hospitals, and clinics do not have them available, as they can secure these from other accredited GAMOT providers.
Each PhilHealth member and beneficiary has a PHP20,000 annual credit line, which is deducted whenever medicines are needed. Songcayawon stated that GAMOT will receive a capitation fund to purchase medicine stocks and enhance services. The YAKAP program is set to be fully operational next year.
