Iloilo city: Around 1.724 million, or 21.12 percent of nearly 8 million Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) members and dependents in Western Visayas and Negros Occidental, are enrolled in the Yaman ng Kalusugan Program (YAKAP).

According to Philippines News Agency, PhilHealth Regional Vice President for Western Visayas Marjorie Cabrieto announced that PHP286.12 million has been paid to healthcare providers for first patient encounters from January 1 to June 30 this year. Cabrieto explained at a media forum that YAKAP is an enhancement of the previous Konsulta program, now including GAMOT or Guaranteed and Accessible Medications for Outpatient Treatment.

PhilHealth has accredited a total of 237 YAKAP clinics, 177 GAMOT providers, and 188 facilities specifically for cancer screening tests. More than PHP21.11 million has been disbursed to GAMOT providers, with claims processed efficiently within two to three days, Cabrieto noted.

The YAKAP program offers primary care services such as consultations, laboratory and diagnostic tests, and 75 essential medicines. Of these medicines, 54 can be accessed through GAMOT providers, while the remaining 21 are available at YAKAP-accredited clinics.

Meanwhile, PhilHealth VI Operations Division Chief Junie Sabusap highlighted the regional office's three-pronged approach to raise awareness of YAKAP. This includes organizing caravans to facilitate registration and first patient encounters, conducting registration drives targeting employers and national government agencies, and implementing the Alamin at Gamitin ang Inyong Benepisyong Kalusugan (ALAGA Ka) program aimed at students in schools.

Sabusap emphasized that the strategy involves PhilHealth representatives traveling to localities to encourage registration. The regional office aims to enroll 3.2 million members in YAKAP by the end of the year.