Pangasinan: The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation’s (PhilHealth) Ilocos regional office is encouraging residents of Pangasinan to enroll in the Yaman ng Kalusugan (YAKAP) program. This initiative is an enhanced version of the Konsultasyong Sulit at Tama (Konsulta) program and offers a broader range of services for members and their dependents.
According to Philippines News Agency, Joseph Manuel, head of the PhilHealth Ilocos Region public affairs unit, mentioned in a phone interview that YAKAP, similar to the previous Konsulta program, provides free primary care services. These services include consultations, health risk screenings, and selected laboratory tests and medicines to all eligible Filipinos under the Universal Health Care (UHC) Law.
YAKAP now also incorporates six cancer screening tests available for free to enrolled members and their dependents at accredited facilities, provided these tests are physician-prescribed. The tests covered include mammogram, breast ultrasound, low-dose chest CT scan, alpha fetoprotein, liver ultrasound, and colonoscopy. Manuel emphasized the importance of these screenings for early cancer detection and appropriate care.
The YAKAP program has expanded its coverage to include 75 medicines, an increase from the 21 offered in the Konsulta program. This is part of the “Guaranteed and Accessible Medications for Outpatient Treatment (GAMOT)” initiative, providing up to PHP20,000 worth of free essential medicines annually per individual. Manuel stated that the goal of the improved primary care program is to deliver comprehensive medical care in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directives. Accreditation of pharmacies for the GAMOT program and facilities for cancer screenings is ongoing, while other Konsulta services remain available during the transition.
As of August 31, there are 190 accredited YAKAP facilities in the region, with 85 in Pangasinan, 33 in La Union, 44 in Ilocos Sur, and 28 in Ilocos Norte. Enrollment or registration in an accredited YAKAP Package Provider is necessary, which can be done online or at the nearest Local Health Insurance Office. Those registered under the Konsulta program do not need to re-register.
Over 1.4 million Pangasinan residents were enrolled in the Konsulta program as of May this year, out of the province’s more than 2.9 million PhilHealth members.
