Officials, healthcare provides back Philhealth’s primary care program

By Rosalita Manlangit

DAET, Camarines Norte --- Local chief executives and healthcare providers have expressed their support for the implementation of the YAKAP (Yaman ng Kalusugan Program), which aims to provide health services at the barangay level.

YAKAP is an expanded version of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation’s (PhilHealth) Konsulta Package, designed to bring comprehensive health services closer to every Filipino.

“I am happy that the Universal Health Care law is finally being implemented, because this has long been the dream of our people, as healthcare is the problem of Filipinos,” said Mayor Mariano Palma of San Vicente during the recent YAKAP launch and Stakeholders’ Forum in the area.

He said that many retirees end up spending their money on hospital bills, but the enhanced benefits from PhilHealth, such as YAKAP, will address the needs of the constituents.

“The challenge for me is that very few people in San Vicente are registered with PhilHealth. So, I will provide nine encoders for my nine barangays; that will be the first thing I [will] do to speed up the process, so that everyone can register,” he added.

Assistant Provincial Health Officer Rachel Diezmo highlighted the importance of local leaders’ involvement during the launch of the YAKAP program and the stakeholders’ forum.

She emphasized that mayors and town councilors, especially those leading health committees, play a crucial role in the program’s implementation, alongside doctors from municipal health offices and private hospitals.

Diezmo, who is also the chief of Capalonga Medicare and Community Hospital, stated, “The challenge for every health facility is to deliver services not only because they are accredited by PhilHealth, but also to provide essential services to the barangays and grassroots communities.”

She pointed out that accessibility to medicines and laboratory services in health facilities or primary health care providers is crucial.

“The YAKAP program is particularly beneficial, as many people tend to visit health facilities only when they are already ill,” she said.

“As primary care providers, their responsibility is critical, and YAKAP is a very excellent program of PhilHealth because local government units truly have problems with facilities due to insufficient funding,” she added.

Diezmo said that while health care facilities in the municipalities offer medicines and laboratory tests to indigent individuals at minimal or no cost, the YAKAP program provides additional funds for the necessary services required by the constituents.

PhilHealth Regional Vice President Alberto Manduriao mentioned that YAKAP includes six cancer screening tests: mammograms, breast ultrasounds, low-dose chest CT scans, alpha-fetoprotein tests, liver ultrasounds, and colonoscopies.

Additionally, YAKAP encompasses the implementation of GAMOT, or Guaranteed and Accessible Medications for Outpatient Treatment. This program will cover an extra 54 medications beyond the 21 medications already provided by YAKAP clinics.

Each member or dependent is entitled to an annual benefit of P20,000, which can be utilized at accredited GAMOT facilities.

Manduriao emphasized that PhilHealth’s ultimate goal is to ensure that every resident has early access to health services, enabling the prevention or treatment of illnesses before they escalate to severe stages.

He noted that Camarines Norte has an estimated population of 644,000, with nearly 303,000 residents registered with 24 accredited YAKAP clinics.

Manduriao added that YAKAP not only enhances the services available to its members, but PhilHealth has also implemented several improvements to benefit packages, resulting in an estimated 95 percent increase, covering nearly 9,000 cases.

A commitment to Universal Health Care was formally pledged by mayors, government healthcare providers, representatives from national government agencies, and private hospitals. (PIA Bicol/Camarines Norte)