Many overseas Filipino workers and their families remain unaware that selected cancer screening procedures are available at no cost under the Alagang OWWA YAKAP at GAMOT initiative—a healthcare program implemented by Overseas Workers Welfare Administration in coordination with VidaCure and the national primary care framework of PhilHealth.
The free screenings are part of the broader YAKAP Program, which focuses on preventive care, early detection, and access to essential health services for qualified beneficiaries. Rather than operating as a walk-in diagnostic service, the program follows a structured medical pathway that begins with professional assessment and ends with testing only when clinically indicated.
What screenings are covered
Under the YAKAP Program, beneficiaries may be referred for cancer screening tests that include mammography, breast ultrasound, low-dose chest CT scan, alpha-fetoprotein testing, liver ultrasound, and colonoscopy. These procedures are made available only after a doctor determines the need for screening based on medical evaluation.
All tests are conducted at accredited screening facilities, and beneficiaries are not required to pay out of pocket for approved services.
How access works
Enrollment and access do not begin at hospitals or diagnostic centers. Individuals must first register with a YAKAP-accredited clinic. Registration can be completed through official channels such as the eGovPH app, the PhilHealth Portal, or directly at a PhilHealth office.
Once registered, the beneficiary undergoes a medical consultation at the chosen YAKAP clinic. A primary care doctor conducts a full assessment and decides whether cancer screening is necessary. Only after this evaluation may a Screening Test Request Form be issued.
The referral is then presented at an accredited screening facility, where the approved tests are performed without direct payment from the patient.
Why direct access is not allowed
OWWA emphasizes that beneficiaries cannot proceed directly to screening centers without a referral. The program is designed to ensure appropriate use of resources, avoid unnecessary testing, and align screening decisions with professional medical judgment. This referral-based approach also integrates cancer screening into a wider continuum of care that includes consultation, basic laboratory services, and access to essential medicines.
Clinic availability and schedules
Medical consultations and medicine support under Alagang OWWA YAKAP at GAMOT are available from Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., at the OWWA Central Office in Pasay City. The Alagang OWWA Botika operates on the same schedule, providing prescribed essential medicines to eligible beneficiaries.
In addition to the central office, other VidaCure clinics participating in the program operate in key locations, including Araneta City in Quezon City and Alabang in Muntinlupa City, with extended availability from Monday to Saturday.
OWWA notes that beneficiaries should register only with participating YAKAP clinics, as the Alagang OWWA YAKAP at GAMOT program works with a designated provider network.
Key conditions to remember
The cancer screening services are strictly cashless for qualified beneficiaries. Medical assessment and referral by a YAKAP-accredited doctor are mandatory, and walk-in screening without prior consultation is not permitted.
The YAKAP Program also covers medical consultations, basic laboratory tests, and essential medicines, positioning cancer screening as one component of a larger preventive healthcare package rather than a standalone benefit.
