President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has emphasized the urgent need to decentralize healthcare access, stressing that many Filipinos only receive proper treatment when their condition has already worsened due to the distance of major hospitals.
Speaking at the launch of PhilHealth’s enhanced primary care initiative, the Yaman ng Kalusugan Program or YAKAP, the President highlighted how the inaccessibility of regional and provincial hospitals contributes to high mortality rates.
“Bakit masyadong mataas ang mortality rate… eh pagka ‘yung pasyente ba’t ang daming namamatay? …dahil napakalayo ng ating malalaking ospital doon sa kanilang pinanggagalingan at kaya napakahirap makapunta,” Marcos said during the event.
YAKAP expands PhilHealth’s existing Konsultasyong Sulit at Tama (Konsulta) program by offering broader outpatient care, including free medical checkups, laboratory tests, and medicines. It also includes cancer screening services at selected hospitals with prescriptions from accredited primary care providers. Additional medications will be made available under the strengthened Gamot program.
The initiative, according to Marcos, is part of the government’s response to the gaps revealed by the COVID-19 pandemic. “Nakita natin noong panahon ng COVID… kung ano ‘yung pagkukulang ng ating healthcare system,” he said, noting that YAKAP aims to encourage early consultations and ease the financial burden on patients.
The President also reiterated his administration’s goal to eventually reduce out-of-pocket expenses for Filipinos and have PhilHealth shoulder most medical costs—leaving patients to pay only minimal administrative fees, if any.
Filipinos can register for YAKAP through the eGov mobile app, the PhilHealth member portal, local health insurance offices, or any accredited primary care provider.
