President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced a new program on Friday that is expected to help more Filipinos get better access to healthcare, especially in their own communities.
It’s called YAKAP, translated as “embrace” in Filipino.
YAKAP stands for Yaman ng Kalusugan Program para Malayo sa Sakit.
This program is all about keeping people healthy and giving them the help they need before they get seriously sick.
What does YAKAP do?
Courtesy of PhilHealth, the government’s health insurance, you can now get free check-ups, free lab tests, and free medicines (expanded from 21 to 75 kinds).
- The Outpatient Gamot Program will give citizens access to free medicines through accredited pharmacies
- Outpatient Laboratory Program will give citizens access to free laboratory tests and screenings such as Mammograms and Colonoscopy
- Other free tests include those that target cancer types that have the highest incidents in the country such as breast, lung, prostate, colon and ovarian cancer.
- You do not even have to go to major hospitals. You can avail these services at accredited clinics and health centers closer to your home.
Focus on Prevention and Early Detection
The YAKAP program puts a big focus on prevention and early detection. That means helping people stay healthy and finding health problems early, before they become serious.
This way, people can get treated faster and avoid long hospital stays.
How do you avail these free services?
- You need to register with PhilHealth’s program. You can use the eGov PH app to make it easy.
- For free cancer tests, you’ll need a doctor’s order from a PhilHealth-accredited doctor.
- Free medicines are available at PhilHealth’s partner pharmacies.
- The government will pay up to ₱20,000 worth of medicines per person each year.
- Lab tests and cancer screenings are completely free.
Why is this important?
This program, if executed as planned, is a potential game-changer for the country’s ailing healthcare system. This program will help people:
- Get medical attention before they get seriously sick.
- Save money on medicines and tests.
- Stay healthier by catching illnesses early.
BayanihanHealth.com 