PhilHealth launches GAMOT program in Cebu

CEBU CITY – PhilHealth launched GAMOT or Guaranteed and Accessible Medications for Outpatient Treatment in Central Visayas on February 17 at the Cebu Capitol Social Hall with Health Secretary Dr. Teodoro Herbosa, Cebu governor Pamela Baricutro, Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival, officials from the Department of Health (DOH), PhilHealth and other partner agencies attending.

Dr. Herbosa bared that this program strengthens primary care by providing coverage for essential outpatient medicines and expanding preventive services under the Yaman ng Kalusugan Program (YAKAP) which continues to transform the delivery of primary health care by shifting the focus from curative treatment to preventive and promotive services.

YAKAP, Herbosa said is PhilHealth’s enhanced primary care benefit package designed to ensure that every Filipino has access to comprehensive, quality, and affordable outpatient care. By empowering accredited primary care providers and strengthening partnerships with local government units, the program supports early detection, continuous monitoring, and timely management of diseases, helping prevent complications and avoid unnecessary hospitalization.

By integrating screening, consultation, diagnostics, and medicines under one coordinated primary care system, PhilHealth advances a more proactive approach to health management. PhilHealth GAMOT benefit is a major enhancement under YAKAP, expanding outpatient medicines benefit designed to make essential medications more accessible and affordable for members.

Herbosa recognized that the cost of medicines remains one of the leading causes of out-of-pocket health spending, GAMOT directly addresses this concern by ensuring coverage for essential drugs used in managing common and chronic illnesses.

PhlHealth GAMOT key features include the coverage of 75 essential medicines, significantly expanding previous outpatient drug benefits; an annual benefit limit of up to ₱20,000 per member and per dependent and medicines prescribed for common acute and chronic conditions, including: Hypertension, Diabetes, Dyslipidemia, Asthma and other respiratory diseases, infections and selected cardiovascular and neurologic conditions.

How to Avail of PhilHealth GAMOT

1.    After choosing an accredited PhilHealth YAKAP Clinic, a beneficiary (member or dependent) undergoes First Patient Encounter, and medical consultation through the YAKAP physician.

2.    After consultation with a YAKAP physician, beneficiary receives prescription for needed medicines.

3.    Beneficiary presents the prescription and required identification at an accredited GAMOT provider for dispensing of medicine/s.

4.    Beneficiaries must return to their YAKAP doctor for follow-up checkups and continuous monitoring, as PhilHealth’s YAKAP and GAMOT ensures continuity of care rather than one-time availability.

               

The launch of PhilHealth GAMOT, in partnership with the Cebu Provincial government underscores PhilHealth’s strong partnership with local government leaders and health stakeholders in delivering accessible health services to every community.

At the GAMOT launching, the PhilHealth GAMOT featured a walkthrough with three different 𝗬𝗔𝗞𝗔𝗣 and 𝗚𝗔𝗠𝗢𝗧-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 (𝗜𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗿𝗼 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗿 𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹, 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗲 with its partner pharmacy 𝗟𝗮 𝗡𝘂𝗲𝘃𝗮, and the 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗲𝗯𝘂 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 (𝗨𝗖 𝗠𝗲𝗱) with and pre-identified individuals, demonstrating the patient pathway, from consultation with a YAKAP provider, to prescription generation, and dispensing of medicines at an accredited GAMOT facility or pharmacy and the awarding of confirmation slip and medicine kit to pre-identified patients. (Photos: PhilHealth-FB/)