Cubao, Quezon City
July 25, 2025

Aiming to bring improved primary healthcare services closer to the Filipino people, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. led the launch of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation’s (PhilHealth) Yaman ng Kalusugan Program (YAKAP) Para Malayo sa Sakit at the Gateway Mall in Cubao, Quezon City.

In his remarks, the President highlighted that the upgraded Primary Care Benefit Package is meant to help workers and reduce the difficulties of accessing medical attention.

Previously known as the PhilHealth Konsulta Program which was launched in 2021, the initiative has been expanded to include a wider range of medicines, additional laboratory procedures and cancer screening services at certified facilities.

President Marcos Jr. noted that limited access to hospitals, particularly in remote areas, remains a significant factor contributing to the country’s rising mortality rate. Through the YAKAP program, the need to travel to distant regional or provincial hospitals is reduced as community-based clinics are strengthened to provide quality healthcare closer to the people.

“Kaya ‘yan ang aming – ‘yan ang layunin talaga nitong ating YAKAP program. Karagdagan pa doon, marami tayong ginawa. Nagdagdag tayo ng mga testing kagaya nang naipaliwanag ng ating mga – ‘yung mga tagapagsalita kanina ay marami na – 13 laboratory tests, six na cancer-screening, kabilang na rin ang mammogram, liver ultrasound, low-dose chest CT scan, colonoscopy…. At pati na ‘yung gamot, dinagdagan natin ang mga gamot mula sa 54 na gamot, naging 75 na gamot na covered ngayon ng PhilHealth,” he continued.

The Chief Executive emphasized the government’s commitment to streamlining and digitizing healthcare procedures, including registration and consultations. He cited the eGov Super App which now enables individuals to complete the entire process, from enrollment to obtaining prescribed medications, entirely online.

“Lahat po ‘yan ay sa aming layunin na talagang pagandahin ang healthcare system natin dito sa Pilipinas. At sa palagay ko, dito ipagpatuloy ng YAKAP na programa ay mararamdaman ng taumbayan na ang pamahalaan ay nandito at ginagawa ang lahat, at ginagamit lahat ng kakayahan ng buong pamahalaan upang tulungan kayo, lalong-lalo na kapag kayo ay may sakit,” he added.

“Kaya po sana ay ipagpatuloy ninyo na paramihin ang ating mga YAKAP program areas at ito po ay mararamdaman po ng taong-bayan. At wala nang mas mahalaga sa ating lahat kung hindi ang maging healthy, maging masigla; at hindi lamang para sa atin, kung hindi pati para sa ating mga pamilya,” President Marcos Jr. ended in his message.

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