Marcos wants healthcare closer to Pinoys through YAKAP initiative

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Friday underscored the importance of bringing healthcare services closer to Filipinos, without them having to access their medical needs at big hospitals.

The President made the remark during the launch of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation's (PhilHealth) revitalized primary care benefit package called Yaman ng Kalusugan Program or YAKAP.

Marcos lamented the high mortality rate in provincial hospitals as patients are only being brought there when their condition has already worsened.

"Bakit masyadong mataas ang mortality rate, kung tawagin, sa malalaking ospital, sa regional hospital, sa mga provincial hospital, eh pagka 'yung pasyente ba't ang daming namamatay? Nagtatanong kami. Ang sagot sa amin simple lang—dahil napakalayo ng ating malalaking ospital doon sa kanilang pinanggagalingan at kaya napakahirap makapunta," Marcos said. 

(Why is the mortality rate so high in the big hospitals, in the regional hospitals, in the provincial hospitals? We asked that question, and the answer was simple—because our big hospitals are so far from where the people come from, so it's very difficult for them to go there.) 

"Kaya ito 'yung aming ginawa. Binaba natin ang serbisyo ng healthcare natin para mas malapit doon sa pinanggagalingan ng ating mga magiging pasyente at hindi na kailangan magpa-confine sa malalaking ospital," he added. 

(So this is what we did. We brought our healthcare services closer to where our patients come from so there is no need for them to be confined in big hospitals.) 

The YAKAP is an expansion of the Konsultasyong Sulit at Tama (Konsulta), bringing in additional primary and outpatient care initiatives of PhilHealth, including medicines, check-ups, and basic laboratory tests.

Cancer screening tests will also be made available for members for free at select hospitals through valid prescriptions from their accredited primary care providers. 

The program will also offer access to additional medicines under the strengthened PhilHealth Guaranteed Accessible Medications for Outpatient Treatment (Gamot) program.

Marcos said these developments were the result of the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Nakita natin noong panahon ng COVID, nakita natin kung ano 'yung pagkukulang ng ating healthcare system, kung ano 'yung mga kailangan patibayin, ano 'yung magandang nangyari. Kaya ito 'yung aming ginawa. At para pinababa, pinalalapit natin ang healthcare system natin sa taong-bayan para naman, unang-una, sila ay magpapatingin kaagad kapag sila ay may nararamdaman," he said. 

(During the pandemic, we saw what was lacking in our healthcare system and what needed to be strengthened. So this is what we did. We are bringing our healthcare system closer to the people so that, first of all, they will get consultations immediately when they feel something.) 

"Bukod pa doon, makakatulong pa tayo kung sakali man kailangan silang magpagamot ay tutulungan natin sila, tinutulungan natin sila para pagpamura ng gamot para bayaran na ng insurance, ng PhilHealth 'yung mga gamot, at saka 'yung mga ibang tests, at 'yung mga ibang serbisyo," he continued. 

(Aside from that, we can help if they need treatment and provide them medicines, laboratory tests, and other services covered by PhilHealth.) 

To avail of YAKAP benefits, download the eGov mobile app to register to PhilHealth YAKAP, or register through other channels like the PhilHealth member portal (www.philhealth.gov.ph), PhilHealth local health insurance office, or any PhilHealth-accredited primary care provider. 

Earlier this month, Marcos also said he is aspiring to ease the burden of Filipino patients and lessen their out-of-pocket expenses.

Noting that efforts have been made to improve the services of PhilHealth to Filipinos, Marcos said that if the Philippine economy would improve, the government can lessen medical expenses further and, if possible, patients would only shoulder administrative fees. — VDV, GMA Integrated News