The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) said more than 300 pharmacies nationwide have been accredited under the Guaranteed Access to Medicines for Outpatients and Treatment (GAMOT) Program.

PhilHealth has allocated P15.3 billion for the YAKAP program and P2.9 billion for the GAMOT program this year.

“As of Sept. 30, 304 pharmacies are accredited nationwide, of which 56 po ang nasa (are in) Metro Manila,” PhilHealth President and Chief Executive Officer Edwin Mercado said in a media roundtable discussion in Quezon City.

“Pharmacy chains initially took a ‘wait-and-see’ approach, but now that they have experienced the program, they’re already in talks with us to have their branches accredited,” he added.

The remaining pharmacies are spread across the country as part of the program’s strategic phased rollout.

In Metro Manila, Phases 1 and 2 have been implemented, followed by the soft implementation of Phase 3.

The state insurer’s planned Phase 4 rollout is by the end of 2025 or early next year as it assesses which provinces are ready to join the next phases to ensure that implementation remains smooth, sustainable, and beneficial to local communities.

GAMOT is designed to complement the Yamang Kalusugan Para sa Pamilyang Pilipino (YAKAP) primary care program by ensuring that registered members have affordable and accessible medicines from accredited pharmacies nationwide.

To date, PhilHealth reported 36 million registered members under YAKAP who have already selected their primary care clinics.

Of these, 8.87 million members have completed their first patient encounter (FPE) this year.

This figure is in addition to 6 to 7 million FPEs recorded last year, totaling 15 to 16 million active members who have accessed primary care services.

The agency targets to reach 50 million registered members and 20 million FPEs by the end of the year.

“All Filipinos are covered by Universal Health Care and therefore eligible for YAKAP and GAMOT,” Mercado said.

PIXABAY PHOTO