Healthcare Within Reach: A Simple Guide to PhilHealth’s Medical Programs

Living in a third-world country often means that its citizens lack the resources to maintain a good quality of life. For Filipinos, one of the most urgent needs is support with medical expenses.  In the September 2025 deliberation of the 2026 DOH budget, officials noted that Filipinos still shoulder about 60% of healthcare expenses out of pocket. 

With that said, to support our fellow kababayans, PhilHealth has officially launched and implemented medical programs such as YAKAP, GAMOT, and KONSULTA to aid in the medical crisis Filipinos have faced in recent years.

PhilHealth Medical Program 1: KONSULTA

PhilHealth offers KONSULTA (Konsultasyong Sulit at Tama), a primary healthcare program that provides essential medical services. It provides free consultations with a primary care physician, basic health risk assessments, routine checkups, laboratory and diagnostic tests, health education and counseling, and medical referrals. However, the service covers only 21 essential medicines.

PhilHealth Medical Program 2: YAKAP

To provide more comprehensive healthcare services, PhilHealth introduced YAKAP (Yaman ng Kalusugan Program), replacing KONSULTA. The expanded program helps Filipinos prevent diseases through regular consultations, early diagnosis, free medicines, advanced laboratory monitoring, and even cancer screenings. In terms of beneficiaries, government and private employees, kasambahays, indigent individuals, persons with disabilities (PWDs), self-earning individuals, professional practitioners, lifetime members, 4Ps beneficiaries, and infants may avail themselves of this program, provided that they are eligible PhilHealth members or qualified dependents.

PhilHealth Medical Program 3: GAMOT

Moreover, another beneficial program PhilHealth provides for Filipinos is the “GAMOT” Program, which stands for Guaranteed and Accessible Medications for Outpatient Treatment. This service is connected to “YAKAP” and helps outpatients access free medicines to reduce their medical expenses, especially those with long-term illnesses. The GAMOT Program covers up to PHP 20,000 worth of medicines annually and includes 75 essential medicines for acute and chronic conditions, as well as free maintenance medicines. 

The program aims to support Filipinos and ease their financial burdens, especially after hospitalization. With this program, PhilHealth members can claim medicines from accredited GAMOT partner health facilities. To ease and simplify medicine transactions, PhilHealth also implemented a digital platform through the GAMOT Web Application, where physicians and pharmacies can access outpatients’ prescription histories and create digital prescriptions.

Please note that this program is available only through specific accredited clinics. Not all healthcare facilities are authorized to provide this service. Attached below is the updated list of accredited health facilities where beneficiaries can access and claim their benefits.

Accredited Health Facilities: https://www.philhealth.gov.ph/partners/providers/facilities/accredited/

Steps to Avail PhilHealth’s YAKAP Benefits

1. Register with a YAKAP Clinic using any of these channels: the eGovPH App, PhilHealth Member Portal, PhilHealth Office, Primary Care Provider, or other authorized channels. If you are already registered, you may proceed directly to your registered YAKAP Clinic.

2. Confirm your First Patient Encounter (FPE) schedule at your registered YAKAP Clinic.

3. Attend your scheduled FPE to receive an overall health assessment. Once completed, you may proceed with your assigned follow-up consultations.

4. After your FPE and follow-up consultations, undergo the necessary health screenings and services recommended by your physician. Prescriptions may be accessed through the GAMOT App, while your records and prescriptions are encoded in the e-Konsulta system.

5. Lastly, continue attending your scheduled follow-up consultations for regular health monitoring and preventive care.

Check out other available PhilHealth benefits such as Inpatient, Outpatient, Z, SDG-related, and Mental Health Benefits on the official website.