A new healthcare initiative aimed at expanding access to essential medicines was officially introduced in Ilagan City, Isabela on Wednesday, drawing residents and patients who welcomed the rollout of the service. The launch event, held at the Capital Arena, marked the formal introduction of PhilHealth’s Gamot program in the Cagayan Valley region.
PhilHealth President and CEO Dr. Edwin Mercado, who attended as guest speaker, noted that the rollout in the region may serve as one of the early implementations in Northern Luzon, following earlier launches in Metro Manila, Central Visayas, Davao de Oro, and Quezon.
RELATED: [Isabela’s Cabagan Recognized As Most Child-Friendly Municipality]
The program provides access to as many as 75 types of free medicines annually, primarily intended for chronic and long-term illnesses. It is implemented under the Yakap program, which requires patients to be registered in accredited local health facilities to avail of the medicines.
Expanding Access to Essential Maintenance Medicines
According to Mercado, the initiative is designed to improve access to treatment for common conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, asthma, and certain infections. The system links patients to accredited health centers managed by local government units to ensure proper monitoring and distribution.
Around 1,000 residents attended the launch, with several patients immediately availing of the services. One of the first recipients, Cherilyn Aguto, completed the process through PhilHealth’s four-step system, which includes registration, consultation, and medicine dispensing, reportedly finishing the entire procedure in about 10 minutes.
“Ilagan City Hosts Launch of PhilHealth Gamot Program for Outpatient Medicines,” Aguto said after availing of the service.
Mercado expressed confidence that the program can be sustained based on earlier pilot implementations. He pointed out that previous rollouts demonstrated a reliable connection between application systems and financial operations, ensuring timely payments to partner providers.
“We have already piloted in Manila, so we have shown that the connection of the applications there with our financial systems is very strong, so we paid the pharmacists within 15 days. We have a peace of mind that we can pay. Our partner pharmacies and hospitals have seen proof that we can pay,” explained Mercado.
How to Avail of the Gamot Program
To access the program, beneficiaries must register through Yakap-accredited clinics, rural health units, city health offices, or government hospitals. Requirements include a valid prescription from an accredited physician and a government-issued identification card to ensure proper verification and prevent misuse of the system.
Mercado also clarified that medicines are available through designated government health facilities, while some areas may also coordinate with partner pharmacies for distribution.
The initiative is expected to significantly ease the financial burden of Filipinos managing chronic illnesses, particularly those requiring regular maintenance medications.
For communities in Ilagan City and beyond, the program reflects ongoing efforts to strengthen public healthcare access, especially for low-income patients who often struggle with the rising cost of long-term treatment and medicines.
RELATED: [Ilagan Continues Education Support With Iskolar Ng Bayan Program]
