TAGBILARAN CITY – The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) in coordination with the Department of Health (DOH) officially launched on Wednesday the Yaman sa Kalusugan Program (YAKAP) in the Province of Bohol during the simple program held at MetroCenter Hotel here.
The said program, the former Konsultasyong Sulit at Tama or Konsulta (Konsulta), brings new assurance of Php20,000/year for medicines for each person registered with the Philhealth and the cancer-screening for free.
The program aims to keep Filipinos away from illness through primary preventive care, according to Philhealth Regional Vice-President Ms. Marjorie Cabrieto.
YAKAP’s benefit package includes the enhanced PhilHealth Guaranteed and Accessible Medications for Outpatient Treatment (GAMOT), a comprehensive outpatient drug benefit package that includes 75 types of medicines with an annual benefit limit of P20,000 per member and per dependent.
She said that the cancer-screening is to test early detection especially the four leading cancer-related ailments cancer on breast, liver, lung and colon —- the country is facing.
Cancer screening tests includes mammography and breast ultrasound (screening tool for breast cancer), low dose chest CT scan (lung cancer), Alpha fetoprotein and liver ultrasound (liver cancer), colonoscopy after positive Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) or Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT), currently under PhilHealth Case Rates or the fixed coverage per illness or medical procedure.
DOH said that it’s not only public hospitals but also private-run hospitals may avail of the package as long as they are DOH-accredited to the said program.
The provincial government is running ten hospitals who are already accredited according to Provincial Health Office.
Health Regional Director Dr. Joshua Brillantes, who threw support for the program, urged the municipal mayors and the provincial government to band together and find out how to carry out the program effectively.
Governor Aris Aumentado who also vowed a back-up for the program, said that YAKAP could be a life-saver and to help promote good lifestyle and thanked Philhealth for it.
The launching was attended by municipal mayors, health care personnel and media. (Ric Obedencio)
