ANTIQUE – The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) in Antique is encouraging residents to register for its newly launched YAKAP (Yaman ng Kalusugan) Program, an expanded health initiative aimed at strengthening preventive care and ensuring continuous medical support.
PhilHealth Antique Officer-in-Charge Virginia Pagnamitan said the program goes beyond providing treatment when patients are already ill. It also promotes preventive care and overall health management.
“Hindi run kita maghulat nga magmasakit pa kita, but go to the YAKAP Clinic para ma-check up ni doc,” Pagnamitan stressed, underscoring the importance of early consultations to avoid costly hospital admissions.
The YAKAP program builds on the former Konsulta services and now includes two additional components: the GAMOT (Guaranteed and Accessible Medications for Outpatient Treatment) program and vital cancer screenings.
Through GAMOT, each PhilHealth member may access up to P20,000 worth of medicines annually, once prescribed by a YAKAP physician. However, Pagnamitan clarified that there are still no GAMOT-accredited providers in Antique at present.
To register, Antiqueños must first be PhilHealth members and then register with a YAKAP-accredited clinic. These include all former Konsulta providers such as Rural Health Units (RHUs), primary health care facilities, and government hospitals across the province. Upon a First Patient Encounter (FPE) with a YAKAP physician, patients will receive a personalized health roadmap, prescriptions, or referrals for further tests.
As of July 2025, PhilHealth data shows that 89 percent of Antique’s population is covered, leaving 11 percent still unregistered.
Pagnamitan urged those who are not yet enrolled to take advantage of the program.
“Early registration and regular check-ups can help us prevent severe illnesses and reduce hospitalization,” she said./PN
