CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — More than 4.3 million beneficiaries in Central Luzon have been assigned to Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth)-accredited Yaman ng Kalusugan Program (YAKAP) clinics as part of the government’s implementation of Universal Health Care (UHC).
Data from PhilHealth Regional Office III as of June 2026 showed that 4,322,324 beneficiaries in the region have been assigned to a YAKAP clinic, while 931,594 have completed their First Patient Encounter (FPE), the initial consultation that enables early assessment, screening, and management of possible health risks.
Central Luzon currently has 582 accredited YAKAP clinics and 320 accredited Guaranteed Accessible Medications for Outpatient Treatment (GAMOT) providers. A total of 73,045 beneficiaries have received medicines through the GAMOT package.
Among the provinces, Bataan recorded the highest number of completed FPEs at 416,628, Bulacan had the highest number of GAMOT beneficiaries at 39,113, and Pampanga posted the highest number of assigned YAKAP beneficiaries at 959,091.
YAKAP forms part of PhilHealth’s primary care strategy, linking members to accredited clinics for consultations, laboratory tests, cancer screening services, and referrals to higher levels of care when needed.
The FPE establishes a patient’s health profile and helps healthcare providers detect hypertension, diabetes, asthma, and other chronic conditions before complications develop.
GAMOT complements the program by covering selected outpatient medicines prescribed by accredited primary care providers.
In his fifth State of the Nation Address, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. emphasized the government’s shift toward prevention and early intervention under UHC.
“Daig ng maagap ang masipag. Ito ang layunin ng ating YAKAP Program: ilayo ang Pilipino mula sa sakit; at tugunan nang maaga ang nagbabadyang karamdaman. Sa taong ito, apat at kalahating milyon na ang nakapagpatingin mula sa dalawampu’t limang milyong Pilipinong nakarehistro sa programang ito,” the President said.
Marcos said PhilHealth members may access medicines from more than 2,000 accredited providers nationwide, with an annual benefit limit of P20,000 per beneficiary.
“Ngayon, pitumpu’t lima na ang mahahalagang gamot na kasama sa listahan ng programang ito. Mayroon diyang antibiotic, laban sa asthma, altapresyon, cholesterol, para sa diabetes, sa ubo, lagnat, at iba pang mga sakit na kadalasang nararamdaman. Sa pitong buwan ng taong ito, mahigit tatlong daang libong kababayan natin ang nakinabang dito,” he added.
The expansion of YAKAP and GAMOT supports the administration’s efforts to strengthen primary care, promote early detection and treatment of diseases, and improve access to essential outpatient medicines in communities across Central Luzon.
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