The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. in Western Visayas (PhilHealth-6) has launched its first Guaranteed Access Medication to Outpatient Treatment (GAMOT) program in Antique.

Under the program, the accredited pharmacy dispenses essential medicines based on a prescription of an accredited provider of the Yaman ng Kalusugan Program (YAKAP), demonstrating seamless integration of the initiative in a rural community setting.

“Yesterday (Monday), PhilHealth launched the GAMOT Program in Anini-y, Antique, with the San Vicente Pharmacy as the first facility to dispense prescribed medicines of YAKAP physicians,” PhilHealth-6 Acting Regional Vice President for Western Visayas Larry Tabsing said at the Kapihan sa Western Visayas forum here on Tuesday.

He said they decided to launch the program in a remote area where there is less access to such a service.

They target to pilot two facilities in every province for actual testing and subsequently roll out the program throughout the region.

In Western Visayas, PhilHealth has accredited 67 pharmacies for the GAMOT program — six each in Aklan and Antique, 11 in Capiz, eight each in Guimaras and Iloilo province, five in Iloilo City, and 23 in Negros Occidental.

Tabsing said they will gradually roll out the initiative in other parts of the region in the succeeding months.

“We take this opportunity to invite private pharmacies, if they like, to apply for accreditation,” he said.

Field Operations Division chief Junie Sabusap said that to avail of GAMOT, a PhilHealth member must enlist with the YAKAP facility.

Upon consultation, a digital prescription is made and the medicine can be claimed from an accredited GAMOT pharmacy.

Under the new system, the member will also know outright how much is left of the allocated PHP20,000 PhilHealth allowance for the medicines.

He said members are gradually feeling Universal Health Care, where it’s easier for them to avail of benefits without shelling out any amount.

“Even at the preventive side, they can avail of medicines and maintenance with no out-of-the-pocket expense,” Sabusap said.

GAMOT-accredited facilities provide 54 basic medications, in addition to 21 medicines that are available under the YAKAP program. (PNA)