BAGUIO CITY (PIA) — “Kung Konsulta ka noon, YAKAP ka na ngayon, Walang pinag-iba, iisa lamang ang layunin nito — ang magbigay ng primary care sa bawat Pilipino. YAKAP is essentially the new name for Konsulta; the core principle of primary care remains the same.”
The YAKAP or Yaman ng Kalusugan Program is an expanded version of the Konsulta package, aimed at improving primary healthcare services for all Filipinos. It builds upon the existing Konsulta program by offering a wider range of services including health screening and laboratory, Janet Palaez of the Baguio City Local Health Insurance Office (LHIO) explained in a recent information drive, clarifying confusion arising from the two terminologies.
Under PhilHealth YAKAP, beneficiaries can access check-ups, laboratories, and notably, cancer screening tests. These tests, available through accredited hospital labs, include mammograms, breast ultrasounds, low-dose chest CT scans, alpha-fetoprotein tests, liver ultrasounds, and colonoscopies, Palaez elaborated.
Another key component of YAKAP is the PhilHealth GAMOT or Guaranteed Accessible Medications for Outpatient Treatment. This program aims to reduce out-of-pocket expenses for patients by providing access to 75 identified medicines, a significant increase from the original 21 offered under Konsulta. Each patient can avail up to P20,000 worth of medicines per year.
To avail of YAKAP benefits, Filipinos as well as foreigners who are PhilHealth members must register at an accredited YAKAP facility.
In Baguio City, there are currently 18 accredited facilities including the Quezon Elementary School Clinic for Department of Education employees and students, the Fort del Pilar Health Station, and one private facility, the Olympian. Medical and Diagnostic Center at Upper Mabini Street, Baguio City.
Benguet province also has 13 Rural Health Units (RHUs) accredited under the program, she added.
“Patients have the freedom to choose their preferred facility from the list provided,” Palaez emphasized.
Registration can be done through the eGovPH app, the PhilHealth Member Portal, a local PhilHealth office, or directly at a YAKAP clinic.
Palaez stressed the importance of registration: “You need to register at a YAKAP facility to avail of the program’s benefits. Pagpunta mo sa YÀKAP center idedetermine nila kung kailangan mo ng laboratory, or kailangan mong ma refer sa cancer screening, pero kung ok ka naman, you are healthy, no need. Para lang makita nila kung meron kang karamdaman kaya nga primary care. Prevention is better than cure.”
Upon visiting a YAKAP center, healthcare professionals will determine the need for laboratory tests or referral for cancer screening. This primary care approach prioritizes prevention, as it is always better to prevent illness than to cure it.
**JDP/MAWC-PIA-CAR
