(DC file photo)
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has directed government agencies to intensify efforts to inform more Filipinos about PhilHealth’s annual Php 20,000 medicine benefit under the GAMOT program, while pushing for faster approval of medicines and healthcare products.
During a meeting with the Private Sector Advisory Council’s Healthcare Sector Group at Malacañang on October 21, Marcos raised concerns that many Filipinos enrolled in PhilHealth’s YAKAP program had yet to avail themselves of the medicine benefit.
The President instructed PhilHealth and the Presidential Communications Office to strengthen public awareness campaigns and bring information about the program directly to communities.
Barangay health workers, local government units, and traditional and digital media platforms will be tapped to reach more beneficiaries and encourage eligible members to access their medicine coverage.
The initiative aims to address the gap between healthcare enrollment and the actual use of available medical benefits, particularly among Filipinos who need financial assistance for prescription medicines.
Meanwhile, Marcos also directed the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to accelerate regulatory processes to improve the availability of medicines and other healthcare products.
Newly appointed FDA Director General Margarita Gutierrez committed to clearing the agency’s backlog of pending applications within one year.
To achieve the target, the FDA plans to recruit 125 additional evaluators and five systems analysts to improve processing efficiency and address delays, particularly in applications still handled manually.
The administration is also pursuing digital reforms to simplify access to government healthcare services.
The Department of Information and Communications Technology has proposed integrating government contribution payments into the eGov Superapp to make transactions more accessible and convenient.
A regulatory sandbox for pharmacies is also scheduled for pilot implementation in November to test improvements in pharmacy operations and services.
The government said the initiatives are intended to improve access to medicines, reduce administrative delays, and ensure that existing healthcare benefits reach more Filipinos.
The measures form part of the administration’s broader efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery and ease the financial burden of medical expenses on Filipino families.
