By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos
MANILA — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) – Healthcare Sector are pushing for reforms to make healthcare more affordable and accessible to Filipinos, particularly those in underserved communities.
During the 11th meeting with PSAC-Healthcare at Malacañan Palace in Manila on Wednesday, Marcos was briefed on the council’s recommendations to expand Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) benefits, improve access to essential medicines, and strengthen healthcare facilities nationwide.
In a news release on Friday, PSAC said the proposals seek to ease the financial burden on Filipino families who often struggle with the cost of maintenance medicines, hospital bills, and transportation to healthcare facilities.
A key recommendation is the expansion of PhilHealth’s Yaman ng Kalusugan Program (YAKAP) and Guaranteed Accessible Medications for Outpatient Treatment (GAMOT) program to help reduce patients’ out-of-pocket healthcare expenses.
“Our goal is to make healthcare more affordable and accessible to every Filipino. By strengthening PhilHealth benefits, improving access to medicines, and bringing healthcare services closer to communities, we want to help families get the care they need without worrying as much about the cost,” PSAC Healthcare Sector Lead and Ayala Healthcare Holdings, Inc. vice chairperson Paolo Borromeo said.
Borromeo underscored the importance of collaboration between the government and the private sector in translating the recommendations into tangible improvements for patients.
As of Oct. 8, PhilHealth’s YAKAP program has reached 22.42 million registered beneficiaries through 4,677 accredited clinics nationwide.
Meanwhile, the GAMOT program has served 1.28 million beneficiaries through 3,483 participating pharmacies.
YAKAP provides access to primary healthcare services, including consultations and preventive care, while GAMOT helps members obtain covered outpatient medicines.
PSAC-Healthcare welcomed the programs’ progress and recommended expanding their reach, particularly for families managing chronic illnesses that require regular medical consultations and maintenance medicines.
The council also supported PhilHealth’s ongoing digital transformation to make services more convenient and accessible.
Planned improvements through the eGovPH application would allow members to check their benefits, locate healthcare providers, and monitor medicine coverage more easily.
PhilHealth reported paying PHP331 billion in claims as of Oct. 10 with total payments projected to reach PHP425 billion for the year.
PSAC highlighted the importance of efficient claims processing to help hospitals and other healthcare providers maintain their services and meet patients’ needs.
Beyond PhilHealth, PSAC-Healthcare is working with government agencies to improve access to essential medicines, particularly in areas with limited pharmacies.
One proposal involves a pilot sandbox program that would allow licensed pharmacists to supervise multiple community pharmacies through digital technology, with trained pharmacy assistants providing on-site support.
The program is targeted for implementation from November 2026 to January 2027 and aims to make medicines more accessible while maintaining patient safety standards.
PSAC-Healthcare also called for faster registration of medicines and vaccines through the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to make treatment options available to patients.
From January to September 2026, the FDA cleared 6,971 product registration applications in the Center for Drug Regulation and Research, up from 4,674 during the same period in 2025.
The council encouraged continued improvements to reduce pending applications and accelerate access to medicines and vaccines.
To address gaps in healthcare facilities, PSAC-Healthcare recommended updating regulations for hospitals, clinics, and laboratories to encourage expansion while maintaining quality and safety standards.
“These efforts include improving hospital referral systems, simplifying licensing and accreditation, and encouraging public-private partnerships to help local governments expand healthcare services in their communities,” PSAC said.
For 2027, the council identified additional priorities, including strengthening the country’s clinical trials capabilities, improving access to health technologies and equipment, and helping medical facilities prepare for climate-related disruptions.
“Through continued collaboration with the Department of Health, PhilHealth, FDA, healthcare providers, local governments, and private sector partners, PSAC aims to support the implementation of reforms that respond to the needs of Filipino patients,” it said. (PNA)
