PhilHealth continues to urge members to utilize its enhanced primary care benefit program, noting that top illnesses and procedures in Western Visayas are largely preventable.
In a media forum on Tuesday, Janimhe Jalbuna, head of PhilHealth Western Visayas public affairs, reported that as of October 31, 2025, the state insurer paid over PHP790.64 million for moderate-risk pneumonia, PHP203.97 million for hypertension, and PHP153.09 million for chronic kidney disease.
Jalbuna highlighted the importance of early interventions through the Yaman ng Kalusugan Program (YAKAP), which provides free medications and laboratory tests. “The symptoms could have been treated before they become aggravated. Take note that low-risk pneumonia can be addressed in our YAKAP. But when it becomes moderate risk, it is already high risk, so it needs admissions in hospitals,” she said.
For procedures, hemodialysis topped the list with over PHP2.86 billion in claims. “For the past years, dialysis is number one,” Jalbuna noted, adding that the increase reflects expanded coverage from 90 to 156 sessions and an enhanced benefits package.
PhilHealth data show that 36.5 percent of Western Visayas’ 8 million population are registered under YAKAP, nearly 93.5 percent of the 2025 target. Of these, 772,739 members, or 56.28 percent, have already availed of their first patient encounter. Currently, the program has 210 accredited providers, including 138 rural health units/city health offices, 52 government hospitals, and 20 private hospitals and clinics.