75 FREE MEDICINES UNDER GAMOT PACKAGE TO BE PROVIDED BY PHILHEALTH STARTING AUG. 21

THE Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) has announced that starting August 21, 2025, Filipinos will soon have access to 75 types of medicines for free at select clinics and pharmacies, with a limit of P20,000 per year, under its new Guaranteed and Accessible Medications for Outpatient Treatment (GAMOT) package

PhilHealth President and Chief Executive Officer Edwin Mercado said the GAMOT package is part of the Yaman ng Kalusugan Program para mailayo sa sakit ang bawat Pilipino or YAKAP program.

Mercado said that based on PhilHealth Circular 2025-0013, the GAMOT package expands on the initial 21 free medicines under the Konsultasyong Sulit Tama or Konsulta benefits package, with an additional 54,  that will take effect on August 21.

He said the medicines include “common treatments” for a wide range of conditions such as infections, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart conditions, nervous system disorders, and other supportive therapies.

According to Mercado, the list of free medicines is included in the PhilHealth circular.

To avail of the new Gamot package, one must register as a beneficiary of the PhilHealth’s YAKAP program.

The registration can be done through the eGovPH app or the PhilHealth member online portal,

Mercado said beneficiaries must get a prescription from a YAKAP or PhilHealth-accredited physician before they can avail of the free medicines at any GAMOT facility.

He added that any government-issued ID and the doctor’s prescription must be presented at the clinic.

Meanwhle, House Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on Sunday welcomed the forthcoming implementation of PhilHealtth’s new GAMOT package as a crucial measure to reduce out-of-pocket healthcare costs for millions of Filipinos.

Speaker Romualdez commended President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. for his vision and guidance in directing PhilHealth to broaden healthcare services beyond inpatient benefits.

“The continued improvements to PhilHealth’s primary healthcare initiatives demonstrate the Marcos administration’s vow to make healthcare inclusive, responsive, and compassionate for all Filipinos. No one should have to fall sick or die because they were not able to get medical treatment,” he said.

Romualdez stressed that improved access to 75 free medicines at select clinics and pharmacies is not just an economic relief but also a vital step toward prevention and primary care rather than expensive tertiary treatment.

“Marami tayong mga kababayan ang nagtititiis na lang sa kanilang karamdaman at hindi nagpapatingin sa doktor—hindi lamang dahil kailangan nilang magbayad para sa consultation fee at laboratory tests kundi dahil dagdag gastos pa ang gamot na kailangan upang sila ay gumaling,” he said.

He noted that this problem affects not only poor Filipinos but also middle-class households. “Kahit na sa mga may trabaho, pagsubok ang pagpapagamot lalo na sa mga chronic illnesses gaya ng sakit sa puso, diabetes, atbp. Mabigat pa rin sa bulsa ang pagbili sa mga gamot dahil isinasaalang-alang din ng mga middle class earners ang ibang gastusin gaya ng upa o bayad sa bahay, pagkain, at edukasyon ng kanilang mga anak,” Speaker Romualdez said.

He added: “Sa tulong ng GAMOT package ng PhilHealth, maiibsan ang mga gastos sa pagbili ng gamot ng ating mga kababayan at magagamit nila ang perang nalikom para sa iba pang mahalagang gastusin, o hindi kaya ay maitatabi nila ito para sa kanilang kinabukasan.”