FREE MEDICINES. Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) President and Chief Executive Officer Edwin Mercado speaks at the launch of the Guaranteed and Accessible Medications for Outpatient Treatment (GAMOT) package at the Ayala Malls Vertis North in Quezon City on Thursday (Aug. 14, 2025). Mercado said 75 types of medicines will be provided for free at select clinics and pharmacies, with a limit of PHP20,000 per year under the GAMOT package starting Aug. 21. (Photo courtesy of PhilHealth)
MANILA – Filipinos will soon have access to 75 types of medicines for free at select clinics and pharmacies, with a limit of PHP20,000 per year, under the Philippine Health Insurance Corp.'s (PhilHealth) new Guaranteed and Accessible Medications for Outpatient Treatment (GAMOT) package.
During its launch on Thursday, PhilHealth President and Chief Executive Officer Edwin Mercado said it is part of the Yaman ng Kalusugan Program para mailayo sa sakit ang bawat Pilipino (YAKAP) program.
"Dun po sa ating datos ang isa sa malaking out-of-pocket spending ng ating mga kababayan ay doon sa tinatawag nating medical goods (Based on our data, one of the biggest out-of-pocket expenses of our fellow Filipinos is for what we call medical goods)," he said in his speech.
"Kumbaga mga gamot, mga gamit na ginagastusan natin paglabas ng hospital (In other words, medicines and medical supplies that we spend on after being discharged from the hospital)."
The GAMOT package expands on the initial 21 free medicines under the Konsultasyong Sulit Tama or Konsulta benefits package with an additional 54, and will take effect on Aug. 21, based on PhilHealth Circular 2025-0013.
These 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.
The entire list of free medicines is included in the PhilHealth circular.
To avail of the new Gamot package, register as a beneficiary of the PhilHealth's YAKAP program.
The registration can be done through the eGovPH app, the PhilHealth member online portal, at PhilHealth offices, or through other channels.
Beneficiaries must then get a prescription from a YAKAP or PhilHealth-accredited physician before they can avail of the free medicines at any Gamot facility.
Any government-issued ID and the doctor's prescription must be presented at the clinic.
Mercado noted there are 4,300 GAMOT partner clinics where PhilHealth members may avail of the new benefit.
For those in Metro Manila, they may also avail of the new benefit in GAMOT partner pharmacies.
He explained that the GAMOT pharmacies are only available in Metro Manila, but more will be added in the coming days. (PNA)
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