The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) is broadening its outpatient services and is now calling on retail pharmacies and hospitals across the country to become accredited providers under its newly launched benefit packages, as shared by the Philippine News Agency.
The centerpiece of this expansion is the Gamot (Guaranteed and Accessible Medications for Outpatient Treatment) package, a program designed to bring essential medicines closer to Filipino patients. PhilHealth said the program will allow accredited community pharmacies to dispense medicines covered under outpatient benefits, ensuring that more members—especially those managing long-term conditions—can access treatment without excessive cost.
Pharmacies Invited to Apply
According to PhilHealth, retail pharmacies licensed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are eligible to apply for accreditation. Interested providers must submit a provider data record, a notarized performance commitment, and proof of medicine availability.
Additional requirements include:
- A valid and updated FDA license to operate
- Certification of IT system compliance
- A general information sheet detailing operations
PhilHealth emphasized that meeting these standards will help guarantee that accredited outlets can reliably deliver medicines to patients across different regions.
Hospitals Encouraged to Expand Services
Alongside pharmacies, hospitals are also being urged to participate. PhilHealth invited hospitals nationwide to submit letters of undertaking to provide outpatient cancer screening services, which form part of its expanded benefit packages.
By engaging both pharmacies and hospitals, the state health insurer aims to strengthen outpatient care. This includes access not only to medications but also to diagnostic services that are essential for early detection and treatment of serious illnesses.
Expanding Access to Care
PhilHealth said the expansion is part of its broader effort to make health services more accessible, affordable, and responsive to the needs of members. By opening up accreditation to retail pharmacies, medicines for conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and other chronic illnesses can be distributed more widely, especially in areas where hospitals and large health centers are limited.
The call for hospitals to provide cancer screenings also highlights PhilHealth’s focus on prevention and early detection. With cancer remaining one of the leading causes of death in the Philippines, expanded screening services could help save lives by identifying cases earlier, when treatment is more effective.
Supporting Universal Health Care
The launch of Gamot and the encouragement for hospitals to offer expanded outpatient services fall under PhilHealth’s commitment to the Universal Health Care (UHC) Law. By bringing medicines and diagnostics closer to communities, the agency hopes to ease the financial and physical burden on Filipino families who often struggle to access consistent treatment.
PhilHealth officials stressed that participation from pharmacies and hospitals is crucial for the program’s success. They said wider provider networks will help close gaps in the delivery of outpatient services and provide members with more choices.
The expansion marks another step in PhilHealth’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its health benefit packages and deliver on its mandate of affordable and equitable health care for all Filipinos.