If you are a PhilHealth member, there is a benefit you may not be using yet. PhilHealth YAKAP is the government's national primary care program that gives all members and their dependents free consultations, free laboratory tests, cancer screenings, and up to ₱20,000 worth of essential medicines every year, at no additional cost beyond your regular PhilHealth contributions.
What Is PhilHealth YAKAP?
YAKAP stands for Yaman ng Kalusugan Program, which translates loosely to "Health Wealth Program." Launched on July 25, 2025, it replaced the old Konsulta program and brought expanded medicine coverage, more laboratory tests, and a clearer enrollment process for members. According to the official PhilHealth YAKAP page, the initiative monitors members' health through accredited clinics to enable early disease detection, appropriate treatment, and hospitalization prevention.
YAKAP bundles four benefit packages under one program:
- KONSULTA — Free primary care consultations with an accredited doctor
- GAMOT — Up to ₱20,000 worth of essential medicines per year
- LABORATORYO — 13 outpatient laboratory tests
- SCREEN — 6 cancer screening tests
What Does PhilHealth YAKAP Cover?
Free Consultations (KONSULTA)
Your first clinic visit under YAKAP is called the First Patient Encounter (FPE). This is a comprehensive checkup that includes a health history review, physical examination, and baseline diagnostic tests. After the FPE, you can return for regular follow-up consultations whenever needed. According to SeriousMD's YAKAP guide, teleconsultation follow-ups are also allowed once you have completed your initial in-person FPE.
Free Medicines (GAMOT)
The GAMOT benefit is the most significant part of YAKAP for many families. Members receive a ₱20,000 annual credit line covering 75 essential medicines for common chronic and infectious conditions. The list includes antibiotics (amoxicillin, ciprofloxacin, clarithromycin), diabetes medications (metformin, gliclazide), cardiovascular drugs (amlodipine, losartan, aspirin, enalapril), respiratory treatments (salbutamol, fluticasone + salmeterol), cholesterol management (simvastatin), and more.
For 2026, PhilHealth confirmed that 21 of these 75 medicines are guaranteed to be in stock at all accredited clinics, per PhilHealth Advisory No. 2026-0007. GMA News reported that these 21 cover the most commonly needed maintenance drugs and antibiotics. The remaining 54 are on the covered list, but stock levels depend on individual clinics.
To claim medicines, your YAKAP doctor issues a prescription containing a Unique Prescription Security Code (UPSC). You bring this to any GAMOT-accredited pharmacy, where the medicines are dispensed at no charge against your annual credit.
Free Lab Tests (LABORATORYO)
YAKAP covers 13 outpatient laboratory tests. These include blood sugar, cholesterol, complete blood count (CBC), urinalysis, and other tests commonly needed to manage chronic conditions and monitor general health. Your YAKAP doctor orders these during consultations as clinically indicated.
Cancer Screenings (SCREEN)
YAKAP also covers six cancer screening tests:
- Mammogram
- Breast ultrasound
- Low-dose chest CT scan
- Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) blood test for liver cancer detection
- Liver ultrasound
- Colonoscopy
Availability of cancer screenings varies by clinic and area. Check with your chosen YAKAP provider before scheduling these tests.
Who Is Eligible for PhilHealth YAKAP?
All registered PhilHealth members and their qualified dependents are eligible, regardless of membership category. According to the official PhilHealth YAKAP page, this includes:
- Government and private employees
- Self-employed individuals and professionals
- Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs)
- Indigent and sponsored members, including 4Ps (Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program) beneficiaries
- Senior citizens and lifetime members
- Persons with disabilities
- Solo parents
- Kasambahay (domestic workers)
- Children under 21 years old and infants
If you are enrolled in PhilHealth, you qualify. Your registered spouse, children, and other dependents are covered as well.
How to Enroll in PhilHealth YAKAP: Step by Step
Step 1: Register for YAKAP
You can register through any of these channels:
- eGovPH Super App (recommended): Download the app, log in to your PhilHealth account, and access the YAKAP registration section
- PhilHealth Member Portal at philhealth.gov.ph
- In person at any PhilHealth Local Health Insurance Office
- Through your chosen YAKAP clinic, which can assist with registration on your first visit
Step 2: Choose an Accredited YAKAP Clinic
As of early 2026, there are over 4,000 accredited YAKAP clinics nationwide. Use the eGovPH app or the PhilHealth Member Portal to find the nearest one. This clinic becomes your Primary Care Provider (PCP), so choose one that is convenient for regular visits since your empanelment is tied to that specific clinic.
To find an accredited YAKAP clinic near you, use the clinic locator on the PhilHealth YAKAP page or search for partner clinics on the eGovPH Super App. You can also call the PhilHealth hotline at (02) 866-225-88, available 24/7.
Step 3: Complete Your First Patient Encounter
Visit your chosen YAKAP clinic in person. This initial visit is required to verify your identity and establish your health baseline. The FPE includes a physical exam, health history review, and any baseline lab tests your doctor orders. There is no purely online option for this step, per the PhilHealth YAKAP FAQs.
Step 4: Sign the YAKAP Empanelment Slip
After your FPE, you will sign the YAKAP Empanelment Slip (YES). This officially links you to your chosen clinic as your primary care home. Once signed, you are fully enrolled and can begin availing all YAKAP benefits on your next visit.
Limitations Worth Knowing About
YAKAP is a genuinely useful benefit, but there are practical realities to be aware of so you are not caught off guard when you try to use it.
Benefits are only available at accredited providers. You cannot walk into any hospital or pharmacy and use YAKAP. Services must be at accredited YAKAP clinics, and medicines must be claimed at GAMOT-accredited pharmacies. The pharmacy network is still growing, and an Inquirer report noted that access remains uneven across the country, particularly outside major cities.
The ₱20,000 medicines credit is annual and capped. Once exhausted, you pay out of pocket for medicines until the credit resets at the start of the next benefit year. For families with multiple members on maintenance drugs, this limit can be reached faster than expected.
Not all 75 medicines are guaranteed in stock. Only 21 are confirmed available at every accredited clinic for 2026. For other medicines on the list, stock levels depend on the individual clinic, so it is worth calling ahead before your visit.
You are tied to one clinic. Your empanelment is with a specific Primary Care Provider. Switching clinics requires going through the enrollment process again. Choose a clinic that is near your home or workplace and is reliably accessible.
Cancer screenings are still being rolled out. The SCREEN component of YAKAP is not yet available at every accredited clinic. Verify with your provider before expecting to schedule a mammogram or colonoscopy.
Is It Worth Enrolling?
For anyone managing a chronic condition, a family with young children, or anyone who has been putting off checkups because of cost, the answer is yes. Free consultations and up to ₱20,000 in annual medicines are a significant benefit, especially for households where the cost of maintenance drugs alone can be a monthly burden.
The program is far from perfect. The pharmacy network needs to expand, cancer screenings are not yet widely available, and not all 75 medicines are reliably in stock. But enrolling costs nothing, your PhilHealth contributions already cover it, and even partial benefits are better than going without care entirely.
Start by downloading the eGovPH Super App or visiting philhealth.gov.ph/yakap to find an accredited clinic near you and complete your registration.
PhilHealth also covers other primary healthcare needs, including dental checkups and cleanings. Read more: The PhilHealth Dental Benefit Most Filipinos Don't Know They Have.