Bringing Healthcare Closer to Rural Communities
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has pledged to improve healthcare accessibility for people living in rural areas. He highlighted the pressing issue of high mortality rates in regional and major hospitals, linking it to the great distances residents must travel to seek medical help.
During the launch of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation’s (PhilHealth) Yaman ng Kalusugan Program (YAKAP) held at Gateway Mall in Cubao, Quezon City, Marcos emphasized the need to address this challenge. “We are asking, and the answer was simple—it’s because the major hospitals are very far from where they live, making it extremely difficult for them to get there,” he explained.
Challenges of Distance and Delayed Care
The president noted that many residents in far-flung areas postpone hospital visits until their health conditions become critical. This delay often leads to higher death rates because timely medical intervention is missed. “How can we prevent that? We need to bring healthcare closer to the people—not just through large hospitals, but also through smaller clinics — what we used to call RHUs or Rural Health Units,” he added.
Expanding Primary Care with YAKAP Program
The YAKAP initiative is part of PhilHealth’s expanded Primary Care Benefit program. Originally launched in 2021 as the Konsultasyong Sulit at Tama Program, it has since grown into a comprehensive primary care package. This program now offers a wider range of medicines, additional laboratory tests, and cancer screening services at accredited primary care facilities nationwide.
By strengthening smaller health units and increasing access to primary care services, the government aims to reduce the burden on large hospitals and ensure Filipinos receive timely medical attention regardless of location.
Local officials and health experts have noted that programs like YAKAP are crucial in bridging the healthcare gap between urban centers and rural communities. They emphasize the importance of sustaining such efforts to improve overall health outcomes across the country.
For more news and updates on healthcare accessibility in rural areas, visit Filipinokami.com.
