Pharma Teams Up With PhilHealth To Improve Medicine Access

The Philippine Pharma Procurement Inc. (PPPI) is seeking a partnership with the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. to guarantee a steady supply of medicines for PhilHealth’s Konsulta and GAMOT initiatives. Recently, PPPI’s president and CEO, Maria Blanca Kim Lokin, met with PhilHealth’s president and CEO, Emmanuel Ledesma Jr., to explore ways to ensure that the Konsulta and GAMOT programs are well-stocked with necessary medications, according to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

The Konsulta program, also known as Konsultasyong Sulit Tama, offers a comprehensive range of outpatient primary care services under the Universal Health Care Law. It includes free annual check-ups, health risk assessments, certain diagnostic tests, and medications. On the other hand, the GAMOT program (Guaranteed and Accessible Medications for Outpatient Treatment) is designed to provide access to specific essential medicines for outpatient care.

The PPPI plans to launch an enhanced Botika ng Bayan, which will serve as distribution points for free medications provided by the Konsulta and GAMOT programs. This new initiative aims to ensure that patients receiving care through the Konsulta program have access to the necessary medications for their treatment.