The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. launched a milestone project Tuesday in Cebu aimed at making essential outpatient medications more accessible and affordable for its members.

The program, known as Guaranteed and Accessible Medications for Outpatient Treatment (GAMOT), is designed to strengthen primary care and expand access to medicines in Central Visayas, according to Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa.

“This is PhilHealth’s expanded outpatient medicines benefit designed to make essential medications more accessible and affordable for members,” Herbosa said.

The initiative addresses out-of-pocket health spending, which officials cited as a leading financial burden for Filipinos. GAMOT ensures coverage for essential drugs used to manage both common and chronic illnesses.

Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro welcomed the program and noted that Cebu is the first province to avail itself of the initiative. She told DAILY TRIBUNE that four provincial and 12 district hospitals in Cebu will apply for accreditation to dispense the medications through their existing pharmacies.

A key feature of the GAMOT program is its coverage of 75 essential medicines, a significant expansion of previous outpatient drug benefits. The program provides an annual benefit limit of up to P20,000 per member and per dependent.

The coverage includes prescriptions for hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, asthma and other respiratory diseases. It also covers treatments for infections and selected cardiovascular and neurologic conditions.