ILOILO CITY — A local community pharmacy has taken a step toward bringing essential medicines closer to residents in rural areas.

San Vicente Pharmacy piloted the PhilHealth Guaranteed and Accessible Medications for Outpatient Treatment (GAMOT) program, providing prescribed outpatient medicines to patients with valid PhilHealth YAKAP physician prescriptions.

During the program’s launch, PhilHealth Antique officer in charge Virginia Pagnamitan praised the initiative and commended Jose Roy Falco, owner of the pharmacy and a YAKAP-accredited facility, for efforts to improve access to healthcare in the community.

PhilHealth information officer Cherish Ly Ariola said the first transactions proceeded smoothly and without delays, signaling the program’s readiness for broader implementation.

The GAMOT program is a PhilHealth initiative aimed at ensuring affordable and reliable access to outpatient medicines, particularly in geographically isolated and underserved areas. Ariola said the pilot demonstrated how local establishments can support efforts to strengthen primary healthcare delivery.

Falco expressed optimism over the initial rollout, noting that timely access to medicines is critical for recovery and treatment continuity.

Health stakeholders and members of the PhilHealth YAKAP network welcomed the pilot, citing its potential to improve treatment compliance and overall health outcomes.

Following the implementation in Anini-y, PhilHealth said it would explore expanding the GAMOT program to more pharmacies across Antique to broaden access to essential medicines.