President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. received recommendations from the Private Sector Advisory Council - Healthcare Sector (PSAC-Healthcare) aimed at lowering healthcare costs for Filipino families, improving access to essential medicines, and expanding healthcare services, particularly in underserved communities.

During its 11th Healthcare Sector meeting with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. at Malacañan Palace on October 21, PSAC-Healthcare highlighted the need to expand PhilHealth benefits, improve medicine availability, and strengthen healthcare facilities, particularly in underserved communities.

The recommendations aim to address a common challenge among Filipino families: the rising financial burden of healthcare, from buying maintenance medicines and paying hospital bills to traveling long distances for medical consultations.

A key priority is strengthening the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation's (PhilHealth) YAKAP and GAMOT programs to help reduce the amount patients pay from their own pockets.

“Our goal is to make healthcare more affordable and accessible to every Filipino. By strengthening PhilHealth benefits, improving access to medicines, and bringing healthcare services closer to communities, we want to help families get the care they need without worrying as much about the cost,” said Paolo Borromeo, PSAC Healthcare Sector Lead and Vice Chairman of Ayala Healthcare Holdings, Inc.

“Working closely with the government is key to turning these recommendations into real improvements that people can feel,” added Borromeo.

As of October 8, 2026, PhilHealth's YAKAP program had reached 22.42 million registered beneficiaries through 4,677 accredited clinics nationwide. Meanwhile, the GAMOT program had served 1.28 million beneficiaries through 3,483 participating pharmacies.

YAKAP helps Filipinos access primary healthcare services, including consultations, while GAMOT provides access to covered outpatient medicines.

PSAC-Healthcare welcomed these developments and recommended further expanding both programs so more families can benefit from affordable healthcare, particularly those managing long-term illnesses that require regular checkups and maintenance medicines.

The Council also supported PhilHealth's ongoing digital transformation to make services faster and easier to access. Planned improvements through the eGovPH application will allow members to check their benefits, find healthcare providers, and monitor medicine coverage more conveniently.

PhilHealth also reported PHP331 billion in claims paid as of October 10, 2026, with a projected PHP425 billion in payments for the year. PSAC emphasized the importance of efficient claims processing to help hospitals and healthcare providers sustain services for patients.

Beyond PhilHealth, PSAC-Healthcare is working with government agencies to improve access to essential medicines, particularly in areas with limited pharmacies.

One proposal is a pilot sandbox program that would allow licensed pharmacists to supervise multiple community pharmacies through digital technology, supported by trained pharmacy assistants on-site.

Targeted for implementation from November 2026 to January 2027, the program aims to make medicines more accessible while maintaining patient safety standards.

PSAC-Healthcare also called for faster registration of medicines and vaccines through the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). From January to September 2026, the FDA cleared 6,971 product registration applications in CDRR, compared with 4,674 during the same period in 2025.

The Council is encouraging continued improvements to reduce pending applications and make more treatment options available to patients.

To address gaps in healthcare facilities, PSAC-Healthcare also recommended updating regulations for hospitals, clinics, and laboratories to encourage expansion while maintaining quality and safety standards.

These efforts include improving hospital referral systems, simplifying licensing and accreditation, and encouraging public-private partnerships to help local governments expand healthcare services in their communities.

PSAC-Healthcare also identified priorities for 2027, including strengthening the country's clinical trials capability, improving access to health technologies and equipment, and helping healthcare facilities prepare for climate-related disruptions.

Through continued collaboration with the Department of Health, PhilHealth, FDA, healthcare providers, local governments, and private sector partners, PSAC aims to support the implementation of reforms that respond to the needs of Filipino patients.

PSAC-Healthcare emphasized that progress should be measured not only by expanded programs and improved systems, but by how these changes help families access treatment, spend less on medicines, and receive timely medical care.

For the Council, the goal is to help build a healthcare system where more Filipinos can get the care they need without putting their families under greater financial strain.

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