MANILA – The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) has added screening tests for the country’s four leading cancers and 54 new medicines under its Yaman ng Kalusugan Program (YAKAP), the agency announced.

With the new additions under the Guaranteed and Accessible Medications for Outpatient Treatment (GAMOT) initiative, the total number of free medicines available to members has risen to 75.

“We also have expanded the YAKAP program to include screening test po para doon sa four top cancers in the Philippines: Iyon pong breast cancer, so mayroon tayong libreng chest mammography at saka po chest, breast ultrasound,” PhilHealth spokesperson Israel Francis Pargas said on Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon.

He added that other cancer screenings now offered include liver, lung, and colorectal tests. “Para naman po sa liver cancer, we have libreng Alpha-fetoprotein at para po sa lung cancer, mayroon tayong tinatawag na low-dose CT scan; and para po sa colorectal cancer, iyon pong libreng colonoscopy screening examination,” he said.

(Translation: For breast cancer, there are free mammography and breast ultrasounds; for liver cancer, free Alpha-fetoprotein tests; for lung cancer, low-dose CT scans; and for colorectal cancer, free colonoscopy examinations.)

Before the expansion, YAKAP already provided free consultations, 13 laboratory procedures, and 21 medicines. The medicines may be availed through clinics accredited under YAKAP where PhilHealth members are registered.