THE Philippine Pharma Procurement Inc. (PPPI) has partnered with the Social Security System (SSS) and a private primary care services provider to make free consultations, laboratory tests and access to 75 essential medicines available to PhilHealth members.
Maria Blanca Kim Lokin, PPPI president and CEO, led the signing of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Julie Benedicto, Life Saver Medical Services president, at the SSS Diliman Branch in Quezon City with SSS President and CEO Robert Joseph de Claro and PhilHealth Vice President Walter Bacaresa as witnesses.
Lokin said the MOA formalizes the delivery of essential and basic medicines and vaccines under PhilHealth’s Yaman ng Kalusugan (Yakap) program through the "Pambansang Botika" which was launched earlier this year by the three government agencies.
The services would begin immediately upon signing in pursuant to the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to bring health care services closer to every Filipino, said Lokin, whose agency is the only government-owned and controlled corporation (GOCC) that deals with the health aspect for the people.
“We are concentrating on linking PPPI’s pharmacy services with the Yakap program of PhilHealth to provide comprehensive health care services as directed by our president,” she told reporters.
Under the agreement, the PPPI — mandated to procure and distribute "quality and affordable medicines and vaccines as well as health care products" to both public and private sectors — will be the direct wholesale medicine supplier to Life Saver, ensuring the availability and continuity of the 75 essential medicines at the SSS Diliman branch.
Lauding the initiative of PPPI in partnership with Benedicto’s Life Saver, de Claro said services to SSS members, particularly pensioners, have been expanded.
“Our pensioners may avail of free primary care services and free medicines when they visit our Diliman branch, as we also intend to open similar Pambansang Botika outlets at SSS’ bigger branches outside Metro Manila,” he told The Manila Times.
While SSS pensioners and members are the primary beneficiaries at its Diliman branch, de Claro explained that Yakap services are also open to PhilHealth members.
“The Pambansang Botika at SSS Diliman Branch would be open to all Filipinos. No one is turned away,” he said.
Those who are not yet registered under the Yakap program may register on-site or through the eGovPh App, the PhilHealth portal or any PhilHealth office, said Bacaresa.
A Yakap program beneficiary can receive P20,000 worth of essential doctor’s prescribed medicines every year, Bacaresa said.