PASSI CITY, Iloilo — The City Primary Health Care Facility here has officially been accredited as a PhilHealth GAMOT Primary Care Facility, a move that will put essential outpatient medicines within financial reach of thousands of residents. The accreditation means eligible Passinhons can now access up to ₱20,000 worth of free prescription drugs annually.
A Milestone for Community Health
The accreditation places Passi City among a growing number of municipalities in Iloilo that are strengthening their primary care safety nets. It shifts the focus from hospital‑based treatment to preventive, community‑centered medicine. For families managing chronic illnesses, the benefit can ease the heavy burden of monthly pharmacy bills.
City health officer Dr. Phoebe S. Palomo and her team led the rigorous compliance effort required to secure the accreditation. The facility now meets PhilHealth’s standards for outpatient care, ensuring that medicines for hypertension, diabetes, and other common conditions are dispensed directly at the local health center. The achievement reflects a deliberate push to make quality healthcare a cornerstone of local governance.
How the GAMOT Benefit Works
The Guaranteed and Accessible Medications for Outpatient Treatment (GAMOT) program is integrated into PhilHealth’s expanded Yaman ng Kalusugan Program (YAKAP). Every eligible member and each qualified dependent receives a separate ₱20,000 annual medicine cap. The coverage includes a formulary of 75 essential drugs, from maintenance to acute care prescriptions.
To avail of the benefit, residents must register with the Passi City Primary Health Care Facility as their chosen primary care provider. During their first consultation, a physician evaluates their health and, if needed, issues an electronic prescription with a unique security code. The patient then claims the medicines at the facility’s pharmacy at no cost. Unused balances expire at the end of the calendar year, encouraging regular check‑ups.
Accessible Care for All Passinhons
The accreditation directly addresses a long‑standing challenge: the high out‑of‑pocket cost of medicines that often forces patients to skip doses or abandon treatment. By removing financial barriers, the facility helps keep residents healthier and reduces emergency hospitalizations. The program particularly benefits the elderly, indigent families, and those with disabilities.
The Passi City government, led by Mayor Stephen A. Palmares, has prioritized health infrastructure as part of its development agenda. The LGU has consistently invested in upgrading medical facilities and training personnel. The GAMOT accreditation is a tangible result of that commitment, ensuring that progress is felt at the household level.
A Broader Regional Push
Passi City’s accreditation is not an isolated effort. It follows the joint launch of the YAKAP‑GAMOT Healthy Hearts Program held at the City of Passi Arena on June 26, 2026, which brought together officials from PhilHealth and the provincial government. The event underscored the importance of integrating national health programs with local execution.
The municipality joins Sara, Concepcion, and Oton as newly accredited GAMOT facilities in Iloilo Province. Together, they form a growing network of primary care centers capable of delivering subsidized medicines directly to communities. The model is seen as a blueprint for other local government units aiming to strengthen their own health systems under the Universal Health Care framework.
Commitment to Quality Service
Dr. Palomo and her staff continue to encourage residents to visit the facility to verify their eligibility and enroll in the program. The accreditation marks only the beginning; sustained effort will be needed to ensure that every qualified Passinhon benefits from the ₱20,000 medicine allocation. The city remains dedicated to delivering accessible, affordable, and high‑quality healthcare for all.
