KORONADAL CITY, SOUTH COTABATO, PHILIPPINES | May 18, 2026— Access to free essential and maintenance medicines is now closer to South Cotabateños as PhilHealth officially accredited 20 institutional pharmacies across the province under its flagship outpatient drug benefit program as of May 10, 2026.
The initiative is part of the PhilHealth GAMOT program, which stands for Guaranteed Accessible Medications for Outpatient Treatment. It specifically targets outpatients, ensuring they receive free prescription drugs for chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and other common ailments without financial burden.
Hanah Naanep, PhilHealth Information Officer, emphasized that the strategic distribution of these authorized partner facilities aims to eliminate the need for patients to travel far just to access their maintenance medication.
“Through the PhilHealth GAMOT program, we are bringing healthcare closer to the grassroots. These 14 accredited pharmacies in South Cotabato are fully equipped and authorized to dispense free medicines to qualified PhilHealth members,” Naanep said.
She said that this is a massive step forward in expanding the outpatient benefits and ensuring that no patient stops taking their medication due to financial constraints.
The 20 authorized PhilHealth GAMOT facilities in the province include:
- Valkyrie Pharmacy (Banga, Surallah, and Polomolok branches)
- Armann Pharmacy and Medical Supplies (Koronadal City, Surallah, and Banga branches)
- DS Health Agility and Ventures, Inc. (Koronadal City)
- Howard Hubbard Memorial Hospital (Polomolok)
- Juwenas Pharmacy (Polomolok)
- Pinky’s Pharmacy (Koronadal City)
- Tibud sa Katibawasan MPC Pharmacy (Polomolok)
- Allah Valley Medical Specialists’ Center, Inc.
- DEEMED Pharmacy – Surallah, sto, Nino and Koronadal
- DOLEFIL Agrarian Reform Beneficiaris Cooperative in Polomolok
- GINRESS Pharmacy (Banga)
- MEDIPRIME Quality Medical Supplies (Ace Center Point, City of Koronadal)
- POLARIS STAR PHARMACY OPC SEAIT Compound, Purok 7, Crossing Rubber, Tupi, South Cotabato
- SOCCSKSARGEN General Hospital Crossing Curva, Brgy. Dajay, Surallah, South Cotabato
“The prescription should be given by an accredited YAKAP doctor,” Naanep further explained.
This development is part of the Universal Health Care Program of the national government and heavily supports free-hospitalization grassroots campaign of the Provincial Government of South Cotabato under the leadership of Governor Reynaldo S. Tamayo Jr., which focuses on delivering reliable, accessible, and sustainable medical services to every household.
