VIA GRAPHIC PLUS | MANILA, Philippines — Long before the doors of its first Naga City branch opened nearly nine decades ago, Southstar Drug has anchored its legacy on a single, enduring promise: keeping community health within reach.
Today, that mission takes a formidable leap forward. As part of its sweeping “Kasama sa Pag-Galing” campaign rolling out nationwide, the trusted drugstore chain is doubling down on its partnership with the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to ensure that accessing free, life-saving medicines under the government’s flagship health programs is no longer a privilege, but a daily reality for everyday Filipinos.
Unveiled during Generics Awareness Month, the “Kasama sa Pag-Galing” initiative is designed to dismantle the barriers that often leave families struggling with recurring treatment costs.
Beyond equipping communities with practical education on generic medicine labels, prescription literacy, and responsible over-the-counter use, the campaign serves as an invaluable bridge to PhilHealth’s Yaman ng Kalusugan Program (YAKAP).
As an accredited partner pharmacy for PhilHealth’s Guaranteed and Accessible Medications for Outpatient Treatment (GAMOT) benefit, Southstar Drug is transforming its network of over 700 stores into frontlines of affordable care, complete with on-site pharmacist guidance and volunteer-led health consultations for senior citizens managing chronic conditions.
At the heart of this collaborative effort is a dramatic expansion of medical support for outpatient care.
While standard YAKAP primary care facilities traditionally offer 21 essential medicines, the GAMOT benefit integrated through partner pharmacies like Southstar Drug injects an additional 54 generic medications into the fold—bringing the total to a robust 75 covered medicines designed to treat a wide spectrum of long-term illnesses.
To make these resources truly work for the public, Southstar Drug goes beyond simply dispensing prescriptions; stores actively assist patients with YAKAP registration, decode GAMOT privileges, and connect beneficiaries directly with YAKAP-accredited physicians.
Navigating the program relies on a streamlined, step-by-step procedure engineered to put patients first. Under the established protocol, beneficiaries must first visit their chosen YAKAP facility for a primary care consultation and secure the appropriate prescription from a YAKAP-accredited physician. Armed with this official documentation, patients can walk into any accredited Southstar Drug branch nationwide to claim their covered medicines seamlessly, subject to standard PhilHealth guidelines. By pairing grassroots health education with accessible retail infrastructure, Southstar Drug and PhilHealth are redefining what community healthcare looks like—proving that when public service and corporate commitment align, healing is truly brought closer to home.
Started in 1927, the Philippines Graphic is the longest-running printed magazine of national circulation that provides relevant news and features and promotes Philippine literature.
