Health Services No Longer Just for the Rich (ABCs for Global Health and PhilHealth Got You Covered)

Did you know?

For many decades, Filipinos held on to the belief that quality healthcare was only for the rich. Ordinary workers, farmers, and families relying on daily wages often hesitated to see a doctor. Common phrases like “Check-ups are expensive,” “We can’t afford the medicine,” or “Let’s just endure it” echo through many households. As a result, illnesses go untreated until they become worse and far more costly to cure.

But change is happening. Thanks to programs like PhilHealth’s YAKAP (Yamang Kalusugan Program) and organizations such as ABCs for Global Health (ABCGH), communities are beginning to see that healthcare is not just for a privileged few,it is a right for everyone.

Through YAKAP, Filipinos now have access to free consultations, basic laboratory tests, and essential outpatient medicines. What used to be thought of as “only for the wealthy” is now accessible at little to no cost.

How is the old mindset being broken?

• Affordability

Families no longer need to fear losing their savings over medical bills. YAKAP ensures that basic healthcare is within reach without the heavy financial burden.

• Closer Access

With ABCGH’s mobile health clinics and accredited Konsulta providers, people no longer need to travel far to get the care they deserve. Healthcare now comes closer, right into the barangays.

• Clearer Information

Education is key. With the help of barangay health workers and local leaders, processes are explained in simple terms: how to register, what benefits to expect, and how to maximize PhilHealth Konsulta services.

At what point will people’s perception change?

When families experience free check-ups, receive medicines at no extra cost, and feel that there are professionals who care for them, the long-held notion that “good healthcare is only for the wealthy” slowly fades away.

Trust in the healthcare system grows. Communities start believing that the government and its partners truly care for their well-being. Most importantly, families become more open to preventive care—choosing to seek medical advice before illnesses worsen.

Changing perceptions won’t happen overnight, but it begins with one simple truth:

“Healthcare is not a privilege, it is a right.”

With the combined efforts of ABCGH and PhilHealth, the dream of affordable, accessible, and inclusive healthcare is no longer just a vision, it is becoming a reality.