PHILHEALTH has recognized the University of Cebu Medical Center (UCMed) for bringing its Yaman ng Kalusugan Program (YAKAP) closer to Filipinos, earning top recognition for its pioneering and leading role in rolling out the program in Central Visayas.
UCMed received the Trailblazer Award for being the first Level 3 private hospital to fully operationalize the YAKAP program, demonstrating exceptional leadership in expanding access to primary healthcare services.
PhilHealth also conferred on UCMed the Integrated Healthcare Excellence Award during the YAKAP Summit 2026 held on March 11 at Marco Polo Plaza Cebu, recognizing the hospital’s role as a premier one-stop facility delivering comprehensive YAKAP services to members and their families.
The recognition underscores UCMed’s steadfast efforts to promote the program and encourage PhilHealth members to take advantage of its benefits, from free consultations and diagnostic tests to essential medicines and preventive care.
A key initiative is the establishment of the UCMed Kalusugan Center, a dedicated hub that simplifies access to YAKAP services. Here, members can conveniently undergo consultations, laboratory tests, and preventive screenings.
UCMed is the first private Level 3 Apex hospital in Cebu offering cancer screening under the YAKAP program, covering breast, colon, liver, and lung cancers, services that significantly strengthen early detection and preventive healthcare.
HealthCare heroes
Beyond hospital-based services, UCMed has been actively reaching out to companies, organizations, and communities to help PhilHealth members register under the program and complete their First Patient Encounter (FPE), a step that allows them to fully activate their YAKAP benefits.
“These awards reflect our unwavering commitment to making healthcare more accessible to every Filipino,” said Dr. Nina Angela Darcera, UCMed lead in Universal Health Care and assistant hospital administrator.
“Our goal is not only to treat illness but to encourage preventive care and help more Filipinos take advantage of the health benefits already available to them,” she added.
The recognition from PhilHealth follows UCMed’s recent honor from the Province of Cebu as “Healthcare Heroes,” further affirming the hospital’s growing role in strengthening healthcare delivery in Central Visayas.
“At UCMed, we believe that quality healthcare is a right, not a privilege,” Dr. Darcera said.
As it celebrates the milestone, UCMed invites all qualified PhilHealth members to register at the UCMed Kalusugan Center and take advantage of YAKAP services, bringing Cebu closer to a healthier, more protected community.