THE PHILIPPINE Science High School (PSHS) is turning its campuses into more than places for academic excellence as the government rolls out a pilot program designed to make schools gateways to free and preventive health care.

The Healthy Pisay and Yaman ng Kalusugan (YAKAP) in Pisay pilot implementation was launched Wednesday at the PSHS Main Campus in Quezon City, bringing together the PSHS System, Department of Health (DOH) and PhilHealth.

The program initially covers 1,440 learners and 360 teaching and non-teaching personnel, with services extended to their families.

Health Secretary Edwin M. Mercado said the initiative would bring basic health services directly to the school community, including health screening and access to PhilHealth benefits.

“For the 1,440 learners, while 360 teaching and non-teaching staff, at extended sa kani-kanilang pamilya, hatid namin ang YAKAP sa Pisay,” Mercado said.

He said students and personnel would also receive free cancer and tuberculosis screening.

“Makakatanggap din kayo ng libreng cancer at tuberculosis screening,” Mercado said.

“Kayo ang patunay na kaya nating maabot ang Universal Health Care. Kayo ang resibo namin na pwedeng gawin ito sa iba pang campus,” he added.

Mercado said the initiative is aligned with the government’s Unified National Agenda (UNA) for Health, which seeks to deliver health promotion, disease prevention and essential services through healthy settings.

PhilHealth President and CEO Dr. Beverly Lorraine C. Ho said the program highlights the need to strengthen primary care before illnesses become more serious and costly.

“We have to invest in primary care and preventive care in order to prevent catastrophic health condition,” Ho said.

She said the DOH is targeting the registration of at least 60 million Filipinos under YAKAP, including 48 million who are expected to undergo health screening and gain access to medicines through GAMOT.

The PSHS beneficiaries are included in that national target.

For PSHS System Executive Director V Dr. Ronnalee N. Orteza, the launch marks an important step toward establishing a healthier school environment.

“We cannot measure something that does not exist,” Orteza said.

DOST Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr. also emphasized the importance of preventive action.

“We launch today both Healthy Pisay and YAKAP in Pisay pilot implementation at the Pisay Main Campus,” Solidum said.

“In Science as in Health, we do not wait for a problem before we act,” he added.

Solidum also honored teachers for their service, saying both his parents were teachers.

The initiative comes as health officials recognize the growing impact of poor nutrition, mental health concerns and anxiety on Filipino adolescents, particularly on learning, social development and overall well-being.

The DOH said schools are strategic venues for health interventions because children spend a significant part of their formative years in the classroom.

Under the initiative, the Healthy Learning Institutions (HLI) framework is being aligned with YAKAP to help schools promote healthy lifestyles while connecting students and personnel to appropriate health providers.

The program also creates a referral network involving accredited specialty providers, allowing patients who need additional treatment to receive continuing care beyond the school clinic.

The government hopes the Pisay pilot can demonstrate how schools can become effective front-line partners in delivering universal health care.