DOH offers free mental health medicines in Metro Manila; here’s how to avail

ASM, Philippine Canadian Inquirer
October 28, 2026

Photo courtesy: Philippine Information Agency

MANILA, Philippines — Filipinos undergoing treatment for mental health conditions can access selected prescription medicines for free through a government program aimed at easing the cost of long-term psychiatric care.

The Department of Health (DOH), through its Metro Manila Center for Health Development (MMCHD), provides the assistance under the Medicine Access Program for Mental Health (MAP-MH).

The program covers selected medications prescribed for conditions such as depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia.

For patients who require continuous treatment, the assistance can help reduce medication expenses that may otherwise reach thousands of pesos each month.

According to information published by the Philippine Information Agency in January 2026, the program provides access to several psychiatric medicines through designated health facilities in Metro Manila.

What medicines are covered?

The medicines identified under the program include escitalopram, an antidepressant used to treat depression and certain anxiety disorders, and lithium carbonate, a mood stabilizer commonly prescribed for bipolar disorder.

Other medicines include quetiapine and risperidone, which are used to treat conditions such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

Clozapine, primarily prescribed for treatment-resistant schizophrenia, and paliperidone palmitate, a long-acting injectable antipsychotic, are also among the listed medications.

The DOH-MMCHD has separately identified valproic acid as available through its medicine assistance program.

These medicines were included in government-published availability information as of December 2025. However, current supplies may differ by facility, and patients should confirm availability before attempting to claim medication.

How can patients access the free medicines?

Patients seeking assistance must first obtain a valid, updated prescription from a licensed psychiatrist.

A copy of the prescription should then be emailed to the DOH-MMCHD for verification.

The program has published the following contact addresses:

Email: [email protected] 

Alternative email: [email protected] 

Applicants should wait for confirmation and further instructions before proceeding to a designated medicine access site.

Participating facilities have included the Philippine General Hospital, Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center, and selected public health facilities across Metro Manila.

The DOH has identified more than 40 mental health access sites in the region, although not every location necessarily carries the same medicines.

Patients are encouraged to confirm the appropriate collection site, prescription requirements, and medicine availability through the program before visiting.

Making mental healthcare more accessible

The Medicine Access Program for Mental Health forms part of the government’s efforts to improve access to psychiatric treatment, particularly for patients who need maintenance medication.

For individuals managing long-term conditions, the recurring cost of medicines can become a barrier to consistent care.

Providing selected prescriptions free of charge can help patients continue treatment while easing the financial burden on their households.

Some local governments also operate separate mental health assistance programs. In Quezon City, for example, public health centers provide mental health services and selected maintenance medicines to eligible residents.

Patients should continue taking their prescribed medicines according to their doctor’s instructions and should not change their dosage or stop treatment without medical advice.

Those seeking assistance may check the latest announcements from the DOH-MMCHD or contact their nearest participating public health facility for guidance.