eKonsulta is Shutting Down July 2026: What Clinics Need to Do

If your clinic still uses eKonsulta for YAKAP submissions, you need to start planning your exit. PhilHealth has confirmed the system is being permanently decommissioned on July 1, 2026. No extensions. No workarounds.

PhilHealth Advisory PA2025-0077 laid out the timeline. The short version: every YAKAP clinic in the country must switch to a certified EMR provider before the deadline, or lose the ability to submit YAKAP data entirely.

This isn't a surprise. eKonsulta was always meant to be temporary. But the timeline is real now, and the steps you need to take have specific deadlines attached.

Here's what's happening and what your clinic needs to do.

Why eKonsulta Is Being Shut Down

eKonsulta was built as a stopgap. It gave clinics a way to submit YAKAP data while PhilHealth developed its long-term infrastructure. It worked for that purpose, but it has serious limitations that can't be patched.

The system runs on a local server inside your clinic. One computer. No cloud access. If that machine goes down, your data goes with it. There's no real-time validation, no interoperability with other health systems, and no way to scale it to meet the demands of the national YAKAP rollout.

PhilHealth needs systems that can handle real-time data exchange, support the new eClaims 3.0 requirements, and connect to the broader health information ecosystem. eKonsulta can't do any of that.

The replacement model is simple: clinics choose a PhilHealth-certified service provider (CSP) that meets these requirements. The CSP handles the technology. PhilHealth validates and certifies them.

The Timeline You Need to Know

The April 1 declaration deadline is the first wall. If your clinic hasn't picked a provider and submitted the paperwork by then, you're already behind.

What Your Clinic Needs to Do (Step by Step)

1. Choose a PhilHealth-Certified EMR Provider

Your replacement system must be on PhilHealth's official Certified Service Provider list. PhilHealth publishes and updates this list on their website.

Look for a provider that's cloud-based (accessible from anywhere, not locked to one computer), supports direct PhilHealth YAKAP API submission, and can handle the full workflow: FPE encoding, consultations, lab results, prescriptions, and automated master list imports.

SeriousMD is one of the certified providers on this list (Certificate No. KON-13-01-2026-00002). It covers the full YAKAP workflow inside the app, including direct submission to PhilHealth. Already trusted by over 30,000 doctors across the country.

2. Submit Your Declaration to Your PRO by April 1

Once you've chosen a provider, you need to formally declare your choice to your designated PhilHealth Regional Office (PRO).

The forms you'll need:

For new CSP registration:

• HERF (HCI Engagement Registration Form)
• ACKF (Account & Cipher Key Request Form)
• NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreement)

For transfers from eKonsulta or another provider:

• All three forms above, plus:
• Disengagement Letter (submitted to your PRO)

All documents go to your PRO's Information Technology Officer (PRO-ITO). Don't wait until March to start this paperwork. These offices process requests from clinics across your entire region.

3. Export Your Data from eKonsulta Before Switching

This is the step most clinics will overlook, and it's the one that can cause the most problems.

eKonsulta has an export function. Use it before you request the cipher key transfer to your new provider. Here's why this matters: when PhilHealth issues a new cipher key to your chosen CSP, your old eKonsulta cipher key gets killed immediately. That means your access to eKonsulta data ends the moment the transfer is processed.

There is no parallel run. You cannot use both systems at the same time. Once you switch, eKonsulta is gone for your clinic.

Export first. Confirm you have the data. Then request the transfer.

4. Get Trained on Your New System Before Requesting the Switch

Because the cutover is instant (not gradual), your clinic staff needs to be comfortable with the new system before you pull the trigger. This means your encoders, your clinic manager, and your doctors should all know the basics: how to encode an FPE, how to log consultations, how to submit data to PhilHealth.

Most certified EMR providers offer onboarding and training. Take advantage of that before you submit the transfer paperwork, not after. A realistic onboarding timeline is about one month per clinic, accounting for data import, workflow customization, and staff training.

5. Complete Migration Before July 1

The April-to-June window is your migration period. This is when you:

• Import your exported eKonsulta data into the new system
• Run your first few YAKAP submissions through the new workflow
• Iron out any issues with encoding or submission

Don't aim for a June 30 migration. Things go wrong. Give yourself buffer time.

What Happens If You Miss the Deadline

If your clinic hasn't switched by July 1, 2026, eKonsulta stops working. That means:

• You can't submit YAKAP encounter data to PhilHealth
• You can't claim capitation payments for your empaneled patients
• Your clinic effectively becomes non-compliant with YAKAP requirements

The financial impact is direct. No submissions, no payments. For a clinic with thousands of empaneled patients, that's significant money left on the table every quarter.

Don't Forget: eClaims 3.0 Is Also Mandatory by April 1

Alongside the eKonsulta shutdown, PhilHealth is requiring eClaims 3.0 compliance by April 1, 2026. If your clinic processes any PhilHealth claims (not just YAKAP), your systems need to support the updated eClaims format.

When evaluating EMR providers, make sure they support both YAKAP API v1.1 and eClaims 3.0. You don't want to switch systems twice.

Start Your Migration Plan Now

The window between now and April 1 is shorter than it looks. Between evaluating providers, gathering paperwork, coordinating with your PRO, and training your staff, a month can disappear fast.

If you want to see how SeriousMD handles YAKAP submissions, including FPE encoding, consultation encoding, lab results, prescriptions, automated master list imports, and direct PhilHealth submission, visit our YAKAP page or read our full migration guide.

Have questions about switching from eKonsulta? Talk to our team about getting started.