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Essay on Health Care System In The Philippines

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100 Words Essay on Health Care System In The Philippines

The basics of health care in the philippines.

The Philippines’ health care system is a set of health services provided by public and private providers. Public health care is managed by the Department of Health (DOH), while private health services are offered by various hospitals and clinics.

Public Health Care

Public health care is available to everyone. It is funded by taxes and contributions from workers. The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) is the main public health care provider. It gives Filipinos access to basic medical services.

Private Health Care

Private health care is offered by private hospitals and clinics. It’s usually more expensive than public health care. People who can afford it often choose private care for more personalized service and shorter waiting times.

Challenges in the Health Care System

The health care system in the Philippines faces many challenges. These include a lack of resources, unequal access to health services, and a high cost of care. The government is working on these issues to improve the health care system.

Future of Health Care in the Philippines

250 words essay on health care system in the philippines, introduction.

The health care system in the Philippines is a mix of public and private providers. It aims to give medical help to all its citizens. The Department of Health (DOH) is the main body in charge of health care.

The government provides health care through public hospitals and clinics. These are usually free or cost very little. The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) is the national health insurance program. It helps people pay for medical services.

There are also private hospitals and clinics. These usually offer better facilities and shorter waiting times. But, they are more expensive. Many people have private health insurance to help cover these costs.

The health care system in the Philippines faces some issues. There are not enough doctors and nurses, especially in rural areas. Also, the quality of care can vary greatly. Some people can’t afford the cost of private health care but need it due to the lack of public facilities.

Improvements

The government is working to improve the health care system. One step is the Universal Health Care Act. This law aims to give all Filipinos access to quality health care, without causing financial hardship.

500 Words Essay on Health Care System In The Philippines

The basics of the health care system in the philippines.

The health care system in the Philippines is a mix of public and private providers. The Department of Health (DOH) is the main public health agency. It sets policies, plans, and programs for health services. It also runs special health programs and research.

The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) is another important part of the public health system. It provides health insurance for Filipinos. This helps to make health care more affordable.

Public and Private Health Providers

Private providers include doctors, clinics, and hospitals that are not run by the government. They usually offer more services and shorter waiting times. But, their services cost more.

Health Care Challenges

The health care system in the Philippines faces several challenges. One is the uneven distribution of health services. More health services are available in urban areas than in rural areas. This means people living in rural areas may have to travel far to get health care.

Efforts to Improve Health Care

The government is working to improve the health care system. In 2019, it passed the Universal Health Care Law. This law aims to give all Filipinos access to quality health care. It also aims to make health care more affordable.

The government is also investing in health technology. This includes telemedicine, which allows people to consult with doctors online. This can help people in rural areas get health care more easily.

The health care system in the Philippines is a mix of public and private providers. It faces challenges like uneven distribution of services and high costs. But, the government is taking steps to improve it. It is working to provide universal health care and make health care more affordable. It is also investing in health technology to reach more people. Despite the challenges, the future of health care in the Philippines looks hopeful.

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An Evaluation of the Philippine Healthcare System: Preparing for a Robust Public Health in the Future

  • Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health 55(3):310-311

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The Philippines health system review (1st Edition)

The health status of Filipinos has improved dramatically over the last 40 years, with a two-thirds drop in infant mortality, lower prevalence of communicable diseases and life expectancy to over 70 years. However, the country is grappling with considerable inequities in access to health care. Despite the creation of a national health insurance agency, PhilHealth, in 1995, out of pocket payment levels are high.

A major reform was introduced in 2010 to increase the number of poor families covered by PhilHealth and to reduce or eliminate co-payments. Current and future challenges for the health care system include staff retention, service delivery inefficiencies, the rise in noncommunicable diseases and the challenge of reaching populations in remote areas.

  • Updated section - 2.7.7 Regulation and governance of pharmaceutical care (02/2014)
  • Updated section - 3.4.4 Purchasing and purchaser–provider relations (12/2013)
  • Updated section - 4.2.1 Infracstructure (12/2013)
  • Updated section - 2.5.2 Health facility planning (9/2013)
  • Updated section - 3.2 Health expenditure (09/2013)
  • Updated section - 3.4.2 Collection (09/2013)
  • Updated section - 3.8 Payment mechanisms (09/2013)
  • Updated section - 6.4 Recent and future developments (09/2013)

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The philippine health system at a glance.

1 Philippine Health System

This learning module is an overview of the Philippine Health System. Each slide shares information about the country’s health system, making use of the World Health Organization’s Six Building Blocks framework:

  • Health Situation in the Philippines : describes the overall health situation of the country at present. This includes health indicators like fertility, morbidity, and mortality rates in the country and their causes.
  • Health Reform Initiatives : lays down the most significant health reforms throughout the history of the Philippines which reflects the current structure of the health sector.
  • Leadership and Governance : focuses on the organizational structure of the different government units and their functions in the health system after the devolution of health services.
  • Health Service Delivery : summarizes the different services provided by each health facility at each level. It also describes the quality of health services provided to the people.
  • Health Workforce : gives an overview of the distribution and density of health human resources across the country.
  • Health Financing : shows the sources of funding for health, as well as how much is being spent on healthcare.
  • Health Information System : describes the different information systems commonly used to track, monitor, disseminate, and evaluate health situations in the country.
  • Medicines and Technology : describes the situation of the pharmaceutical sector in the Philippines.
  • Future Directions of the Philippine Health System : shows the different plans and directions of the current administration for the medium term on healthcare.

All of the information in these slides are properly coded to ensure proper citation of the original texts or sources in the reference slides. The codes are also there to assist readers in locating original texts or sources if they are eager to learn more about a particular topic.

To download the slides in PDF format,  click here . To download the slides in PowerPoint (.pptx) format,  click here .

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Healthcare in the Philippines

An overview of the philippine healthcare system.

healthcare system in the Philippines

The Philippines has accredited hospitals and well-trained medical providers. In most cities, healthcare in the Philippines will be just as good, if not better, than in your home country.

However, the Philippines is made up of more than 7,500 islands, and the country has more than 20,000 miles of coastline. There are many remote areas within this geography. Remote locations may not have up-to-date equipment or adequate staffing levels, though the quality of health services will vary by facility and region.

Yet the healthcare system in the Philippines is steadily improving. The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, known as PhilHealth, aims to provide universal coverage; expats and foreigners who legally reside in the Philippines can join this system for very low premiums. With a range of public and private options, you’ll find that every kind of healthcare need can be met in the Philippines.

PhilHealth and Healthcare in the Philippines

The PhilHealth program was set up in 1995 to provide affordable universal coverage. In 2019, the country reached a major milestone with the Universal Health Care (UHC) Law. PhilHealth covers all kinds of medical care, including preventive, curative, and rehabilitative services. Thanks to the UHC Law, medical consultations and diagnostic testing, including lab tests, began to be covered.

PhilHealth counts about 90% of the country’s population as members. Much of the funding for the Philippines’ healthcare comes from “sin taxes” on alcohol and tobacco. The first of these went into effect in 2012; its success resulted in additional such taxes in later years. Many workers and employers also pay premiums that help support PhilHealth.

PhilHealth has different membership categories that vary based on work status, income, and age. The six major groups are:

  • Formal Sector: Workers employed by public and private companies
  • Indigents: Impoverished people subsidized by the national government
  • Sponsored Members: People subsidized by their local governments
  • Lifetime Members: Retirees and pensioners who previously paid 120 months of premiums
  • Senior Citizens: A category open to those who are 60 years of age or older, and who do not qualify as Lifetime Members
  • The Informal Economy: Self-employed people, migrant workers, and overseas Filipino workers; expats who are legally living in the Philippines are eligible to join PhilHealth in this category

Private and Public Care in the Philippines

In general, public hospitals and other public facilities handle preventive and primary care in the Philippines. Private facilities provide specialized care in areas such as cardiovascular disease or orthopedics.

Private care in the Philippines usually means additional comfort for patients. With fewer people seeking care, it’s often faster to obtain treatment. Plus private facilities have more up-to-date equipment. However, it is not necessary to visit a private facility to be treated by an English-speaking doctor. If you seek care at a private facility, ensure you have the funds available to pay for your treatment or verify if your international medical insurance provider covers your costs.

Barangay (village) health stations and local health centers meet much of the country’s primary care needs. Public hospitals have sometimes struggled with staffing levels, as care providers can often find better-paying jobs in the private sector or by moving overseas. Due to the issues with staffing and the fact that more patients seek care at these facilities, treatment delays are not uncommon at public hospitals. Those who can afford it often turn to private settings.

healthcare system in the Philippines for Expats

Source: http://asiahealthcaremarketresearch.com/philippines.html

Healthcare Options for Expats and Foreigners

International citizens who are legal residents in the Philippines are eligible to join PhilHealth. Your membership could fall under the Formal Sector if a local business employs you. However, if you are self-employed or a freelancer, you can join PhilHealth as part of the Informal membership category.

PhilHealth benefits include inpatient and outpatient care, diagnostic testing, prescription drugs, rehabilitation, and preventive services. Annual premium costs range from less than USD$100 to over $700, depending on your income. To sign up for PhilHealth, visit a local PhilHealth office or check if the online registration system is accepting applications.

The Philippine healthcare system includes private medical facilities and care providers. Many Filipinos join Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) via their workplace to help with the costs of private healthcare. You may wish to look for an HMO or sign up for international health insurance so you can visit private facilities without having to worry about paying for everything out of pocket. Remember, visiting a private hospital can be necessary to receive specialty care. In addition, you might wish to avoid wait times!

Short-term visitors such as tourists will not be covered by PhilHealth. As such, they should carry their own travel medical coverage .

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How to Access and Receive Healthcare in the Philippines

In urban areas, you will find both public and private hospitals that meet high standards of care. We have compiled a list of the best international hospitals in the Philippines for expatriates . You can also visit Joint Commission International , a site that offers accreditation for international hospitals, to see if any facilities near you have received their stamp of approval. You can also turn to local friends, colleagues, and fellow expats for recommendations about which hospitals and clinics to visit in your area. Fortunately, most healthcare providers speak English, so you shouldn’t worry about communication difficulties.

Access to medical care can be limited in remote locations. It may take time to receive emergency treatment or such care may be completely unavailable. If you have a medical condition that requires regular care, you may want to stick to more urban areas during your stay in the Philippines. If you visit a remote area and start to feel unwell, consider heading to the closest city in case your condition worsens.

Make sure to plan for how to pay for any medical care you receive. Without health insurance, you may need to pay a substantial bill if you’re treated in a private hospital.

Out-of-Pocket Costs in the Philippine Healthcare System

Though the Philippines has high-quality public health facilities and hospitals, many people seek care in private settings. Private facilities not only have the latest equipment and shorter wait times, but private hospitals also often specialize in different areas of care. Someone with diabetes or cancer may only be able to receive necessary care at a private hospital. However, if you get private treatment, you may have high out-of-pocket costs. In addition, drugs are often imported into the Philippines, so some medications are only available at high prices.

HMOs are one way to deal with out-of-pocket healthcare costs in the Philippines. HMOs maintain a network of providers who members can see for care. Many regular employees in the Philippines are able to enroll in an HMO through their employer’s benefits package. If you don’t want to be limited to an HMO network, you can also sign up for a private health insurance plan that should allow you to visit private healthcare facilities without being overwhelmed by costs.

Reproductive Care in the Philippines

Catholic leaders (the Philippines is a majority-Catholic country) previously challenged the legality of female hormonal contraceptives, but today this kind of contraception is available in the Philippines. Birth control options now include long-acting reversible contraceptives such as subdermal implants and IUDs, as well as oral contraceptive pills and contraceptive hormonal injections.

Emergency contraception is not available in the Philippines, and abortion is illegal in the country. There are no exceptions for pregnancies that are the result of rape or incest. Termination of pregnancies that endanger the life of the pregnant person is of questionable legality and in general, are not accessible.

Mental Health and Addiction Treatment

Treatment for mental health issues is relatively easy to obtain in Philippine cities. Hospitals provide mental health services, and there are also private psychiatrists and clinics to visit. Unfortunately, this type of care is not available in rural areas.

A violent war on drugs in the Philippines has resulted in the deaths of thousands of drug users. But drug use has continued, while efforts to rehabilitate addicts have been underfunded and disorganized.

Confronting Healthcare Challenges in the Philippines

The lack of benefits and low wages in public facilities has long led doctors and nurses to leave the Philippines for work overseas. This “brain drain” of healthcare workers is a serious problem for the Philippine healthcare system. In 2019, the country had approximately one doctor or nurse per 20,000 residents, which is not considered adequate to a population’s needs. The UHC Law seeks to transition Philippine healthcare workers from contractual positions to regular staff members in the public sector as a way to incentivize more healthcare workers to remain in the country.

The country is taking steps to send healthcare workers to areas that need more providers. One was to award scholarships to doctors from different municipalities. These doctors would then spend at least four years working in their home regions.

In 2018, the World Health Organization published The Philippines Health System Review , which noted that available beds in Philippine hospitals were very low: 23 beds per 10,000 individuals in the National Capital Region; outside the capital region, there were fewer than ten beds per 10,000 individuals. Both large and small hospitals are working to improve their facilities.

Today the Philippine healthcare system can turn to its Drug Price Reference Index (DPRI) for pricing information. Drug prices may be higher than in the index, as preparation and storage fees can be added to the final cost, but the reference helps guard against unnecessarily high drug prices. Another cost-saving measure is a mandate that public facilities prescribe generic drugs when possible.

COVID-19 and Healthcare

The Philippines suffered greatly during the COVID-19 pandemic, and Filipinos have not rushed to get vaccinated. In 2017, an immunization scandal arose when a new vaccine for dengue fever was administered to children, then was found to increase the risk of severe illness for people who caught dengue if they had never had it before. Although the vaccine was not directly linked to any illnesses or deaths, the controversy increased vaccine hesitancy in the country, which the healthcare system is still trying to combat.

Though healthcare in the Philippines isn’t perfect, the country has a system that provides high-quality care to citizens and visitors alike. As a knowledgeable visitor, you’ll have the peace of mind that comes with knowing how to access excellent care should you need it.

  • Hospitals in the Philippines for Expatriates
  • Philippines: Safety and Travel Insurance
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Author / Editor: Joe Cronin , Founder and President of International Citizens Insurance . Mr. Cronin, a former expat, is an authority in the areas of international travel, and global health, life, and travel insurance, with expertise in advising individuals and groups on benefits for today's global workforce. Follow him on LinkedIn or Twitter .

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Developmental changes in the philippine health system: accomplishments, successes and challenges.

philippine health care system essay

1. Introduction

2. materials and methods, 2.1. data description, 2.1.1. health determinant domain, 2.1.2. health financing domain, 2.1.3. health system management/development domain, 3. analyses, 3.1. interrupted time series, 3.2. comparative analysis, 5. discussion, 5.1. on health determinants, 5.2. on health financing, 5.3. on health management/development, 6. limitations, 7. conclusions, supplementary materials, conflicts of interest.

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Click here to enlarge figure

Health DomainVariablesEstimateStandard Errorp-Value
Health determinantsLife Expectancy−0.0070.005-
Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR)−3.250.435***
Infant Mortality Rate (IMR)0.2600.015***
HIV Incidence 96557.5***
TB Incidence13.70.086***
Health financingTotal Health Expenditure (THE)−0.1350.048**
Tobacco Excise Taxes138552824***
Health System 1 (1997–2007)Health System 2 (2008–2017)
Features1. Decreasing Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR)/Infant Mortality Rate (IMR)1. Expansion of PhilHealth coverage; however, low financial protection
2. Private health sector constituted bigger proportion in health service delivery than public health sector2. Data gathering was existent; however, intensified and modernized effort is needed
3. Decentralization of health care services (fragmented health service delivery)3. Intersectoral approaches to health and in its investment programming at the national and local levels (unified targeting for poor, etc.)
4. Emphasis on primary health care4. Increase in client satisfaction to government health services
5. Rapid increase in nursing schools5. Concerted efforts to ensure health care data privacy
6. Introduction of health technology assessment (HTA) by PhilHealth (in identifying priority problems on the use of medical technologies needing systematic assessment)6. Care-seeking behavior was dictated by ability to pay
7. Increasing PhilHealth coverage7. Waiting time improved
8. Waiting time/hospital length of stay decreased 8. Treatment seeking attitude improved among households
9. Migration of health workers, particularly nurses9. Increased use of rural health units, decrease use of private clinics
10. Increase in health financing10. MMR decreased due to the increased facility-based deliveries and skilled birth attendants
11. Existence of palliative care (cancer patients)
12. Success in closing the gender gap
13. Disaster health management system in place
14. Increase in health financing
Challenges1. Rising non-communicable diseases (NCDs)1. Problems with devolved health financing and service delivery (fragmented strategy)
2. High cost of accessing health service 2. Uneven distribution of health staff across the country (concentrated in National Capital Region)
3. Low level financial protection 3. Uneven distribution of health facilities across the country (concentrated in NCR)
4. High out-of-pocket (OOP) payments4. TB Directly Observed Treatment Short Course (DOTS) accreditation is low
5. Absence of an integrated curative and preventive network 5. Overregulation of programs (National TB Program and PhilHealth)
6. Weak health information system/governance 6. High OOP payments
7. Absence/lack of access of private sector data7. Even though health services were utilized, this did not directly translate to health status improvement
8. PhilHealth still used paper-based claims management8. PhilHealth insurance claims stagnated at 33%
9. Lack of health service information (PhilHealth)9. Hospital bed availability was a difficulty
10. Weak/non-existent structures in engaging community and patient participation with regard to health decision-making10. Geographical constraints in service delivery (geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas)
11. Members’ perceptions are that they have insufficient information and that the transactional requirements to make claims were too large11. Stigma (HIV) and self-stigma (TB) were major barriers to care
12. Low sponsored program PhilHealth utilization rate12. Obesogenic environment; life-style related health problems
13. Uneven distribution of PhilHealth accredited providers (35% of doctors are in NCR)13. Air pollution and household air pollution
14. Uneven distribution of health facilities and beds across the country14. Low childhood immunization due to the fact of religious/cultural beliefs, as well as lack of coordination among public sector
15. Lack of geriatric facilities and services15. Healthcare provision tended to be either underprovided or overprovided, and costly
16. Adherence to clinical practice guidelines were loose
17. Patient safety data was lacking
18. Health equity issues included the apparent urban–rural divide
19. Health technology assessment (HTA) was yet to be fully established
20. Health data acquisition was still restricted (private sector, public sector, PhilHealth)
21. Fragmented nature of health financing, devolved structure of service delivery, and mixed public–private health system posed immense challenges in monitoring health sector performance
22. Issues with conflict of interest (physician-owned pharmacy)
Reforms1. Primary health care focus1. Primary health care expansion due to the intensified HFEP
2. Health Facility Enhancement Program (HFEP)2. Deployment programs of the DOH and Local Government Units (LGUs)
3. Health sector reform agenda (HSRA) launched
4. Corporatization of hospitals under HSRA
Health-related laws accompanying or independent of the reforms1. Republic Act No. 8344 “An Act Prohibiting the Demand of Deposits or Advance Payments for the Confinement or Treatment of Patients in Hospitals and Medical Clinics in Certain Cases”1. Sin Tax Law of 2014
2. Republic Act No. 7305 “Magna Carta for Public Health Workers”2. National Health Insurance Act of 2013
3. Republic Act No. 9184 “Government Procurement Reform Act”3. Reproductive Health Law of 2012
4. National Health Insurance Act of 1995 amended to Republic Act No. 92414. Tuberculosis Law of 2016
5. 1988 Generics Act, amended to Republic Act No. 9502 “Cheaper and Quality Medicines Act”
Health System DevelopmentHealth System 1 (1997–2007)Health System 2 (2008–2017)
ProgressiveIncrease in Health FinancingIncrease in Health Financing
Increasing PhilHealth coverageExpansion of PhilHealth coverage; however, low financial protection
Waiting time/hospital length of stay decreased Waiting time improved
PhilHealth still used paper-based claims managementData gathering was existent; however, intensified and modernized effort was needed
Absence of an integrated curative and preventive network Increased use of rural health units, decreased use of private clinics
Low sponsored program PhilHealth utilization rateTreatment seeking attitude improved among households
RetrogressiveIntroduction of health technology assessment (HTA) by PhilHealth
(in identifying priority problems on the use of medical technologies needing systematic assessment)
Health technology assessment (HTA) was yet to be fully established
Decentralization of health care services (fragmented health service delivery)Fragmented nature of health financing, devolved structure of service delivery, and mixed public–private health system posed immense challenges in monitoring health sector performance
Rising non-communicable diseases (NCDs)Obesogenic environment; life-style-related health problems
High cost of accessing health service Healthcare provision tended to be either underprovided or overprovided, and costly
Low level financial protection PhilHealth insurance claims stagnated at 33%
High out-of-pocket (OOP) paymentsHigh OOP payments
Weak health information system/governance Adherence to clinical practice guidelines were loose
Patient safety data was lacking
Absence/lack of access of private sector dataHealth data acquisition was still restricted (private sector, public sector, PhilHealth)
Uneven distribution of PhilHealth accredited providers (35% of doctors are in NCR)Uneven distribution of health staff across the country (concentrated in NCR)
Uneven distribution of health facilities and beds across the countryUneven distribution of health facility across the country (concentrated in NCR)
Challenges in regard to hospital bed availability

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Seposo, X. Developmental Changes in the Philippine Health System: Accomplishments, Successes and Challenges. Healthcare 2019 , 7 , 116. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare7040116

Seposo X. Developmental Changes in the Philippine Health System: Accomplishments, Successes and Challenges. Healthcare . 2019; 7(4):116. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare7040116

Seposo, Xerxes. 2019. "Developmental Changes in the Philippine Health System: Accomplishments, Successes and Challenges" Healthcare 7, no. 4: 116. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare7040116

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[OPINION] 5 thoughts about the Philippine healthcare system

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This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

[OPINION] 5 thoughts about the Philippine healthcare system

A two-week confinement recently and a longer one last year for COVID-19 got me thinking about the Philippine healthcare system and hospitalization costs, in particular. As I lay in bed waiting to heal, I had five thoughts about the medical system.

  • One, it is expensive to get sick in this country and to be hospitalized – too expensive for many Filipinos of lower middle income and below.
  • Two, doctors have their own specializations and coordination of multiple doctors with one patient is often not seamless and even fragmented.
  • Three, nurses and nursing assistants are underpaid.
  • Four, nurses are well trained but nursing assistants could receive better training.
  • Five, the pricing of medicines based on the hospital room used is wrong.

The five thoughts discussed

One, confinement in hospital can add up in cost very quickly especially if lab work, procedures and operations need to be done. Such a situation can put many Filipino families in a huge financial dilemma.

Membership in HMOs (Health Maintenance Organizations) is advised to help manage the extraordinary cost that goes with hospitalization but this stops after 65 years of age, a time when seniors will need more health care, not less. PhilHealth is useful but limited. The senior discount was helpful in my case. Yet after all these deductions, the out-of-pocket was still substantial. Personal debt is resorted to and if through informal sources, could carry with it high if not exorbitant rates of interest. Many hospitals offer a deferred payment plan but this can affect a hospital’s cash flow position which could have an impact on its medical service.

In the last year, two individuals from working class families known to me have seen family members pass away from disease that crept up on them (non-COVID-19) that required hospital care but which they kept ignoring or postponing because of the cost until it was too late. No health insurance, no savings in their cases, and despite help from a call to friends, it was too late. This is a story oft-repeated among those with lesser means in life.

Two, in my confinement for over a month with COVID-19 in 2021, a number of doctor-specialists were assigned to me upon my check-in in the emergency unit – a cardiologist, a pulmonologist, an infectious disease specialist, on top of my nephrologist, endocrinologist, and neurologist, the last three from my previous history of diabetes, renal failure, and a stroke. I got the sense that they were not coordinating on my treatment given the conflicting instructions given to nurses on medications and procedures. I found myself having to call doctors to clarify these things before things were clarified and/or changed.

In a recent two-week confinement (non-COVID-19), the experience had thankfully improved for me. The 7 doctors – four from my COVID-19 confinement previously – were speaking to each other and sharing updates. A lead doctor – in this case the infectious disease specialist – set up a Viber group so that the 7 of them could share notes on a daily basis. This helped the nurses explain medications and procedures more clearly. The only issue was the process of getting clearance from each of them when it became clear that my blood infection had been arrested. Chasing all seven doctors to get their clearances for my discharge took numerous follow up calls by my wife (mostly) and myself until it was finally done. The longer wait, however, added an additional day in hospital including a long wait for accounting to itemize the final bill for payment. The additional waiting time comes with its concomitant costs.

Three, from my conversations with nurses and nursing assistants (caregivers), I came to find out that they are grossly underpaid. Nurses in the private hospital were paid a monthly salary of P22,000. They told me that nurses in government hospitals had a higher monthly salary of P36,000. When asked why they did not transfer, the answer was generally one of two: Government hospital working conditions were more difficult (more patients to look after per shift, little time to rest, poorer facilities), or the private hospital was JCI-accredited and this meant that nurses there had a better chance of working abroad (US, Canada, UK, Australia) when applying for overseas placement. A number of nurses had worked previously in Saudi Arabia and had experienced better pay and working conditions but were now looking for an immigration opportunity for a more permanent move.

Nursing assistants (caregivers) in this private hospital were in an even more precarious position. Their monthly salary was P12,000 and they were on 6-month contracts with no security of tenure.

In another private hospital, a dialysis nurse there who had a monthly salary of P14,000 said she chose to return after a two-year stint in Saudi Arabia to be with an 8-year old daughter. She has a second job for a second income to help her husband and family.

There was a also pattern I observed which I hope is not the normal thinking. In my hospital stay, I met two nurses who had been community nurses but who shifted to hospitals because of the better pay. Then, I met nurses in that private hospital looking to migrate in search of better opportunities.

This is an often-heard refrain: Nurses looking or actually migrating to greener pastures. In my dialysis center, four dialysis nurses have migrated to Canada, the US and Germany in the last two years. These are highly trained medical professionals that we lose to other countries. And there are more are in that pipeline.

Four, nurses are well trained but nursing assistants could receive better training. This is the difference between a four-year degree and a short certificate course. Caregivers take a short course TESDA (Technical Education And Skills Development Authority) training with certification but it perhaps could benefit from more hands-on medical training.

Five, the pricing of medicines based on the hospital room used is wrong. In my first hospital stay, all the medicines were given by the hospital. I was not allowed to use my available supply of maintenance medication including insulin. The price differential between the drugs I purchased myself versus the hospital-administered medication was higher by a factor of 2-4 adding significantly to my hospital bill.

A business school colleague now managing a hospital consulting group revealed that private hospitals follow differential pricing on services and supplies charged based on the room contracted. In the case of medicines which has a retail price in the publicly available drug stores and pharmacies, this pricing differential is akin to price-gouging.

What to do?

There is a lot that needs to be done with regard to our healthcare system. As a senior, I am increasingly having to use it more frequently, so I begin to see certain inefficiencies in the system that can lead to high healthcare and hospitalization costs.

The Universal Health Care Act (2019) was enacted “to realize universal coverage through a systematic approach and clear delineation of roles of key stakeholders towards better performance of key agencies and stakeholders in the healthcare system.”

Alvln Manalansan, a non-resident fellow of Stratbase CADR Institute and a convenor of CitizenWatch Philippines wrote an article in March 2021 whose title summed up the cause: “Urgency to transform fragmented health system.”

“Like any other health care system,” he wrote, “the vision of the UHC Act is remarkably outstanding, however, the main challenge is in its implementation. If the UHC Law is fully implemented, it will provide equitable access to quality and affordable healthcare services while protecting against financial risk for every Filipino. However, as frequently mentioned by the DOH, the law cannot be implemented instantly, but only progressively, mainly due to its high resource requirements at all levels.”

What can be done to bring more efficiency into the health care system?

We could start by appointing a secretary of health well-respected by the medical and health care establishment with knowledge ranging from community health care to hospital care, from pre-natal and maternal health care to gerontology (care for the elderly), and everything in between. The secretary need not be expert in all areas; he or she just needs to know the leading players in the each field and can assemble a first-rate team to look after and manage the system’s different parts.

In his column for the Philippine Daily Inquirer, business consultant Peter Wallace wrote , “In 2020, the country’s total health expenditure reached P1 trillion, 5.6% of GDP in that year. So, it should be the most important department in government, with the most competent, most highly experienced leader that can be found. From what we’ve heard, there are such leaders. The President only has to choose which one. Now.”

Let’s assemble the finest group of health economists, business managers, and public policy analysts to sit with the Department of Health leadership team and key medical practitioners to take apart the Universal Health Care Act to see how the entire system can be more integrated, more seamless, more efficient, and less costly to all Filipinos. Studying how certain countries have set up their national health programs (I.e. Canada, Europe) would be instructive. Congress has created an Education Commission II to overhaul the basic education system to improve system performance; a similar Health Commission should be considered.

A consolidation of small private hospitals with larger hospital groups will bring needed investment into this sub-sector, help modernize it, and generate the economies of scale that could drive costs down.

Health insurance should be made available to all with substantial benefits and a variant for senior citizens should be designed and implemented, including home care for the elderly and even hospice care for those nearing death. Incentives and tax breaks should be available to private health insurers providing health insurance and HMO coverage to seniors above age 65.

Most important, investment by Government in community health and preventive medicine should be increased. As in many cases in other fields, investing in prevention minimizes future risk and is less costly than clinical care.

Lastly, let’s pay our nurses and non-doctor medical personnel better wages. We need to provide better economic benefits to encourage them to stay in the country. – Rappler.com

Juan Miguel Luz was former Dean and Head of the School of Development Management at the Asian Institute of Management, and former Undersecretary, Department of Education.

Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines .

Totally agree with the writer. I am one of the Filipino nurses who migrated to the USA, 50 years ago. It saddens me that the conditions Mr. Luz describes was true back then, and that the system has not improved. Granted, the healthcare system is a complicated one. But all the suggestions for improvement that Mr. Luz proposes have been known even 50 years ago. The problem has always been in the implementation. That phase seems to be the thorniest of all phases. We have excellent thinkers, but the implementation phase is plagued by lack of resources, politics, lack of will, etc. Good luck to the next generation. May they get better at solving this great social need.

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  • Feature stories /

UHC Act in the Philippines: a new dawn for health care

Block quote_UHC law story-01

UHC is a political choice

In the Philippines, like elsewhere, universal health coverage is foremost a political choice. The UHC Act embodies this choice, and was carried by a broad coalition of parliamentarians across the political spectrum. This is how the Senators talked about UHC. The first two quotes demonstrate why UHC is necessary to meet the challenges that citizens face when in need of health care.

Senator Ejercito Chair of the Health Committee

“During our visits to hospitals in different provinces, my own eyes have seen the deplorable state of our countrymen – in hot and cramped wards, enduring the lack of government support. It is sad that our fellow citizens who, rather than be healed, are worried about being infected with the illness of another patient.” 

Senator Angara Chair of the Ways and Means Committee

“The majority of Filipinos only consult a doctor when their illnesses are already at their worst because of the lack of government support to the health department. According to our Department of Health, up to 54% of the country’s healthcare spending in 2016 came from out-of-pocket expenses. That means Filipino families still account for the lion’s share, they still carry the biggest burden when their loved ones seek treatment for whatever sickness they have. That weight should not be theirs to carry alone. In fact, they should not have to carry that weight at all.” And here is what the Government hopes will change as a result of the Act.

Senator Binay Co-author of the Bill

“We believe Filipino families must be afforded a safety net in times of dire need and this is why I am proud to cosponsor the Universal Health Care Bill. One of the main provisions in the bill is every Filipino’s automatic inclusion into the National Heath Insurance Program. Through this provision, we seek to protect people from the financial burden of paying out of their own pockets. It reduces the risk of people being pushed into poverty because it will help cushion the impact of having to use the family’s savings or of borrowing money to pay for health care services.”

Senator Villanueva Co-author of the Bill

Senate approval photo

Parliamentarians and health stakeholders have made concerted efforts to pass a UHC bill for the past two years, but in reality, the Philippines has experienced a 50-year process of health reform, under different names. The UHC Act is the culmination of decades of progress, and two years of dedicated political and technical work.  It is the first UHC Act of its type in the Western Pacific region; this is particularly remarkable considering the strong presence of the private sector in the Filipino health system existing in parallel with a fragmented and devolved government health service. The Act prescribes system reforms in accordance with the multiple financing and service delivery mechanisms at work in the Philippines.

Developing and refining the bill

hearing proper

Implementing the Act

Block quote_UHC law story 2-02

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An Evaluation of the Philippine Healthcare System: Preparing for a Robust Public Health in the Future

Affiliation.

  • 1 Department of Theology and Religious Education (DTRE), De La Salle University, Manila, Philippines.
  • PMID: 35678007
  • PMCID: PMC9201087
  • DOI: 10.3961/jpmph.22.154

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The author has no conflicts of interest associated with the material presented in this paper.

  • Challenges to Achieving Universal Health Coverage Throughout the World: A Systematic Review. Darrudi A, Ketabchi Khoonsari MH, Tajvar M. Darrudi A, et al. J Prev Med Public Health. 2022 Mar;55(2):125-133. doi: 10.3961/jpmph.21.542. Epub 2022 Mar 8. J Prev Med Public Health. 2022. PMID: 35391524 Free PMC article.

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philippine health care system essay

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Introduction Reflection within Healthcare, has been outlined as the active process of reviewing, analysing, and evaluating experiences and then interpreting or assessing them (Atkins and Murphy,1994)...

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  2. SOLUTION: The anatomy of the philippine health care system compress

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  3. Essay on Health Care System In The Philippines

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  4. Philippine Health System

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  5. (PDF) Universal Healthcare in the Philippine Setting

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  6. The State of the Philippine Health Care System

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  1. PDF The Philippines Health System Review

    The Philippines Health System Review Health Systems in Transition Health Sy Vol. 8 No. 2 2018 s t ems in T r ansition Vol. 8 No. 2 2018 The Philippines Health System Review The Asia Pacific Observatory on Health Systems and Policies (the APO) is a collaborative partnership of interested governments, international agencies,

  2. Essay on Health Care System In The Philippines

    The health care system in the Philippines is a mix of public and private providers. The Department of Health (DOH) is the main public health agency. It sets policies, plans, and programs for health services. It also runs special health programs and research. The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) is another important part of ...

  3. (PDF) CHALLENGES IN THE PHILIPPINE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM: Social

    CHALLENGES IN THE PHILIPPINE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM: Social Determinants to health, Health system strengthening and Health engagement in development towards issues in equity ... the-philippine-health ...

  4. An Evaluation of the Philippine Healthcare System: Preparing for a

    In conclusion, the Philippine healthcare system needs an overhaul in terms of the 4 functions discussed. This is certainly one of the main reasons why herd immunity has not yet been attained and the country has reached almost 4 million COVID- 19 cases and counting. ... Department of Health Republic of Philippines UHC Implementing Rules and ...

  5. Developmental Changes in the Philippine Health System: Accomplishments

    The Philippine health system operates in a devolved manner owing to the local government code of 1991, whereby services were mostly under the jurisdiction of the local governments, with supplementary services such as major national programs, which include but are not limited to immunization, tuberculosis, nutrition, etc. Decentralization of ...

  6. The Philippines health system review

    None the less, the health agenda continues to have both political and fiscal support. The Government continues to aspire for an efficient, effective and responsive health system that delivers affordable and quality care. To achieve this end, the DOH is pursuing another wave of health reforms through the Philippine Health Agenda - 2016.

  7. Philippines

    health system remains fragmented. Health insurance now covers 92% of the population. Maternal and child health services have improved, with more children living beyond infancy, a higher number of women delivering at health facilities and more births being attended by professional service providers than ever before.

  8. An Evaluation of the Philippine Healthcare System: Preparing for a

    Despite the decentralisation of the public health system on local governments [15], the unequal and uneven growth and development across geographical areas in the Philippines make health service ...

  9. The Philippines health system review (1st Edition)

    The health status of Filipinos has improved dramatically over the last 40 years, with a two-thirds drop in infant mortality, lower prevalence of communicable diseases and life expectancy to over 70 years. However, the country is grappling with considerable inequities in access to health care. Despite the creation of a national health insurance agency, PhilHealth, in 1995, out of pocket ...

  10. The Philippine Health System at a Glance

    The Philippine Health System at a Glance. This learning module is an overview of the Philippine Health System. Each slide shares information about the country's health system, making use of the World Health Organization's Six Building Blocks framework: Health Situation in the Philippines: describes the overall health situation of the ...

  11. Philippines: a primary health care case study in the context of the

    Through the implementation of the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act (1), the Philippines' health system, especially its chief health agency the Department of Health (DOH), has sought to address a triple disease burden and the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this case study is to examine key aspects of primary health care (PHC) in the Philippines to inform future policy and practice ...

  12. Advancing Filipino Healthcare: The Plight of Filipino Nurses in a

    At a time when the Philippine health system was already overwhelmed, this mass exodus by some of the most important healthcare workers severely limited the country's pandemic response. ... COVID-19 and the well-being of health-care workers in the Philippines. Workplace Health & Safety, 70 (8), 344-345. 10.1177/21650799221084264 [Google ...

  13. Overview of the Healthcare System in the Philippines

    An Overview of the Philippine Healthcare System. The Philippines has accredited hospitals and well-trained medical providers. In most cities, healthcare in the Philippines will be just as good, if not better, than in your home country. However, the Philippines is made up of more than 7,500 islands, and the country has more than 20,000 miles of ...

  14. Developmental Changes in the Philippine Health System ...

    The Philippine health system has undergone various changes which addressed the needs of the time. These changes were reflected in the benchmarks and indicators of performance of the whole health system. To understand how these changes affected the health system (HS), this study determined the changes in the Philippine health system in relation to different health domains (health determinants ...

  15. Outmigration and unequal distribution of Filipino physicians and nurses

    Apart from out-migration, the Philippine health system also faces an unequal distribution of HCWs, who are increasingly concentrated in urban areas. 5 39,086 HCWs are in NCR, ... Prescribing Reforms in the Health Care System, and Appropriating Funds Therefor; 2018:5784;16-17. Accessed 5 May 2022.

  16. The Philippines health system review

    The APO collaboratively identifies priority health system issues across the Asia Pacific region; develops and synthesizes relevant research to support and inform countries' evidence-based policy development; and builds country and regional health systems research and evidence-informed policy capacity. ... The Philippines health system review ...

  17. [OPINION] 5 thoughts about the Philippine healthcare system

    As I lay in bed waiting to heal, I had five thoughts about the medical system. One, it is expensive to get sick in this country and to be hospitalized - too expensive for many Filipinos of lower ...

  18. UHC Act in the Philippines: a new dawn for health care

    14 March 2019. It is a time for celebration in the Philippines. President Rodrigo Duterte has just signed a Universal Health Care (UHC) Bill into law (Republic Act No. 11223) that automatically enrolls all Filipino citizens in the National Health Insurance Program and prescribes complementary reforms in the health system.

  19. The 2019 Philippine UHC Act, Pandemic Management and Implementation

    1. Introduction. The Philippines has taken great strides in moving towards universal health coverage. In 2019, the Philippine Universal Health Care Act (UHC), or Republic Act 11223, was signed and the planned implementation in January 2020 was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic [].This pause provides an opportunity to reflect on the provisions of the new law, in the light of the country's ...

  20. An Evaluation of the Philippine Healthcare System: Preparing for a

    An Evaluation of the Philippine Healthcare System: Preparing for a Robust Public Health in the Future J Prev Med Public Health. 2022 May;55(3):310-311. doi: 10.3961/jpmph.22.154. Epub 2022 May 31. Author ... Delivery of Health Care* Humans Philippines ...

  21. PDF The Philippines Health System Review

    The Philippines Health System Review Health Systems in Transition Health Sy Vol. 8 No. 2 2018 s t ems in T r ansition Vol. 8 No. 2 2018 The Philippines Health System Review The Asia Pacific Observatory on Health Systems and Policies (the APO) is a collaborative partnership of interested governments, international agencies,

  22. The Philippine Health Care Delivery

    This essay should not be treated as an authoritative source of information when forming medical opinions as information may be inaccurate or out-of-date. Accept and close . Essays; The Philippine Health Care Delivery. Info: 5415 words (22 pages) Nursing Essay ... In the Philippines health care system is complex set of organizations interacting ...