Health
From The Report: The Philippines 2017
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Given the remarkable strides in improving health outcomes since the 1970s, Filipinos are generally living longer and healthier lives than their predecessors. But despite these advances, the country lags behind many of its neighbours on key health indicators, such as the maternal mortality rate and incidence of tuberculosis. Its health expenditure is also considerably less than other countries in South-east Asia. At the same time, lifestyle diseases are emerging as a new health challenge, requiring different responses. These are the issues that the Philippines faces as it moves forward with its commitment to achieve universal health coverage, ensuring that all Filipinos have access to quality, affordable health care.

This chapter contains interviews with Paulyn Jean B Rosell-Ubial, Secretary, Department of Health; and Dr Edgardo R Cortez, President and CEO, St Luke’s Medical Centre.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Check up: The new administration is building on the progress made in the last decade and expanding coverage
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Given the remarkable strides in improving health outcomes since the 1970s, Filipinos are generally living longer and healthier lives. But despite these advances, the country lags behind many of its neighbours on key health indicators, such as the maternal mortality rate and incidence of tuberculosis, and its health expenditure is considerably less than other countries in South-east Asia. At the same time, lifestyle diseases are emerging as a new health challenge, requiring different responses.…

Interview

Ensuring well-being: Paulyn Jean B Rosell-Ubial, Secretary, Department of Health, on health care expansion and professional resources
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Interview: Paulyn Jean B Rosell-Ubial In what ways can the Philippine health agenda serve to bridge accessibility gaps in the country? PAULYN JEAN B ROSELL-UBIAL: The Philippine Health Agenda 2016-2022 was crafted to address the gaps in the current health care system to ensure universal access to quality services across the continuum of care and all life stages. Our agenda also looks at disparities in the health system between geographic locations and prioritises areas where the most disadvantaged…

Analysis

Out of shape: Changes in lifestyle have led to growing concerns over non-communicable diseases
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The biggest fast-food chain in the Philippines is not McDonald’s or Kentucky Fried Chicken, it is Jollibee, a local firm that has made a fortune out of burgers, fried chicken and local favourites covered in sweet sauces. However, this sweet tooth is helping fuel a rise in diseases more often associated with the consumption of processed food laden with sugar and fat, a sedentary existence, smoking and drinking. More Filipinos are succumbing to lifestyle diseases such as strokes, heart disease…

Interview

Raising standards: Dr Edgardo R Cortez, President and CEO, St Luke’s Medical Centre, on improving service and attracting investment
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Interview: Dr Edgardo R Cortez How attractive is the Philippine health care market for domestic or international investment? DR. EDGARDO R CORTEZ: A major trend that will accelerate investment in health care will be the forging of partnerships between foreign investors and local hospitals, with the former being able to deliver funds to fuel the expansion of existing local players and the acquisition of more advanced technology. This trend can also result in the development of speciality clinics…

Analysis

Kick the habit: Tackling drug addiction has become a major priority
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Since President Rodrigo Duterte took office in mid-2016, his administration has begun a nationwide crackdown on drug use, which has attracted much condemnation both at home and overseas, largely due to the fact more than 8000 people have died due to extra-judicial killings. Data from the country’s Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) suggests there are 1.7m drug users, or 1.6% of the population. About 860,000 people are thought to be users of shabu, a local, cheap form of methamphetamine, with marijuana…

Analysis

At your fingertips: New technologies are expanding access to more Filipinos
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As an archipelago of more than 7000 islands, and a high level of social media engagement and an internet-literate population, the Philippines is looking to e-health to help it meet its goal of achieving universal health coverage. For the government, technology is a way to streamline the management of devolved health systems and improve health care delivery in rural areas by providing remote clinics, which often lack the necessary equipment and specialist expertise, with new ways to assess…

Analysis

In the best of health: Many Filipinos receive health care through health maintenance organisations In the best of health
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Health maintenance organisations (HMOs) are becoming an increasingly important part of the health care system in the Philippines, providing insurance plans to help people, particularly those employed in the private sector, to cover health-related costs. Until recently, the industry was subject to only the most cursory of regulation and was the responsibility of the Department of Health (DoH). However, following an executive order from then-President Benigno Aquino III, the Insurance Commission…