| |
|
|
 |
|
|
| |
Philippines Expat Health Insurance / Healthcare System News |
|
|
|
|
| |
Healthcare in the Philippines operates mainly under the Department of Health (DOH). The Mission of the department is to provide equitable, sustainable and quality healthcare services for all Filipinos, especially the poor. The Philippines has a dual healthcare system consisting of a public sector and a private sector. The public healthcare is mainly financed through taxes, allowing free services to be provided to local citizens; while the latter is largely market-oriented and it is financed based on patients paying for the utilized medical services. Poorer Filipinos obtain health services from health facilities operated by the government while the wealthier section of Filipino society has the option to choose health services from private facilities. About three quarters of the hospitals in the Philippines are private, most of them are located in the key cities of the Philippines (for example Manila, Angeles, Davao, Baugio Zamboanga and Cebu, etc).
The quality of healthcare in the Philippines is considered to be good, despite the fact that the facilities may not be as impressive as those found in the visitors’ home country. Medical doctors in the Philippines are graduates from top universities in the country, and most of them graduated from medical schools in the United States. Some of the doctors have practiced medicine in the USA before sharing their experience and expertise in the Philippines. Filipino nurses are also trained in high standards nursing schools.
Most of the government hospitals provide quality healthcare on par with private hospitals. Some people may have the wrong perception that doctors in public hospitals are not as reliable as those served in private hospitals. However, in the Philippines, most well-trained doctors are serving at government hospitals. In comparison to public hospitals, private hospitals in the Philippines are equipped with better facilities and latest technologies in medicine. Nevertheless, most Filipinos seek advice from government hospitals as it offers free medical services.
Unlike in some countries where most of the population does not speak English, in the Philippines, almost ninety percent of their population can understand and speak English very well. Communication is therefore not a problem to visitors while travel in the Philippines.
One of the major issues in the Philippines is corruption. Corruption was introduced into the country during the Spanish colonial period. There are a number of causes of corruption in the Philippines, one being the fact that civil servants and political leaders are poorly paid and they have plenty of opportunities for corruption in many public agencies. Other contributing factors to corruption include the low probability of detection and punishment for corrupting acts. The offenders perceive corruption as a low risk, high reward activity.
Corruption in the healthcare sector has greatest impact on the poor and rural communities. Simply because the poor cannot afford private healthcare or they cannot pay small bribes for healthcare services that are supposed to be free, the poor are discouraged from seeking professional help and often withheld from life-saving vaccines. Corruption in healthcare can lead to many severe consequences. This may include lowering the immunization rate of children and delaying vaccination for newborns. It also prevents patients from obtaining adequate treatments. Other consequences may incude discouraging the use of public health clinics, reducing satisfaction of households with public health services and increasing patients’ waiting time at healthcare clinics. Although on the surface level, the healthcare services in the Philippines claimed to be good and affordable, one is unsure about the extent on the hidden corruption costs and consequences lead by corruption.
Treatments for serious medical problems that require hospitalization and/or medical evacuation to visitors’ home country could be very expensive. Most hospitals in the Philippines will require a down payment of estimated fees in cash at the time of admission. In some cases, public and private hospitals may withhold lifesaving medicines and treatments for non-payment of bills. Hospitals also frequently refuse to discharge patients or release important medical documents until bills are paid in full. Whilst travelling or living in the Philippines, it is therefore very important to ensure that you and your family are fully protected by medical and health insurance.
| |
Philippines Expat Health Insurance |
| |
Globalsurance is a one-stop insurance brokerage service provider for you when travelling to the Philippines. Expat health insurance plans that we offer represent a wide range of policies that will meet your individual needs, including benefits such as dental, maternity, inpatient, outpatient, specialist consultations and many others. Contact our professional advisers today to learn more about the Philippines, Expat Health Insurance for yourself and your family, or to get a free expat health insurance quote.
| |
