NIGHT OWL

An ideal healthcare system ensures equitable, accessible, and high-quality care for every individual, regardless of socioeconomic status or geographic location. Such a system would meet the World Health Organization’s (WHO) standard of at least one doctor per 1,000 people, provide universal coverage, a well-distributed workforce, robust infrastructure, and sustainable financing. 

Preventive care and health literacy would empower individuals to make informed decisions about their well-being, and the system would be resilient, capable of responding to public health emergencies while maintaining routine services. However, for the Philippines, where the healthcare system faces significant challenges, this vision remains far from reality.

In 2021, only 29 percent of Filipinos expressed satisfaction with public healthcare, starkly lower than the Asia-Pacific average of 61 percent and Singapore’s impressive 82 percent satisfaction rate. This dissatisfaction reflects systemic issues, including a physician-to-population ratio of just one doctor per 25,300 people, far below the WHO recommendation of 1:1,000. The shortage of medical professionals, coupled with inadequate infrastructure and public funding, has left the Filipino population vulnerable to numerous health challenges.

One of the most pressing issues in the Philippines is the burden of non-communicable diseases. Preliminary figures for 2023 indicate that ischaemic heart disease remained the leading cause of death, claiming an estimated 124,437 lives. Cancer was the second-leading cause, resulting in around 71,000 deaths. 

Alongside heart and cerebrovascular diseases, Filipinos face exposure to infections, diabetes, and skin diseases, often exacerbated by dietary habits such as high meat consumption. In 2020, over 700,000 Filipinos contracted acute respiratory tract infections, and over 400,000 were diagnosed with hypertension. Regions prone to heavy rainfall further grapple with dengue infections and leptospirosis, illustrating the diverse health risks confronting the population.

The vulnerability extends to the country’s children, where preventable diseases remain a leading cause of mortality. In 2021, diarrhea and gastroenteritis of presumed infectious origin accounted for 611 deaths among children aged one to four years, making it the leading cause of mortality in this age group. 

Other significant causes include sepsis and respiratory tuberculosis. These statistics highlight the critical need for public health interventions targeting childhood illnesses, improved sanitation, and enhanced access to primary care.

Despite these alarming figures, cutting healthcare subsidies or neglecting financial reserves would worsen the already strained system. Public funding is crucial to address these challenges by increasing the number of healthcare workers, upgrading infrastructure, and expanding programs for disease prevention and health education. 

Steady reserves play an equally vital role in maintaining the healthcare system’s stability. Reserves provide a financial buffer for emergencies like pandemics or natural disasters and enable long-term investments in infrastructure and workforce development.

Public satisfaction with healthcare in the Philippines will remain low until systemic reforms are implemented. Learning from regional neighbors like Singapore, the Philippines must prioritize increasing investment in healthcare, maintaining steady reserves, and addressing workforce shortages. 

Health is not only a fundamental human right but also a cornerstone of economic development. Bridging the gap between the country’s current state and global standards requires a sustained commitment to ensure every Filipino receives the quality healthcare they deserve.