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Standard of Medical Care
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Why does the Philippines have poor healthcare? There’s a story about a leading hospital trying to claim property, at far less than its value, to pay the bill of a deceased patient, before they would release the body.
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The linked story is not so much the quality of healthcare as it is the usurious tendencies and insensitive behaviours of our healthcare institutions. In terms of the quality of healthcare however, the Philippines actually has a decent quality, in that most illness can be treated. It is the more unusual care, say brain surgery, and mental care, where one may find options are limited. I have been to St Lukes, Asian Hospital, and Makati Medical City, amongst the premier hospitals in the country, and they are really good. The doctors are generally competent. However, the cost is ridiculous. For instance, an executive check-up is in the order of Php60k+. A similar package at Adventist would cost just over Php20k (USD450). The quality is quite decent but definitely not the level of the premium hospitals. What the Philippines lack is accessible healthcare for most. The hospitals I mention above are generally for the middle class and up. The poor have to contend with the likes of PGH, Orthopedic (which has been sold SM I think), and other smaller hospitals and clinics. You can find well trained medical staff in these places too, but the lack the funds, equipment, medicine makes provision of quality healthcare an ongoing challenge. Away from Manila, the situation gets destitute. My mother got stung by Jellyfish in the idyllic seaside town of Port Barton, Palawan, and had to be rushed to Puerto Princessa to deal with it. Forget about complex procedures in over 90% of the country, and so those that can afford it fly to Manila when they need to undertake more involved care.
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Two answers: 1. The wealthy and the powerful (read: mayors, governors) in whose hands public health care was entrusted do not care about the lives and health of their neighbors and constituents. The budget for health care suffers accordingly. No budget, no health care. Sometimes, it is that simple. 2. Mind-boggling wealth inequality. Doctors and nurses trained in the Philippines are good enough to compete on the world stage. What this means is that it is almost always better for us financially to work for multinationals or foreign institutions rather than rely on payment from people who have to survive on $2 a day. I've been paid in vegetables, chickens, eggs, and live pig. The patients are grateful and they're very generous, but they simply don't have much wealth – it is all taken by the elite.