Palma, Amanda Paula F.

III-CN Reaction Paper Health status in the Philippines The Philippines is a middle-income country with imbalanced distribution of economic growth and productive resources. Economic growth has been at a decent rate in recent years, but is unassuming compared with other Asian countries. Poverty is predominant in rural areas as well as in urban slum areas. The country is prone to natural disasters brought about by floods, typhoons, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Along with many more determinants, these factors have contributed to the unsatisfactory improvement of health status in the country compared to other middle-income countries in the Region. The Philippine public health system, like our educational system, is in a sad state of disrepair. We need not repeat today the litany of causes that have led us to our present conditions, nor do we need to hear the horror stories of a majority of our people, who suffer from lack or absence of health services. We all share a sense of urgency to fix our health system. It is time to look forward and face the challenges of health care in the country. The Philippine economy is currently facing the problem of cushioning the effects of the global financial crisis on the productive sectors as well as on the most vulnerable group, the poor. All healthcare is a general and an individual issue. That is why the word equity has two meanings. On one hand it means to treat everyone the same. We require vaccinations before we let children into school in order to prevent disease and protect everyone. On the other hand, equity means to treat every situation individually. For example, in New Jersey you can have seven kidney transplants, but in Arizona you can only have one. The state makes medical policy. The federal government offers programs but the state decides the rules and how to implement it. Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Is_Philippine_Health_Care_a_general_or_an_individual_issue #ixzz1j9GytFZN

Healthcare in the Philippines

Introduction
Officially called the Republic of the Philippines, this island nation is situated in Southeast Asia. Its capital is Manila and it has more than seven thousand islands, making it the worlds twelfth most populous country.

Overview of Healthcare
Although there have been recorded cases of drug dependency and malnutrition in the Philippines, the healthcare system can still be considered to be of a good standard. This is despite the fact that the facilities may not be as impressive as those found in high-end US or European hospitals. The top Philippine hospitals include the Medical Centre in Alabang, the Asian Hospital, the Makati Medical Centre, the Medical City in Ortigas, and St. Lukes Medical Centre in Quezon City. Medical practitioners in the Philippines are graduates from the top universities in the country and most of them have studied in US medical schools. Additionally, there are doctors that have practiced medicine in the US before sharing their expertise in the Philippines. Filipino nurses are also trained by nursing schools that have excellent standards. In fact, a large percentage of Filipino nurses go on to work in the US. If you are looking for a dentist or a doctor, it is advisable to seek the opinions of other expatriates that have been in the Philippines for a number of years.

Hospitals
Finding the right hospital in the Philippines is not considered too difficult as there are a number of options to choose from. The Philippines has both private and public healthcare institutions. Most of the government hospitals provide quality healthcare in the same way private hospitals do. Although some people may have misconceptions, most of them are unfounded. The main difference between public and private hospitals are the facilities and technologies offered. Most of the public hospitals would not be equipped to the same standard as the private ones. However, some of the best doctors are serving in the government hospitals. Also, most Filipinos would seek advice from these government hospitals because fees are not charged. Private hospitals are located in key cities throughout the nation and there are also tertiary hospitals that have the latest in medical technologies. However, as you would expect, private hospitals are more expensive.

Emergency in the Philippines

The Philippines have stand-by ambulances for any emergency situation. They also have a hotline number which is available in times of emergencies.

Pharmacies
There are numerous pharmacies in the Philippines that provide medicines which have been approved by the Bureau of Food and Drugs. Most of the standard pharmacies are manned by professional pharmacists that have studied and trained in top medical schools in the country. There are strict guidelines in relation to prescription drugs; while some countries allow their patients to obtain certain drugs without a prescription, the Filipino pharmacists have stringent directives in relation to the sale of such drugs.

Cost of medicines and hospitalisations

Generally speaking, hospitals are not that expensive in the Philippines. Medicines are also affordable; both locals and expatriates will attest to this fact. Additionally, in the Philippines, almost ninety percent of the population can speak and understand English. Communication is never a problem when you are in the Philippines. The people are very hospitable and accommodating, the doctors and medical practitioners are friendly and the place is very inviting. Overall, the healthcare system in the Philippines is affordable, the doctors are well-trained and the nurses are of a high standard.

Health issues in the Philippines

The Philippines have been struggling with some healthcare issues, one of the most noticeable being illegal drug use. There are a number of Filipinos who are said to be addicted to prohibited drugs. However, the Philippine government has concentrated on this issue and although there are still some recorded incidents of drug abuse, the number of drug dependents has gradually decreased. Another serious health issue is malnutrition. Unsurprisingly, the poorer citizens are the ones who suffer from this condition. The Philippine government, through the Department of Social Welfare and Development and in conjunction with the Department of Health, has initiated projects to help its poorer citizens who suffer from starvation. Cases of dengue are also notable. However, most of these cases are properly attended to by the Philippine government.

Message from the Secretary of Health Manuel M. Dayrit "Tulong-Sulong sa Kalusugan" is a program of this administration to uplift the health status of every Filipino, especially the poor, through vital reforms in our health system. It has three pillars.

First, is the pillar of "pagtutulungan" or mutual assistance. Our efforts to improve the health system should not be efforts of the national government alone. They should be efforts of all concerned - the national government, local governments, private sector, civil society, professional associations, and people's organizations. We need to help and support each other in order to succeed.

Second, is the pillar of "pagsulong" or moving forward in order to bring about meaningful changes in our health system. We are moving to make high quality health care affordable to every Filipino by lowering the price

of essential drugs and expanding the coverage of health insurance under the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation.

Giving Filipinos, especially the poor, access to essential medicines is a key program of Tulong-Sulong sa Kalusugan. The Handog ni GMA (Gamot na Mabisa at Abot-kaya) program of the Department of Health, with the Department of Trade and Industry, makes available affordable, highquality drugs to LGUs.

These drugs are called Parallel Drug Imports or PDIs. PDIs are medicines manufactured in another country by the same drug company and sold at much lower prices than in our country.

Government imports these drugs based on Purchase Orders or Requests by participating LGUs. Nationwide, some 71 LGUs participate in the program. These LGUs today account for a total of 50.7 million pesos of purchases of essential medicines.

Through the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation - otherwise known as PhilHealth - Government gives Filipinos financial access to health services. The Greater Medicare Access (GMA para sa Lahat) program is a special program for the poor with an expanded health package that now includes outpatient benefits.

Through this program, local governments can give universal social health coverage to their constituents. It ensures that people with illnesses do not become a burden. It is a pro-poor benefit package that provides uniform benefits to all, with premium payments that can be made easily and conveniently.

Nationwide, some 1,036 LGUs participate in PhilHealth's indigent program. A total of 2.9 million Filipinos from low-income households have been enrolled as of March this year. The first Health Passport in the country was launched in Pasay City. Under the leadership of Mayor Wenceslao "Peewee" Trinidad, Pasay City boasts of quality health services through its Sentrong Sigla and PhilHealth accredited health centers. Some 7,613

indigent families in this city are actively enrolled in the National Health Insurance Program.

In addition to these reform efforts, we also are moving to raise the performance of our public hospitals. We are helping local governments raise their capability to carry out health delivery programs. And we are moving to upgrade our public health programs, such as the program on immunization.

Third and last, is the pillar of "kalusugan para sa lahat" or health for all. A healthy citizenry is the foundation of a progressive nation. This is especially true for the less privileged in our society. We can protect and safeguard their welfare if they are healthy not only in body but in mind as well.

In the end, it is about the raising the quality of the country's human capital. Pagtutulungan. Pagsulong. Kalusugan para sa lahat. These are the three pillars of Tulong-Sulong sa Kalusugan. This is a partnership that draws on the strength of our communities, governors, mayors, Provincial Health Officers, civil society groups, and partner government agencies, particularly the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, the Department of Trade and Industry, the Department of Interior and Local Government, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, and donor agencies like the United States Agency for International Development.

The answer to your question is in two parts depending on whether the circumstances of the preexisting condition. This part goes into effect in 2014: Reforming Health Insurance Regulations. Implements strong health insurance reforms that prohibit insurance companies from engaging in discriminatory practices that enable them to refuse to sell or renew policies due to an individuals health status. Health plans can no longer exclude coverage for treatments based on pre-existing health conditions. It also limits the ability of insurance companies to charge higher rates due to heath status, gender, or other factors. Premiums can vary only on age (no more than 3:1), geography, family size, and tobacco use. This part was effective in 2010:

Eliminating Pre-Existing Condition Exclusions for Children. Bars all employer plans and new plans in the individual market from imposing pre-existing condition exclusions on childrens coverage.

Health Issues in the Philippines

Like any other third-world country, the Philippines have been struggling in some health issues and one of it is illegal drug use. A lot of Filipinos are addicted to prohibited drugs. However, the Philippine government has dealt with this issue and although there are still some recorded incidents of drug abuse, the number of drug dependents in the Philippines has gradually decreased. One major health issue in the Philippines, is malnutrition. There have been studies conducted and accordingly, most of the Filipinos that suffer from malnutrition are the poor ones. The Philippine government, thru the Department of Social Welfare and Developments along with the Department of Health has provided projects to help poor Filipinos from starvation. Other health issues in the Philippines are dengue cases, but then, these health concerns are only happening in the rural area of the country. Most of these cases are properly attended to by the Philippine government.

Health Care in the Philippines

Although there have been recorded cases of drug dependency and malnutrition in the Philippines, you can still consider the health care of this nation is of good quality, despite the fact that the facilities may not be as impressive as those found in high-end US hospitals. Top Philippine hospitals include the Medical Center in Alabang, the Asian Hospital, the Makati Medical Center, the Medical City in Ortigas, and St. Lukes Medical Center in Quezon City. Medical practitioners in the Philippines are graduates from top universities in the country, and most of them have in United States medical schools. Additionally, there are also doctors that have practiced medicine in the US before sharing their expertise in the Philippines. Filipino nurses are also trained by nursing schools with the best standards. In fact, most of the nurses working in the US are Filipinos.