Filipinos aspire for long and healthy life, a collective vision set in the AmBisyon Natin 2040. This Policy Note examines the key trends and challenges in the Philippine health sector. It finds that while the country has made significant strides in improving health outcomes, it has been lagging behind its regional and aspirational peers. Healthcare spending has been increasing over the years yet resources are unevenly distributed across population groups. The study also notes that accessing healthcare services, even if at no cost, still requires time that potential patients may not afford or be willing to provide. Moreover, nonmedical factors such as socioeconomics, politics, and culture play important roles in households’ healthcare experience. Thus, the author recommends that the government address the social and economic determinants of health and ensure the complete, consistent, and continuous availability of health services across the country.
Four Stylized Facts on Health in the Philippines
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