Health in the Philippines is handled by the Government of the Philippines through its different offices with the Department of Health as the lead agency.

Access to healthcare services in the Philippines is marked by significant inequities, particularly affecting poor communities. These disparities are reflected in both access to services, health outcomes, and the effects of climate change which exacerbate the incidence of infectious diseases. One major challenge is the varying financing for local government units, leading to differences in the benefits packages of insurance plans and difficulties in accessing public health services. The decentralization of healthcare responsibilities from the federal government to local governments has, in some cases, increased local authority but has also made certain communities vulnerable to a lack of access to basic services.

In response to the Millennium Development Goals' focus on maternal and child health, the Philippines began the National Demographic and Health Survey in 1968 to assess the effectiveness of public health programs in the country.

Statistics Population As of September 2020, the Philippines has a population of nearly 110 million and a population density of 368 per square kilometer. 32% of the population of the Philippines is under 15 years old, and only 22.2% is over 60. In the Philippines, 16.6% of the population lived below the national poverty line in 2018.

Live Births Number and Percentage Change of Registered Live Births.

Year Number Percentage Change 2014 1.749M 2015 1.745M -0.2% 2016 1.731M -0.8% 2017 1.701M -1.8% 2018 1.668M -1.9% 2019 1.674M 0.3% 2020 1.529M -8.7% 2021 1.365M -10.7% 2022 1.455M 6.5% 2023 1.449M -0.5%

Health indicators

+Health IndicatorsMaleFemaleFor Both SexesLife expectancy at birth (Years) 201666.272.6Under 5 mortality rate (Per 1,000 live births)28.4Maternal mortality rate (MMR) (Per 100,000 live births)121Neonatal mortality rate (Per 1,000 live births)13.5

Nutrition The National Nutrition Council (NCC) develops the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN). The PPAN is released by the NCC since 1974 every six-years.

Stunting In 2026 a study show that 1 in 4 Filipino children under 5 years old is stunted.

Stunting in children 0-5 years old.

Year Percentage 1989 44.5% 1993 38.82% 1996 40% 1998 38.9% 2001 35.9% 2003 33.8% 2005 32.9% 2008 32.2% 2011 33.7% 2013 30.3% 2015 33.4% 2019 29.5% 2021 26.7% 2023 23.6% 2025 25.3%

Health problems in the Philippines The Philippines faces a large burden of disease:

The main non-communicable diseases are diabetes, heart disease, stroke, cancer, and chronic diseases that affect the airways and lungs. While these diseases affect different parts of the body in different ways, they often share common origins.

Communicable diseases: Acute Respiratory Infection, Influenza A (H1N1), Bird Flu (Avian Influenza), Chickenpox, Cholera, Dengue, Diarrhea, Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, HIV/AIDS, Influenza, Leprosy, Malaria, Measles, Meningococcemia, Pertussis, Poliomyelitis, Rabies, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), Sore Eyes, Tuberculosis, Typhoid Fever

HIV/AIDS

Smoking

Health Education Community-based Health education in the community is primarily through barangay health centers.

Barangay health workers are effective in addressing health issues in the community as they are trusted as members of the community.

School-based Health education is integrated in the school curriculum. For reproductive health education the topics will be on values formation, responsibilities, women and children's rights, gender related laws, teenage pregnancy, and others.

Oplan Kalusugan sa DepEd The Oplan Kalusugan sa DepEd (OK sa DepEd) is a school-based health program implemented in public elementary and high school nationwide.

The Program includes: National Drug Education Progarm (NDEP) Adolescent Reproductive Health Education (ARH) Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) in Schools Program medical, nursing, and dental services School-Based Feeding Program (SBFP)

Medical Schools

Barriers to healthcare

Poor communities suffer a higher burden of disease due to inequities in access to services and health status. Since financing for local government units often vary and the benefits package for insurance plans may be unfavorable, some communities face difficulties accessing public health services. Shifting the responsibility of healthcare from the federal government to the local governments has increased local authority and has made communities susceptible to lack of access to basic services. In addition, most healthcare payments are made out of pocket, especially when receiving care from privately owned institutions. Barangay health stations serve as primary public health facilities and are staffed by doctors, nurses, midwives, and barangay health volunteers.

There is no requirement in the Philippines for causes of death to be medically determined prior to registration of a death, so national statistics as to causes of death in the Philippines cannot be accurately substantiated. In the provinces, especially in places more remote from registries, births and deaths are often not recorded unless some family need arises, such as entry into college. When there is no legal process needed to pass on inheritance, the recording of deaths is viewed as unnecessary by the family.

Effects of climate change

See also HIV/AIDS in the Philippines Smoking in the Philippines Water supply and sanitation in the Philippines Nutrition Foundation of the Philippines, Inc. Effects of Climate Change on Health in the Philippines

References

External links

Teaching and Health Care during Spanish Rule (in English and Spanish) Franciscan Hospitals during Spanish Rule History of the Public Health System in the Philippines