Making Medical Supplies Accessible to Improve Philippine Healthcare
In order for health institutions such as hospitals and clinics to provide patients the best treatment, they need to be equipped with excellent medical supplies and equipment. However, in an archipelago such as the Philippines, it can be challenging for hospitals located in rural areas to procure the supplies they need. On top of the logistics issue, it is important that hospitals acquire medical supplies from reliable suppliers. This is to ensure the quality of the products, and of course, to safeguard the interests of patients. Unfortunately, these challenges have made it difficult for hospitals to procure all the medical supplies they need. Amid the ongoing pandemic, it is imperative that hospitals be equipped with all the necessary tools to be able to provide care for patients. However, the pandemic has made it harder for hospitals, especially those located in rural areas, to equip themselves with everything they need to…
The Rural Healthcare Situation in the Philippines
Everyone has the right to basic healthcare. Unfortunately, not every Filipino patient gets the healthcare service he deserves. There is a stark difference between healthcare service in a public and private hospital, and those located in urban and rural areas. In general, public hospitals cater to more patients, and unfortunately, a lot of public hospitals lack the facilities and manpower to attend to everyone in a timely manner. On the other hand, private health institutions tend to be more consistent. They’re better equipped to be of service, but their service comes at a price. Hence, not every Filipino can afford the services of private hospitals. On top of this, there is a clear divide between the digitalization of public and private health institutions. In the same manner, there is a huge difference between hospitals in urban and rural areas. Hospitals in urban areas have more manpower than those located in…
Problems Plaguing the Philippines’ Medical Care
It goes without saying the medical care in the country is far from perfect. Compared to medically advanced countries such as the US, and Singapore, the Philippines face a lot more basic problems that prevent healthcare professionals from giving the best care that they can. Here are some of the problems plaguing the Philippines medical care: 1. Majority of Filipino people lack access to basic healthcare. Even before the pandemic started, 16.7% of Filipinos lived under the poverty line as per Asian Development Bank. Poverty has prevented millions of Filipinos from getting the healthcare services they need. In short, a lot of Filipinos are too poor to go to the hospital and get the treatment they actually need. 2. There are not enough healthcare workers in the country. 75% of cities and municipalities in the country have an insufficient number of healthcare workers, according to the government think tank Philippine…
The State of Healthcare in the Philippines
Looking at the bigger picture, healthcare in the country is of high standards. Medical professionals in the Philippines are expertly trained. This is why there is high demand even in other countries. To put things into perspective, the Department of Health (DOH) has an allocated budget of PHP134 billion. This is then divided among the department sub-sectors, such as public health programs, medical assistance and human resources deployment. However, medical facilities in the country are not as impressive as they are in high-end American or European hospitals. Private hospitals tend to be better equipped and more consistent than public hospitals. To add to this, there is a clear disparity between medical institutions in urban and rural areas. The main reason why hospitals in rural areas are less equipped than their urban counterparts is limited access to medical supplies. It can be challenging for health institutions based in the province to…