Most Pinoys pay for healthcare out-of-pocket

MANILA, Philippines — Out-of-pocket payment remained as the largest source of financing for health service providers in the country as of 2019, beating the financial assistance provided by the government, according to data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

Data on the Philippine National Health Accounts released yesterday showed health spending in the country grew by 10.9 percent to P792.6 billion in 2019 from P714.8 billion in 2018.

Financing for healthcare was still largely shouldered by households which made up 47.9 percent of health expenditure last year.

This was followed by financing by government schemes and compulsory contributory health financing schemes making up 42 percent of the total.

Voluntary health care payment schemes made up the balance of 10.1 percent.

Among healthcare providers, the spending was largest in hospitals (43.6 percent), amounting to P345.5 billion, up by 14.9 percent year-on-year.

This was followed by spending in pharmacies (30.3 percent) with P 239.8 billion, higher by 4.2 percent year-on-year.

Spending that goes to providers of healthcare system administration and financing, meanwhile, made up 7.4 percent of health spending in 2019 totaling 58.9 billion, higher by 5.2 percent year-on-year.

On the average, every Filipino spent P6,662 for healthcare goods and services in 2019, up from P6,200 in 2018.