26/05/2021
"Today in Asia and the Pacific, spending on health is growing faster than economies. On average, nearly 8% of GDP is devoted to health. With governments around the world making ambitious commitments to universal health coverage, how can they get the most from this investment?
In the Philippines, around 55% of health spending is out-of-pocket, creating situations where families are pushed into poverty by paying for life-saving and health-preserving services. Not only is this a heart-breaking situation, it is bad for development. If people are forced to choose between paying for health and paying for education and basic necessities, their chances of becoming productive members of society are severely compromised.
It is commendable that through the UHC Act, the Philippines has chosen to invest in improving access to health for those in need, so out-of-pocket spending will become lower. Still, work has to be done to ensure everyone across the country has access to the health services they need, where and when they need them. Why? Because we are not yet investing in the most efficient ways of providing care." - Dr Gundo Aurel Weiler
Director WHO Western Pacific
That's why Primary Health Care is the best investment for the Philippines. But the whole responsibility is not just for the local government, private sectors, and health workers. This is for every Filipino's prioritization and to be wise about health spending today. Ikaw, how are you prioritizing this?
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