Health Care in the Philippines
by Jose Marc Castro on August 8, 2009
Like any other third-world country, the Philippines have been struggling in some health issues and one of it is malnutrition. There have been studies conducted and accordingly, most of the Filipinos that suffer from malnutrition are the poor ones. The Philippine government, through the Department of Social Welfare and Developments along with the Department of Health has provided projects to help poor Filipinos from starvation.
Hospitals in the Philippines
Finding the right hospital in the Philippines is not that difficult because there are a number of options to choose from. The Philippines has both private and public health care institutions. Most of the government hospitals provide quality health care the same way private hospitals do.
Some people have these wrong misconceptions though than when you are seeking for medical advice from doctors in public hospitals, these are not reliable. However, you should be aware that most of the well-trained doctors in the Philippines are serving government hospitals. What differs the Philippine government hospitals from the Philippine private hospitals is simply the facilities. Most of the public hospitals in the Philippines are not equipped with the latest technologies in medicine. But then, most Filipinos seek for advice from these government hospitals because charges are not implemented.
With the low cost of medicine and health care, living in the Philippines is really not a thing to worry. The people are very hospitable and accommodating, the doctors and medical practitioners are friendly, and the place is really very inviting. If you wish to settle down and relocate in the Philippines, have no doubt about it. In fact, a lot of people have already relocated in the Philippines and so far, there have been no recorded negative incidents, as far as their health is concerned.
Source:
http://www.expatforum.com/articles/health/health-care-in-the-philippines.html
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My Reaction:
I got hook up on this article because the writer or the blogger seems to be a Filipino citizen who currently lives in another country. Basically, he pointed out the health care in the Philippines as the main topic. The thought quite flows well and it creates a positive view point from him. However, I do believe that this is not the real picture of what is happening in our country. Mr. Castro only sees what for him are the ‘outsides’ of our reality.
I do not take forgranted our hospitals, doctors, and even the Depatment of Health. In fact, my point is only to discuss what kind of system we have regarding our health services because for me, this will affect not only our physical well being, but also our economic state.
Before midterms was about to end, we’ve witness a documentary about the basic health problem among Filipino children- malnutrition. It showed how marginalized families deal with it despite their situation. And many of the families presented there are living in the rural zone that are suffering from lack of health facilities and equipments. From what I’ve seen, the thing that immediately pops up in my mind is the kind of health system we have here, and the fundings for our public hospitals and health care centers. It appears to me that health care services especially on the rural areas are not functioning well. Its either there is the absence of the doctor, or there are no medicines available at all.
I mean, where is now the national budget for health services in our country? How would the Filipino people respond to their everyday situation if their physical body is not well- supported or taken forgranted by giving very expensive medicines? I hope and pray that the budget allocated for our health shall be properly allocated because there are really number of poor people suffering from diseases that cannot be cured because of financial problems. I believe that it is only then the people can continue on with their lives; working in the fields, fishing, mining etc., if thier body can sustain enough nutrients. Let us say that these are the kinds of people who are called the laborers or the ones who lies below the capitalist's structure, but even then, they are part of our society and humanity. :)
