GAPS IN UNIVERSAL COVERAGE
Under the Universal Health Care Law, all Filipinos are members of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).
The state insurer subsidises medicines and covers treatments for illnesses including cancer, tuberculosis and chronic kidney disease.
But gaps remain, particularly when patients have to seek treatment at private hospitals.
A 2022 study by pharmaceutical company Unilab found that Filipino households paid nearly half of the country’s healthcare expenditure out of pocket.
Private insurance can help cover those costs, but affordability remains a major obstacle.
Christine Manalaysay, president of the Life Underwriters Association of the Philippines, said many households prioritise more immediate expenses.
“They tend to postpone these types...
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