Philippines (PH)

The Philippines is a Southeast Asian archipelago of 7,641 islands, the third-largest English-speaking country in the world, and one of the most welcoming destinations for expats.

Capital: Manila

Region: Asia

Language: Filipino

Currency: PHP (₱)

Cost of living: Very affordable (index 30)

Emergency: 911

Healthcare in Philippines

The Philippines has a mixed public-private healthcare system. PhilHealth (Philippine Health Insurance Corporation) is the national health insurance — mandatory for employees, provides coverage at accredited public and private hospitals. The quality gap between public and private healthcare is stark: public hospitals are overcrowded and under-resourced; private hospitals in Metro Manila and Cebu offer internationally comparable care at a fraction of Western costs. Most expats use private hospitals (St. Luke's, Makati Medical Center, Asian Hospital) and supplement with international health insurance or HMO plans.

Variable — private hospitals in BGC and Makati rank among Southeast Asia's best. DOH public hospitals are strained. Overall WHO global health ranking: 60th. Philippines achieved Universal Health Care Act (RA 11223) in 2019 — implementation ongoing.

Public healthcare: PhilHealth (Philippine Health Insurance Corporation)

National Health Insurance Program

Eligibility:All employees (mandatory), self-employed, OFWs, indigents (sponsored), and lifetime members. Foreigners with AEP must contribute. SRRV holders may enrol voluntarily.

Monthly cost:5% of monthly basic salary — employee pays 2.5%, employer pays 2.5%. Minimum: ₱500/month (on ₱10,000 salary floor). Maximum: ₱5,000/month (on ₱100,000 ceiling). Self-employed: pay full 5% based on declared income.

What's included:

Inpatient hospital care at accredited hospitals
Room and board (ward or semi-private rate)
Professional fees (PhilHealth rate)
Surgery and anaesthesia
Medicines during hospitalisation (limited formulary)
Selected outpatient procedures
Maternity care (normal delivery and C-section)
Selected diagnostic tests (X-ray, CBC, urinalysis)
Dialysis, chemotherapy, and selected chronic disease packages
COVID-19 and emerging infectious disease coverage

Not included (or co-pay required):

Cosmetic procedures
Alternative/traditional medicine
Most outpatient consultations and diagnostics (expanding through UHC implementation)
Dental care (unless emergency)
Eyeglasses and optical aids
Comfort or VIP hospital rooms above semi-private rate
Experimental treatments

Co-payments:PhilHealth pays a benefit package — the balance (co-pay) is the patient's responsibility. Example: PhilHealth pays ₱13,000 per case rate for normal delivery; hospital charges ₱30,000–₱60,000+ at private hospitals — patient pays difference. At government hospitals, co-pays are minimal. Private hospital co-pays can be substantial without supplementary HMO.

How to enrol:Employees: employer registers and deducts premiums automatically. Self-employed: register at any PhilHealth office or online at philhealth.gov.ph. Voluntary members: apply online or at PhilHealth Regional Office. MDR (Member Data Record) is your PhilHealth ID document.

Waiting period:No waiting period for enrolled members. First month of contributions qualifies for benefits.

Private healthcare: HMO (Health Maintenance Organisation)

Who can use it:Anyone can purchase — individuals or employer group plans.

When it makes sense:Essential for expats — PhilHealth alone is insufficient for private hospital care. HMO plus international health insurance provides comprehensive coverage. Employer-provided HMO is standard in most professional workplaces.

Monthly cost:₱1,500–₱5,000/month per person (individual HMO plan). Employer group plans: ₱800–₱2,500/person/month.

Major providers:

Maxicare PhilippinesMedicard PhilippinesIntellicare (Asalus)Caritas Health ShieldPacific CrossInsular Health Care

Accessing care

GP system

No compulsory GP gatekeeper system. Patients can directly consult specialists. For routine care, most expats choose a primary care physician (PCP) at a private clinic or hospital outpatient department. Family medicine specialists (board-certified) are equivalent to GPs. Many use "polyclinics" in malls (QualiMed, HealthFirst) for quick consultations (₱300–₱800 with insurance).

Specialist referral

Not required — patients may see specialists directly at private clinics or hospital outpatient departments. PhilHealth packages usually require an attending physician referral for case rate packages at hospitals. Waiting times at private hospitals for specialist appointments: same day to 1 week.

Emergency care

Private hospitals: Emergency rooms (ER) have 24/7 capability — dial 911 for ambulance or go directly. At private hospitals, staff require payment deposits or HMO card before treatment (except life-threatening emergencies). Government hospitals: under the UHC Act, must treat emergency patients regardless of ability to pay. Major emergency hospitals: Philippine General Hospital (PGH, public), St. Luke's Global City ER, Makati Medical Center ER.

Out of hours

Private hospitals operate 24/7 emergency departments. For non-emergency after-hours consultations: many clinics offer teleconsultation (KonsultaMD, HealthNow, MyDoc). Some family medicine practices have on-call lines. Government hospitals' emergency rooms are the after-hours option for public care.

Prescriptions

Prescriptions required for antibiotics, controlled substances, and maintenance medications. Freely available at pharmacies: Mercury Drug (largest chain), Rose Pharmacy, Watsons, Generika. Generic medicines are widely available and required to be offered by pharmacies (Generics Act RA 6675). Online pharmacies: PhilMed Online, HealthFirst. Prescription validity: no strict national rule, but pharmacies typically honour recent scripts (within 30 days).

Dental

Not covered by PhilHealth (except emergency extractions). HMO plans often include dental coverage (₱15,000–₱30,000 annual benefit). Private dental clinics are affordable: cleaning ₱500–₱1,500, filling ₱500–₱2,000, implant ₱35,000–₱80,000. Dentists are highly trained — dental tourism from neighbouring countries is growing.

Mental health

Republic Act 11036 (Mental Health Act 2018) mandates mental health services in all DOH facilities. In practice, psychiatry is available at most private hospitals. Psychologists available at university hospitals and private clinics. Rates: ₱1,500–₱4,000 per session. Online therapy platforms: MindNation, ThinkingMindfully, Kaya Collaborative. Growing awareness since COVID-19 pandemic. Stigma is reducing but still present.

Maternity

Private hospitals offer modern maternity care. Normal delivery at private hospital: ₱30,000–₱100,000 (OB fees + hospital room). C-section: ₱60,000–₱200,000. PhilHealth case rates cover a portion. Rooming-in and breastfeeding support are standard (Milk Code compliance). Public hospitals (PGH, lying-in clinics) charge minimal fees — much lower quality amenities. Licensed midwives attend births at lying-in clinics as a low-cost option.

Expat-specific advice

First steps on arrival:

Obtain an HMO plan immediately — contact Maxicare, Medicard, or Pacific Cross for individual enrollment
Consider international health insurance if you travel frequently or want global coverage
Identify the nearest accredited private hospital to your residence and pre-register
Enrol in PhilHealth if employed; voluntary if self-employed
Get a medical check-up at a reputable clinic — typhoid, dengue, leptospirosis, and rabies vaccinations are important for the Philippines
Register with a family medicine specialist (PCP) at a hospital near you

Finding English-speaking doctors:All doctors in the Philippines are trained in English — medical education is in English. Communication with medical staff at private hospitals in Metro Manila and Cebu is seamless in English. No language barrier for healthcare.

International insurance:Highly recommended alongside PhilHealth for comprehensive private hospital coverage. Important: ensure your policy covers medical evacuation — regional medical evacuation to Singapore or Hong Kong may be necessary for complex cases. Pacific Cross, Cigna, AXA, and Allianz offer international plans with Philippines coverage.

Emergency card info:No equivalent of the European EHIC. Carry your PhilHealth MDR (Member Data Record) and HMO card. Keep HMO card authorisation number handy — private hospitals may require pre-authorisation for emergency admission.

Pharmacies (Botika / Pharmacy)

Hours:Mall pharmacies: 10am–9pm daily. Standalone Mercury Drug and Rose Pharmacy: often 8am–10pm or 24 hours in key locations. 24-hour pharmacies available at major hospitals (St. Luke's, Makati Medical Center).

After-hours / emergency:24-hour pharmacies at major private hospitals. Mercury Drug has a 24-hour hotline. Government hospital pharmacies operate 24/7.

Prescription rules:Prescription required for: antibiotics, antidepressants, opioids, controlled substances (RA 9165 — Dangerous Drugs Act — strictly enforced for scheduled drugs), and insulin. OTC: paracetamol, antacids, antihistamines, NSAIDs (ibuprofen), vitamins, most OTC cold medicines.

Available over-the-counter:

Biogesic / Panadol / Tempra (paracetamol) — ubiquitous fever/pain relief
Bonamine / Dramamine (meclizine) — motion sickness
Oresol sachets — oral rehydration salts for diarrhoea
Lagundi (herbal cough tablet) — DOH-approved herbal medicine
Vitamin C 500mg / Ascorbic acid — very commonly taken
Diatabs / Loperamide — anti-diarrhoea
Itchyworms cream / Canesten — antifungal for tropical skin conditions

Typical costs

GP visit (with insurance)	₱0–₱200 co-pay (HMO)
GP visit (private pay)	₱500–₱1,500
Specialist visit	₱800–₱3,000
Emergency visit	₱5,000–₱30,000 (private hospital)
MRI scan	₱8,000–₱20,000
Prescription average	₱150–₱600 per course
Dental check-up	₱500–₱1,500
Baby delivery	₱30,000–₱120,000 (normal delivery, private hospital)

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