Health expenditure as a share of GDP Philippines 2014-2021
Health status of the aging population
The Philippines is home to more than 110 million inhabitants in 2021. Along with the year-on-year increase in population came the need for broader healthcare services in the country, especially for senior citizens who are at a higher risk of illnesses and diseases. In 2019, about seven percent of the aging population aged 60 years and above experienced a heart attack.
One of the leading health conditions diagnosed among the aging population was high blood pressure, arthritis, neuralgia, or rheumatism. Around 50 percent of women were diagnosed with high blood pressure, while 38.4 percent of men were diagnosed.
Health care protection
In 2018, the national health insurance program of the government had covered about 98 percent of the population. Under a bill implemented through the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act, Filipino citizens are automatically enrolled through the mandate.
Premium contributions are significant in sustaining the healthcare industry. In 2020, the value of premium contributions from PhilHealth members totaled 149 billion Philippine pesos, the majority of which were from private employees.