Philippines Battles Health Inequities: From Medical Costs To Worker Shortage | CNA Correspondent

Summary

The video script highlights the struggles of Filipinos with healthcare, focusing on the story of Amita, a mother diagnosed with an enlarged thyroid who can't afford medication. It delves into the high cost of medicines, the reliance on unregulated supplements, and the challenges faced by healthcare workers, including low pay and job insecurity. The script also touches on the government's efforts to improve healthcare access, such as creating economic zones for pharmaceutical companies and establishing multipurpose health centers for the poor.

Takeaways

• 🏥 Amita Depra, a Filipino manicurist, was diagnosed with an enlarged thyroid but struggles to afford her prescribed medication due to high costs in the Philippines.
• 💊 Filipinos often turn to cheaper, unregulated supplements as an alternative to expensive prescribed medicines, which can be harmful and ineffective.
• 🌍 Medicine prices in the Philippines are significantly higher than international prices, causing financial strain on patients and their families.
• 💼 The Philippine government is urged to create a national pool of medicines through bulk procurement to lower costs and improve access.
• 🛑 The pharmaceutical sector argues that cheaper medicines may compromise patient safety and that revenue from innovator brands funds research for new medicines.
• 🏥 Geography and logistics in the Philippines, with over 7,000 islands, make storing and distributing medicines challenging and contribute to high costs.
• 🏥 Healthcare workers in the Philippines face low pay, job insecurity, and are often owed allowances, leading many to seek work abroad.
• 🚑 The government's plan includes building more primary and urgent care centers to prevent overloading hospitals and improve access to care.
• 💉 Sy taxes on products like cigarettes and alcohol fund the health department and state health insurance, with advocates pushing to include e-cigarettes.
• 🏥 The Philippine General Hospital serves as a training ground for doctors and a last resort for complex medical cases, often operating over capacity.
• 🔥 Despite challenges such as a fire incident at the hospital, healthcare workers remain dedicated to providing care and saving lives.

Q & A

What medical condition was Amita Depra diagnosed with two months ago?

Amita Depra was diagnosed with goiter, an enlarged thyroid gland.

What is Amita's current occupation and why is she seeking an overseas job opportunity?

Amita is currently working as a freelance manicurist at a salon in Metro Manila. She is hoping to secure an overseas job opportunity to work as a domestic worker in the Middle East, likely due to better financial prospects.

Why does Amita turn to supplements instead of her prescribed medication?

Amita turns to supplements because they are cheaper than her prescribed medication, which she cannot afford.

What is the issue with the cost of essential medicines in the Philippines according to the Department of Health?

Essential medicines in the Philippines cost at least three times more than international prices, making them unaffordable for many Filipinos.

What are the risks associated with using non-prescribed supplements as per the World Health Organization?

The World Health Organization states that substandard and falsified medical products may cause harm to patients and fail to treat diseases.

What is the significance of Bongabon Street in Manila and why is it mentioned in the script?

Bongabon Street is famous in Manila for its pharmacies that sell cheap medicines and medical supplies. It is mentioned to highlight the issue of affordability and accessibility of medicines in the Philippines.

What is the proposed solution by advocates for lowering the cost of medicines in the Philippines?

Advocates suggest that the government should create a national pool of medicines through bulk procurements to lower costs, instead of having each locality and medical facility buy medicines separately at different volumes and price points.

What is the pharmaceutical sector's argument against the use of cheaper medicines?

The pharmaceutical sector argues that cheap does not always mean good for the patient and emphasizes the importance of patient safety and adherence to regulations set by the Philippine FDA.

How do high medicine prices in the Philippines affect both the rich and the poor?

High medicine prices affect both the rich and the poor by consuming a significant portion of their out-of-pocket health spending, with the poorest Filipinos spending up to 75% and the richest spending 58% on medicines.

What are the challenges faced by healthcare workers in the Philippines, according to Rene Capito?

Healthcare workers in the Philippines face challenges such as delayed allowances, low pay, job insecurity, and the lack of care for their own health needs, which is driving many to seek jobs abroad.

What is the government's long-term plan to address the issue of high medicine prices and improve healthcare in the Philippines?

The government's long-term plan includes encouraging local drug manufacturing by creating economic zones for pharmaceutical companies, promoting competition, and building more primary and urgent care multipurpose centers to prevent overloading hospitals.