Inadequate healthcare access, particularly in rural areas, cannot be denied. It is challenge for the rick people. Whatmore for the people who are poor.
inadequate healthcare access reasons
Factors contributing to this include a shortage of healthcare professionals, lack of funding, and poor infrastructure. The government has implemented various initiatives to address these issues,
There is a shortage of healthcare professionals in the Philippines. A study carried by the Philippine College of Physicians estimated a shortage of around 40,000 doctors and 120,000 nurses at least to fill up the gap. Having not enough staff leads to overcrowding in public hospitals and long wait times for patients seeking medical attention.
Why Inadequate healthcare?
Shortage of healthcare professionals and equipment
According to a study by the Official Website of Philippine College of Physicians (pcp.org.ph), there is a shortage of around 40,000 doctors and 120,000 nurses in the country. This leads to overcrowding in public hospitals and long wait times for patients seeking medical attention.
There is a significant shortage of human resources for health in low and middle-income countries, including the Philippines [3] As of 2011, there are only around two physicians per 10,000 population in the country [2].
75% of cities and municipalities lacking sufficient numbers of professionals, as reported by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies.
Further aggravating the problem is the maldistribution of healthcare providers, including doctors, throughout the country; most of them being concentrated in urban areas.
Rural hospitals often struggle to obtain essential medical supplies and equipment due to their remote locations. Additionally, many rural hospitals have yet to adopt digital technologies such as the cloud and AI, resulting in a reliance on labor-intensive and time-consuming manual processes. This ultimately hinders the ability of individuals living in rural areas to access the healthcare they require.
As a result, far-flung areas in the country have very few healthcare providers, with some areas only having one physician per 20,000 population
Lack of funding
The government allocates a relatively low percentage of its budget to healthcare, which limits the resources available for improving access to healthcare. This is particularly true in rural areas, where healthcare infrastructure is often inadequate.
The budget allocated to healthcare in the Philippines is relatively low compared to other countries in Southeast Asia. According to the World Health Organization, the Philippines spends around 3.9% of its gross domestic product (GDP) on healthcare. This is less than the 5% recommended by the World Health Organization for developing countries.
Poor infrastructure
Many rural areas in the Philippines lack basic healthcare facilities, such as clinics and hospitals. This makes it difficult for residents to access medical care, particularly in times of emergency.
Aside from being scarce, medical facilities and services are difficult to access due to poor infrastructure in rural areas. In rural areas, poor infrastructure can make it difficult for residents to access medical facilities and services, and for healthcare professionals to reach patients in need.
Poor infrastructure is a major problem in all poor countries including the Philippines. It can have a significant impact on many aspects of life, including healthcare.
Limited accessibility, due to factors mentioned above, and affordability to medications, diagnostic tests and treatments, can make it difficult for people to get the care they need.
Overall, poor infrastructure in the Philippines can have a significant impact on healthcare and access to healthcare. The government and private sector need to work together to improve infrastructure in rural areas, including building and maintaining roads and bridges, to ensure that residents have better access to healthcare services.
These issues have been acknowledged by the government and various initiatives have been implemented to address them, but progress has been slow and much more needs to be done to improve access to healthcare in the Philippines.
The impact of inadequate access to healthcare
The effects of inadequate access to healthcare on people in the Philippines, illustrated through real-life stories.
Inadequate access to healthcare can have severe consequences for individuals and communities on people. Those residing in rural or remote areas may face difficulties accessing medical facilities and services, leading to delayed or inadequate treatment for illnesses and injuries. Additionally, many Filipinos do not have health insurance, making it challenging for them to afford the cost of medical care.
It’s worth here to mention a story of a mother who lived in a rural area. She gave birth to her baby at home without any medical assistance due to the lack of nearby healthcare facilities. Unfortunately, her baby was born with complications and required immediate medical attention, but it was too late. The baby died.
Another story is of a man, living in Manila, who was involved in an accident and needed surgery. He did not have health insurance and could not afford the cost of the operation. As a result, he was forced to delay the surgery for several months, during which time his condition worsened. Now, he is living with disability.
So, access to healthcare for all individuals is very important, regardless of their location or financial situation. Inadequate access can have severe and even fatal consequences, and It is necessary to address this issue in the Philippines for finding the proper solutions.
SUMMARY
The Philippines struggles with inadequate healthcare access, particularly in rural areas. Shortage of healthcare professionals, lack of funding and poor infrastructure are some reasons for that.
SOURCES
- Factors affecting retention in the Philippine National Rural Physician Deployment Program from 2012 to 2019: a mixed methods study | BMC Health Services Research | Full Text (biomedcentral.com)
- https://www.who.int/workforcealliance/knowledge/resources/GHWA-a_universal_truth_report.pdf?ua=1
- https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/274579