Healthcare sectors are one of the most vital industries that impact the entire world’s population and are essential to the development of any country. Maintaining economic stability is crucial to how a country is perceived. As a result, healthcare systems are a critical part of global government endeavors. The Philippine health system plays a more significant and prominent role in Philippine society for the good and welfare of the Filipino people. The health system in our nation must steadily advance throughout time if we are to receive comprehensive healthcare. This can all be made possible when appropriate policies and mandates shall be strictly implemented, noting further how crucial it is to have accessible healthcare for all, especially in times of need.

In the video illustrated by YouTuber Savvy Expat, he provided an overview of the current status of healthcare in the Philippines: hospital prices, insurance, and the two dominant sectors comprising healthcare. To start, I had the opportunity to glimpse how the health system works. It is made up of two sectors: public and private care. Public hospitals are typically found in the provinces and are accessible to all Filipino citizens through PhilHealth. However, the public health care system still has shortcomings. First of all, per experience, as a government-run institution, the hospitals I frequently visit occasionally need more staff, outdated infrastructure, and little access to cutting-edge medical technology. It is sad to know because this can result in not having the appropriate measures to treat people, and they need to reallocate themselves to private care. Although most standards typically view private hospitals as pricey, it implies that an individual will have access to specialized treatments, cutting-edge facilities, international standards, top-notch physicians, and an all-around well-equipped hospital. However, what makes it a disadvantage is the thought circulating that one cannot discover a private hospital in a standard city or haphazard province since it is commonly found in big cities. In that sense, if, for example, a family who lives in a remote area goes to a public hospital for a checkup but cannot accommodate them, and needs to be transferred directly to a private hospital, then that amounts to adding up the burden in terms of costs and transport.

Additionally, the film made me understand how everything integrates into the fact that, despite the harsh reality, the Philippine health system primarily relies on the idea that one requires money to go and get treated at a hospital. Whether we like it or not, hospitalization is expensive. The YouTuber even stated that one round in a hospital visit could get a lot out of one’s pockets due to a series of medications and other fees. While this may also be true in other nations, given the circumstances in our country, it is difficult for people to receive healthcare because their daily wages do not cover hospital expenses. As such, it is then a blessing to have insurances that can cover some of the rates of hospital bills. Take, for example, the PhilHealth program established in 1995 to offer accessible, all-inclusive coverage. The nation achieved a significant milestone with the passage of the Universal Health Care (UHC) Law in 2019. All medical services, including preventive, curative, and rehabilitative ones, are covered by PhilHealth. Medical consultations and diagnostic procedures, including lab tests, started to be covered due to the UHC Law.

As a result, the Philippine health system must continue to advance throughout time. Health care is essential but insufficient for better health. According to some researchers, it only contributes to 10–20% of health outcomes. What matters most is having access to qualified medical professionals and medications is undoubtedly crucial. It must come now to our particular attention that Filipinos should have equal access to healthcare, and it must be ingrained. By doing this, the higher officials should begin to change the healthcare sector that our nation consists of. In this way, we may help our fellow Filipinos by attending to their medical needs, cultivating a positive attitude about seeking medical advice, and treating their illnesses.