Thinking about living permanently in the Philippines? Before you finally make a final decision as to living in the Philippines is right for you, there are a lot of factors that you need to be knowledgeable about, and out of them is the health care in the Philippines. 

Officially called as the Republic of the Philippines, this island nation is situated in Southeast Asian regions. Its capital is Manila, and it has more than seven thousand islands, making the nation as the world’s twelfth most populous countries. Most Filipinos are of Austronesian descent, although there are also some significant minorities of Arab, Spanish, Americans and Chinese. The Philippines is home to the most hospitable people on earth, having been very popular because of its hospitality to local and foreign tourist. This attitude is one of the many reasons why a lot of people are thinking about relocating into this Southeast Asian country.

Health Issues in the Philippines

Like any other third-world country, the Philippines have been struggling in some health issues and one of it is illegal drug use. A lot of Filipinos are addicted to prohibited drugs. However, the Philippine government has dealt with this issue and although there are still some recorded incidents of drug abuse, the number of drug dependents in the Philippines has gradually decreased.

Other concerning health issues in the Philippines, is malnutrition. There have been studies conducted and accordingly, most of the Filipinos that suffer from malnutrition are the poor ones. The Philippine government, thru the Department of Social Welfare and Developments along with the Department of Health has provided projects to help poor Filipinos from starvation.

Other health issues in the Philippines is dengue cases, but then, these health concerns are only happening in the rural area of the country. And most of these cases are properly attended to by the Philippine government.

Health Care in the Philippines

Although there have been recorded cases of drug dependency and malnutrition in the Philippines, you can still consider the health care of this nation is of good quality, despite the fact that the facilities may not be as impressive as those found in high-end US hospitals. Top Philippine hospitals include the Medical Center in Alabang, the Asian Hospital, the Makati Medical Center, the Medical City in Ortigas, and St. Lukes Medical Center in Quezon City.

Medical practitioners in the Philippines are graduates from top universities in the country, and most of them have in United States medical schools. Additionally, there are also doctors that have practiced medicine in the US before sharing their expertise in the Philippines. Filipino nurses are also trained by nursing schools with the best standards. In fact, most of the nurses working in the US are Filipinos.

If you are looking for a dentist or a doctor, it is better that you seek for the suggestions of expatriates that have been in the Philippines for quite a number of years already.

Hospitals in the Philippines

Finding the right hospital in the Philippines is not that difficult because there are a number of options to choose from. The Philippines has both private and public health care institutions. Most of the government hospitals provide quality healthcare the same way private hospitals do.

Some people have these wrong misconceptions though than when you are seeking for medical advice from doctors in public hospitals, these are not reliable. However, you should be aware that most of the well-trained doctors in the Philippines are serving government hospitals. What differs the Philippine government hospitals from the Philippine private hospitals is simply the facilities. Most of the public hospitals in the Philippines are not equipped with the latest technologies in medicine. But then, most Filipinos seek for advice from these government hospitals because charges are not implemented.

As for the private hospitals, there are also a hundred ones located in key cities of the nation. There are also tertiary hospitals that have the latest in medical technologies. However, because they are private hospitals, they are a bit expensive than the government hospitals.

Emergency in the Philippines

The Philippines have stand by ambulances for any emergency situations. They also have a hotline number where on can call in times of emergencies. Hospitals are also equipped with the latest in first aid treatments.

Pharmacies

There are also a thousand of pharmacies in the Philippines that provide Bureau of Food and Drug approved medicines. Most of the standard pharmacies are manned by professional pharmacists that have studied and trained in top medical schools in the country. Also, the Philippines is not that very lenient when it comes to prescription drugs. While there are some countries that allow their patients to obtain drugs without being prescribed by their respective doctors, the Filipino pharmacists are very strict in dealing with such situations.

Cost of Medicines and Hospitalizations

Generally, hospitals are not that expensive in the Philippines. Medicines as well are very affordable. Both locals and foreigners can attest to the fact that medicines sold in the Philippines are very much affordable.

If you are thinking about relocating in the Philippines, one of your least worries should be health care. Since the health care system in the Philippines is affordable, and the doctors are well-trained, plus nurses can properly aid you, you really never have to worry that much.

Additionally, unlike in some countries where most of the population does not speak English, in the Philippines, almost ninety percent of their population can understand and speak English well. Communication is never a problem when you are in the Philippines.

With the low cost of medicine and health care, living in the Philippines is really not a thing to worry. The people are very hospitable and accommodating, the doctors and medical practitioners are friendly, and the place is really very inviting. If you wish to settle down and relocate in the Philippines, have no doubt about it. In fact, a lot of people have already relocated in the Philippines and so far, there have been no recorded negative incidents, as far as their health is concerned.