Filipinos opt to receive services from state-owned healthcare facilities, survey finds

MANILA, Philippines — Filipinos are inclined to avail themselves of medicines and other services from government-owned healthcare facilities. This was the finding of a survey by Summa Strategy, a consulting firm based in Makati City, and commissioned by RiteMed Phils., Inc.

The firm conducted a survey of 3,200 Filipinos throughout the National Capital Region, the rest of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

Based on the study from October 13 to November 9, 2023, 73% of the respondents—majority of which are from class C2, D and E, aged 18 to 65 and above—prefer receiving services from government-owned facilities, compared to 26% who opt for private healthcare providers.

Barangay Health Centers (BHCs) and government-owned hospitals were the most commonly cited option for respondents who have availed of services from state-owned facilities, followed by Municipal Healthcare Centers (MHCs).

The respondents primarily cited the free services they received and the accessibility of these facilities to their homes. Therefore, the survey notes there are opportunities for possible partnerships between the national government and local government units (LGUs) to enhance these strengths of state-owned facilities.

Such partnerships would be ideal given health policy is already devolved to LGUs, the survey added. 

Availability of free medicines and vaccines were the most commonly cited reasons for visiting BHCs, while check-ups and consultations for suspected diseases were the cited reasons for visiting MHCs.

Respondents who visited government-owned hospitals also mentioned multiple reasons such as giving birth, treatment for common health conditions such as fever and colds, check up of blood pressure, and treatment of injuries.

The results of the survey pointed out that the Department of Health (DOH) is on track in the implementation of the Universal Healthcare (UHC) Act. The law, signed in 2019, mandates every single Filipino to have equitable access to the healthcare services he/she needs—such as primary healthcare.

To implement the UHC Act, the DOH, led by Secretary Ted Herbosa, bared the administration’s eight-point agenda focusing on:

Concrete and measurable steps are