On another thread a moderator ( Arthur ) expressed the view that healthcare ought to be freely available to all nationalities, in an ideal world.
We're constantly reminded - on the forum and elsewhere - that our world is not ideal, and the UK National Health Service ( NHS ) has its share of criticism.
There have always been three principles guiding the NHS :
* It meets the needs of everyone
* It is free at the point of delivery
* It is based on clinical need, not ability to pay.
Most health expenditure is funded by general taxation. We have 1 doctor / 365 people. The Government's plans to put GP's in charge of much of the NHS budget, and open up more competition from the private and voluntary sector, applies only to England and is opposed by health unions.
Not only would it be costly and unnecessary, but it would run the risk of benefiting private companies at the expense of patients. The NHS must be accountable to the public, communities, and patients it serves, not shareholders. Resources are finite - about 10 % of the UK GDP is spent on health.
The Phils spends less than 1 % of its GDP on health and has 1 doctor / 800 people. Diseases which are common in the UK ( heart disease, cancer, diabetes ) are also common in the Phils. Clearly there are differences which I've raised in other threads. Members may not know that health is also regarded as a human right guaranteed by the Phils constitution. But the reality is different to the UK. Life expectancy - as one measure of health - is 78 for males and 82 for females in the UK. It's comparable to this in relatively rich urban communities like Manila, Cebu, and Davao, but way lower in poor urban / rural communities of the Phils.
It's claimed that 6 of 10 filipinos with fatal illnesses never see a health professional. To the average filipino, food, shelter, education, and debt payments take priority over health. When they do fall ill, they rely more on alternative medicine and delay proper treatment - if ever - until it's too late.
About 8 / 10 filipinos are claimed to be covered by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation ( PhilHealth ), a Department of Health agency. But still half of health spending is " out of pocket ". PhilHealth, and government hospitals, have limitations in coverage. For example, ultrasound facilties are usually only available privately. The Phils health sector is dominated by commercial interests more concerned with profit than health outcomes.
What should be of great interest is that a blueprint for future universal healthcare in Phils models itself on the same principles guiding our NHS. It's not perfect, but for over 60 years the principles have remained the same. Commercial / business interests must not over-rule our right to health care, whether in UK, Phils, or anywhere else in the world.
www.up.edu.ph/upforum.php?i=289
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Health should be a priority to every member. How our money is spent individually or on our behalf by the UK and Philippines governments should also concern us. 
Just don't take offense if most won't reply to your posts. As you have said, most take health for granted or just don't have any idea what response they should give. The fact that lots read it even without responding means you've already conveyed the message. 
Originally Posted by Doc Alan
Do they go to Prenatal Checkup and immunizations in the health center which are free? No, they dont. Because they believe that any discomfort or changes in their body will disappear and they dont want to seek help until they can tolerate the symptoms anymore. The "Bahala na" attitude or whatever it goes is a culture here. When encouraged to seek medical help, most filipino would say "If I die then its the will of God". 
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