Quote Originally Posted by Doc Alan View Post
It seems unlikely the illegal withholding of healthcare workers’ professional fees from PhilHealth is confined to Tarlac Provincial Hospital. Unsurprisingly the Department of Health Secretary has so far not responded to TPH doctors.


• There doesn’t appear to be enough doctors in the Philippines ( 80,000 members of the Philippines Medical Association, compared to around 275,000 doctors on the UK GMC list of " Registered Medical Practitioners " ). At least 2/3 Filipino health care professionals work in the private sector.


• We should indeed count the NHS among our blessings in the UK – although it’s not without problems. Of course health is important, but not the only consideration when comparing countries .


• UK population is about 2/3 of that in the Philippines ( 65 million / 104 million ). UK GDP is estimated around £ 1.8 billion, 10 times that of the Philippines. The UK spends over 9%, and Philippines 4.5%, of GDP on health. " Out-of –pocket " expenditure on health in the UK is about a tenth of total health spending, compared to about 60% in the Philippines. General government expenditure on health in the UK is over 80%, compared to about a third in the Philippines.


• Overall life expectancy UK at least 81 - 12 years longer than Philippines. 1 in 3 people in the UK can expect to live to 100 ; half diagnosed with cancers live over 10 years ; 1/5 UK adults are overweight and another 1/5 smoke ( increasing risks of many illnesses ) ; at least 850,000 in the UK have dementia.


• In the Philippines there is unfair and inequitable access to healthcare leaving the poor behind. Problems include low overall government spending on health ; high " out-of-pocket " spending ; high numbers of maternal and newborn deaths ; high fertility rates among the poorest Filipinas ; and the continuing challenge of communicable diseases like TB, dengue, HIV/AIDS - despite 2/3 illnesses now being " non-communicable " ( like heart disease and cancers ). Philippines Medical Association claims 2/3 Filipinos die without seeing a healthcare worker.




• A well-functioning healthcare system should provide equitable access to quality healthcare regardless of capacity to pay, and protect against financial consequences of ill health. In the UK, that means universal healthcare ( or at least treatments " NICE " deems effective and value for money ), to a standard that’s safe and effective, and keeping to the budget.


• We need tough and well – informed health service leaders, preferably healthcare workers. The English Health Secretary doesn’t understand the NHS and has alienated doctors and other healthcare workers. He doesn’t acknowledge we already have a 24/7 NHS ; has accused consultants of " opting out " when they don’t ; refused decent pay rises for nurses ; and presided for too long over hospitals run according to financial not clinical needs. Jeremy Corbyn might do better, given a chance, and wearing his " ballot-proof " vest !
Another great post with a hive of information yet again, Thank you Alan!