Healthcare

Health issues in the Philippines

A country profile from AXA PPP Healthcare

The Philippines are made up of more than 7,100 islands, with the bulk of its population living on 11 of them. People living in the Philippines enjoy a tropical climate. The sun shines most days, but the islands are less hot and humid than other tropical countries. The most pleasant time of year is between November and March, when the heat is made more bearable by cool and fresh breezes.

However, it is vital that you protect yourself from the sun’s harmful rays and dehydration by taking precautionary measures such as applying sunscreen, wearing a hat and drinking plenty of fluids to keep your body well hydrated, as the average temperature in the capital, Manila, is around 27 degrees centigrade (80 degrees Fahrenheit). Although the Philippines enjoy good weather for most of the year, it is worth remembering that they also have a typhoon season, which normally runs from July to November, and that flooding and landslides may occur. Lonely Planet advises that, “The 2007 typhoon season wreaked widespread damage to the Philippines.

Although recovery efforts are underway, travellers should monitor local news for any updates.” In addition to the typhoons, there is a possibility of the islands being hit by minor earthquakes. With the Foreign and Commonwealth Office estimating that there are 89 million people living in the country, there is bound to be pressure put on its natural resources, such as the water system. For example Manila, which has an estimated 10.4 million residents, has grown to great proportions in a short length of time.

The large population growth has meant that certain sanitation and waste disposal systems are struggling to remain working.

This has led to unpleasant overspills into the drinking water. Therefore, it is extremely important for you to either avoid drinking the tap water and only consume bottled water or ensure the water is boiled and sterilised before drinking.

Taking this fast increase in population into account, it is not surprising, then, that the country’s health system is also being put under pressure. Medical care in the Philippines varies across the country and the standards are lower than those in the UK and other western nations. The medical facilities in the capital and other large cities are adequate, although medical care is limited in the more remote areas.

Another issue placing pressure on the country’s state health system is the lack of doctors and nurses. This is due to the high number of medical professionals leaving the Philippines to work in other countries in order to obtain a much greater financial income. According to www.voanews.com, “Experts estimate more than 100,000 nurses have left since 1994,” and that, “There are estimates that about 1,000 hospitals have closed in the past five years because of a shortage of doctors.” It is also worth noting that there is no reciprocal health agreement in place between the UK and the Philippines.

Therefore, you may have to pay for the medical treatment for you and your family and this can be very expensive. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office “strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake”.

When selecting your private medical insurance provider and policy, you might want to ensure that the benefits include emergency evacuation and repatriation. This will enable you to be transferred to the nearest country that can provide you with the necessary care, should you not be able to receive it in the Philippines. Another key factor to consider is the vaccinations required before you travel to the Philippines.

www.netdoctor.co.uk recommends that you receive the following inoculations:

• Typhoid – 10 days before
• Hepatitis A – two weeks before
• Diphtheria – three months before
• uberculosis – three months before
• Hepatitis B – two months before
• Rabies – one month before
• Japanese B encephalitis – one month before.

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• AXA PPP Healthcare