SWS Survey on Healthcare Services and Financing: 87% expect Government to provide healthcare for all

The Social Weather Stations (SWS) Survey of Filipinos on Healthcare Services and Financing, conducted from January 29 to Febuary 1, 2010, found that 87% of adult Filipinos expect the government to provide healthcare for all, including those who cannot afford to pay for it, the SWS said in a September 16, 2010 media release.

The survey also found that 60% are satisfied with the government in providing quality health services for all, 25% never consulted a doctor or health facility during sickness, 55% have no health insurance, and that majority are willing to pay higher premium to cover dependents/children (67%) and other healthcare costs (55%).

It further found 78% giving importance to the issue of health insurance in choosing their President in the 2010 elections.

The SWS Survey of Filipinos on Healthcare Services and Financing was commissioned by the Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP).

Expectation and satisfaction with government in providing health services

The February 2010 survey found that 87% of adults nationwide agree with the test statement, "it is the duty of the government to provide healthcare for all Filipinos, including those who cannot afford to pay for it." Only 5% disagree and 8% are undecided [Table 1].

A majority 78% agree that "health is a basic human right guaranteed by the constitution". Eleven percent disagree with the statement, and another 11% are undecided [Table 2].

Three out of five (60%) are satisfied and 30% are dissatisfied with the performance of the national government in providing quality health services for all the people, for a good net satisfaction rating.
Eighty-four percent agree that "the government should aim to provide the same quality of healthcare, without charge, to everyone, whether rich or poor." Only 10% disagree, while 6% are undecided [Table 4].

Access to basic and essential health services

Three-fourths (75%) consulted a doctor when they felt sick, of which 31% during the past 12 months, 19% 1 to 2 years ago, 9% 3 to 4 years ago, and 16% 5 years ago or more. The remaining one-fourth (25%) have not gone to a doctor or health facility when they were sick.

Of those who did not who did not go to a doctor or health facility when they were sick, the most common reason cited was "I knew what medicine to buy in order to cure myself" (33%), followed by "I couldn't afford it" (24%), "Never consulted a doctor when sick" (17%), and "There is no doctor or hospital nearby" (4%). Nine percent comprise other answers, while 13% had no answer.

Ninety-three percent say they are worried (consisting of 71% saying they are worried a great deal, and 22% somewhat worried) about getting sick. However, 67% never had a general check-up when they did not feel sick.

Among those who went to the doctor or health facility when they got sick, 72% paid for it themselves, 16% percent went to a free or public doctor, 8% used PhilHealth, and 5% were helped by family or friends.


The survey also found that 55% do not have any public or private insurance to cover for their healthcare expenses, with higher proportions coming from the classes E (66%) and D (54%) compared to class ABC (28%).

Funding healthcare, education and roads

The survey found that 59% agree that "it will be good for the country if part of what the government spends to build roads is spent for health care instead". Twenty-eight percent disagree, and 13% are undecided about this matter.

On the other hand, 45% agree and 42% disagree that "it will be good for the country if part of what is spent for education is spent on healthcare instead", implying that respondents consider funding health and funding education as equally important.

Willingness to pay higher premium on health insurance

The majority of those paying for their health insurance are willing to pay a higher premium to cover dependents such as their children (67%) and for additional benefits (55%).
Given the test statement, "getting health insurance is a waste of money, since everyone eventually dies anyway," 64% disagree and only 25% agree. The remaining 10% are undecided.
About half (49%) also disagree that "only rich people can afford to buy health insurance," 39% agree, and 12% are undecided.
Effect of getting hospitalized to the family

To the test statement, "because hospitals charge so much these days, many families get impoverished when a member gets so sick as to be hospitalized," 71% agree and 20% disagree. The remaining 9% are undecided about this matter.

Recommended costs and services for health insurance coverage

Among those with health insurance, the most common healthcare costs that they want covered by health insurance are medicines (37%), laboratory tests (21%), and outpatient consultations (21%).

Other responses include hospitalization (8%), professional fees (5%), dental (4%), coverage of other people (3%), surgical/major procedures (2%), and education (2%).

Importance of health insurance in people's choice of President

Seventy-eight percent of adults nationwide said that an agenda for social health insurance is important in their choice of President. Only 10% said it is not important, while 9% were undecided.

Survey Background

The SWS Survey of Filipinos on Healthcare Services and Financing, commissioned by Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP), was conducted from January 29 to February 1, 2010 using face-to-face interviews of 1,200 adults in Metro Manila, the Balance of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao (sampling error margins of ±2.7% for national percentages, ±6% for area percentages).

The area estimates were weighted by National Statistics Office medium-population projections for 2010 to obtain the national estimates.

The Diliman-based SWS employs its own staff for questionnaire design, sampling, fieldwork, data-processing, and analysis, and does not outsource any of its survey operations.

PHAP is a non-stock and non-profit association of companies engaged in the manufacture, distribution and retail of medicines, over-the-counter products, nutritionals and medical devices. Its members are also engaged in clinical research, market research and publication of health references.

PHAP's mission is to produce, enhance, market and make accessible quality and safe medicines to enable Filipinos to live longer and healthier lives. PHAP also advocates for comprehensive health reform leading to universal healthcare.