Filipinos in general consider that providing free medicines is the government’s responsibility, the latest survey has pointed out.
About 96 percent of respondents said that the Philippine government “should definitely” arrange medicines when required without any cost, according to the Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey results.
RELATED STOR: Philippines’ Department of Health calls 2021 a ‘year of recovery’ from COVID-19 pandemic
The survey, titled “Filipinos’ Preference on Access to Medicines,” highlighted that medicines are considered as the most burdensome healthcare expense, followed by doctor’s fees, laboratory fees and hospital room fees, in the event of hospitalization.
“Guaranteed PhilHealth financial subsidy to cover full or a portion of medication expenses” remained the top choice of the Filipinos, followed by “acquire free medications procured by the government from public hospitals, health centers and government pharmacies,” according to the survey.
The third most helpful way to obtain medicines is to “fully pay for the total cost of the prescribed medicines at a discounted price” while fourth on the list is to “fully pay for the total cost of the prescribed medicines first and ask the government to reimburse the full amount after,” the SWS survey pointed out.
READ ON: Bureau of Customs in PH confiscates Php 100M worth of counterfeit medicine, signature bags
As of now, the Philippine government only provides subsidized or free medicines for selected diseases.
The survey recommended that the government’s medical aid amounting to 15 percent should be expanded to cover more health conditions, especially for economically weak patients.
