In many discussions on health policy, what is often asserted and formulated is that "health is a right" and hence, "universal healthcare is a right." I have no problem with this formulation if this should also be added, that "health is a responsibility", and I am referring to individual (and parental/guardian, civil society, community) responsibility, not just government responsibility as is commonly understood. Thus, "health is a right, health is a responsibility" is easily intertwined.
Below are three articles in BusinessWorld by one of my friends in the local health sector, Reiner Gloor, Executive Director of PHAP, on universal healthcare. I agree with many -- but not all -- of his arguments here. I can sympathize with greater government health support and subsidy for the poor suffering from infectious or communicable and tropical diseases. But I have little or no sympathy for government subsidy for lifestyle-related diseases like illnesses due to heavy smoking, heavy drinking, heavy eating of fatty or junk foods, heavy sitting or sedentary lifestyle.
Reiner is speaking from a private sector and civil society point of view, not government's. So these papers have a balanced perspective on the issue of universal healthcare.
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(1) http://www.
April 27, 2012
April 27, 2012
Medicine Cabinet -- Reiner W. Gloor
Universal health care coverage provides safety net for the poor
EmailShareThisFor many poor people, health has become a difficult economic choice between getting better or poorer.
Often characterized by high out-of-pocket spending, health financing systems in low- and middle-income countries have contributed to the vicious cycle where diseases worsen poverty, while at the same time, poverty results in rising incidence of diseases.
The World Health Report 2010 estimated that about 150 million people globally suffer financial catastrophe when they avail of health services. Similarly, 100 million people are pushed into poverty due to direct out-of-pocket spending.
In the Asia-Pacific region alone, about 80 million people experience financial catastrophe and 50 million others are impoverished due to health payments.
These happen since in low- and middle-income countries, health is paid for privately or mainly from out-of-pocket health care systems. The same is true for the Philippines that reported a private out-of-pocket share of 54.3% while government funding was 26.2% and social insurance, 8.5%.
This was validated by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey of Filipinos on Health Services and Financing which revealed that for those who have consulted a doctor when they were sick, seven out of 10 of them paid from their own pockets.
The video documentary, "The Road to Universal Health Coverage", emphasized that when households spend a substantial part of their income on health, the results can be catastrophic.
In fact, the same SWS survey disclosed that almost three out 10 Filipinos deferred visits to doctors even if they were sick because they felt that they cannot afford to pay for health care. Seven out 10 respondents also believed that many families get impoverished when a member gets sick and has to be hospitalized.
In shielding families from financial catastrophe and other disastrous social outcomes of direct out-of-pocket health payments, the video documentary highlighted the pressing need for countries to adopt and implement financing strategies leading to universal health coverage.
The World Health Report 2010 estimated that about 150 million people globally suffer financial catastrophe when they avail of health services. Similarly, 100 million people are pushed into poverty due to direct out-of-pocket spending.
In the Asia-Pacific region alone, about 80 million people experience financial catastrophe and 50 million others are impoverished due to health payments.
These happen since in low- and middle-income countries, health is paid for privately or mainly from out-of-pocket health care systems. The same is true for the Philippines that reported a private out-of-pocket share of 54.3% while government funding was 26.2% and social insurance, 8.5%.
This was validated by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey of Filipinos on Health Services and Financing which revealed that for those who have consulted a doctor when they were sick, seven out of 10 of them paid from their own pockets.
The video documentary, "The Road to Universal Health Coverage", emphasized that when households spend a substantial part of their income on health, the results can be catastrophic.
In fact, the same SWS survey disclosed that almost three out 10 Filipinos deferred visits to doctors even if they were sick because they felt that they cannot afford to pay for health care. Seven out 10 respondents also believed that many families get impoverished when a member gets sick and has to be hospitalized.
In shielding families from financial catastrophe and other disastrous social outcomes of direct out-of-pocket health payments, the video documentary highlighted the pressing need for countries to adopt and implement financing strategies leading to universal health coverage.
