Philippine government spending on health care is short of the at least 5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) despite above 7 percent economic growth in the past five quarters, a policy think-tank said Wednesday. "We`re currently about 3 to 3.5 percent of GDP, but WHO`s standard is around 5 percent," Oscar Picazo, senior health research consultant at Philippine Institute of Development Studies (PIDS), told reporters at a briefing on a theme of “Making Health More Inclusive in a Growing Economy” in Makati City. "This is despite an average growth of 7 percent in the last five quarters," he added. On August 29, National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) Secretary General Jose Ramon Albert said the Philippine GDP expanded by 7.5 percent in the second quarter, above the 6 to 7 percent growth goal this year, driven by a resilient services sector as well as robust manufacturing and construction activities. Government spending on health care is "quite low" as compared to other emerging countries which invest at least 6 to 7 percent of GDP in health, PIDS vice president Dr. Rafaelita Aldaba said.
