Analysis of Out-of-Pocket Expenditures in the Philippines

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The level of the public's out-of-pocket (OOP) expenditure for health care is an important indicator of the effectiveness of the country's health-care system. Preferably, a quality health-care system should be able to reduce the amount that people pay for their medical needs. This Policy Note analyzes the Filipinos' OOP expenditure and finds that it continues to rise despite the government's enormous investments in the health sector in recent years. This study recommends the expansion of the benefit packages and the strengthening of payment mechanisms of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation in order to address the problem.