Get What You Pay For

Standing in front of the entrance of St. Thomas University

Time is flying by quickly and I am at the end of my first week here in the Philippines! While the past few days I have been exploring the public side of health care, today I was able to see what the private sector looks like. I toured Saint Thomas University and it’s affiliated medical school. This is a private hospital, but it also has a clinical division which offers a cheaper, subsidized option that falls somewhere between public health care and private health care. Walking into the hospital felt like an entrance to a hotel – the lobby was clean and open, the floors were tile and there was adequate seating. There were about 3 floors solely dedicated to out patient visit. It was an interesting set up as each office was shared by 3-4 doctors. They would rotate out in the sense that some would come on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and other doctors would come on Tuesdays and Thursdays. As this was a private hospital, attendings were the main ones doing consultation and they were able to charge whatever consultation fee they desired. Insurance, as of now, does not cover consultation fees so patients must pay for those costs out of pocket. On average, these costs can be 8 – 20 US dollars. The wards are also significantly less crowded, with about 8 patients per ward, each separated by a curtain. The in patient rooms are also single patient, allowing privacy for the patients – a feature that would be considered a luxury by those in the public health setting. 

As in the United States, if you want quality care in a timely manner, you must have the financial means. However, unlike in the United States, even if don't have money, you can still get health care, but you will pay in other ways.