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Filipinos spent about * Philippine pesos on health in 2024, indicating growth from the previous year. The National Capital Region had the highest health expenditures in that year.

Rising current health expenditures

The country’s health spending has been steadily rising in the past few years, reaching its peak value in 2024. Increased healthcare spending was particularly noted between 2020 and 2021 when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, as Filipinos purchased more essential health products and medicines to better protect themselves from the virus.

Factors contributing to increased health spending

In addition to the coronavirus pandemic, high inflation rates in the Philippines between 2022 and 2023, fueled the increasing prices of medicines and other pharmaceutical goods. To lower the prices of medicines, the government has been encouraging foreign pharmaceutical firms to establish facilities in the country to increase local production. Discussions were being held between pharmaceutical firms such as in India, which was the leading source of pharmaceutical imports to the Philippines.