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. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\"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. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\"This is despite an average growth of 7 percent in the last five quarters,\" he added. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
4.4% of GDP <\/p>\n
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PHL spends less on health care amid economic boom \u2014 PIDS<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 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. Continue reading