The Philippines is one of the leading countries for clinical trials in Southeast Asia including oncology. This paper summarizes the healthcare, clinical trial, and oncology trial landscapes in the Philippines.

HEALTHCARE

In 2023, the Total Health Expenditure (THE) in the Philippines is estimated to be at 25 billion US dollars comprising 5.9% of the GDP. Out-of-pocket (OOP) based expenditure is 44.4% of the THE. (1)

The Philippine health system is characterized as a dual health system composed of the public and private sectors. The public sector is delivered by government facilities run by the National Department of Health (DOH) and local government units (LGU). The private sector, consisting of for-profit and nonprofit health care providers, is largely market oriented. Health care is generally paid for through user fees at the point of service. The DOH funds regional and apex hospitals, whereas LGUs fund primary and secondary-level care.