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Healthcare in Philippines: cost & waiting times
Mixed public / privatePhilHealth, the national health insurer, automatically covers all Filipinos under the Universal Health Care Act and pays part of hospital and outpatient costs. Public hospitals are crowded; private hospitals in Metro Manila and Cebu are of a high standard and widely used, often with HMO plans from employers.
Emergency number: 911
How residents get care
- Private hospitals and clinics — Book specialists directly; HMO members use accredited doctors.
- Public hospitals — Low-cost but crowded.
- PhilHealth benefits — PhilHealth pays a fixed amount towards hospital bills; you pay the rest.
- Emergencies — Call 911.
Official waiting-time source
The Philippines doesn't publish waiting times; private care is quick.
No public waiting-time statistics ↗
Typical private costs
Typical self-pay prices — for an exact figure use the official links above or ask a clinic for a written quote.
| Item | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Private GP consultation | ₱500–₱1,500 |
| Private specialist consultation | ₱1,000–₱2,500 |
| Private MRI (one area) | ₱8,000–₱20,000 |
| Cataract surgery, per eye (private) | ₱70,000–₱100,000 |
| Hip replacement (private) | ₱350,000–₱450,000 |
Typical waits & prices by procedure
Typical averages for comparison, not quotes. Public care is free or nominal at the point of use unless noted. Private care has no standard queue — availability depends on the provider. Where an official statistic exists (UK, Ireland, Poland) the interactive guide shows it, dated and sourced.
| Procedure | Typical public wait | Typical private price |
|---|---|---|
| GP / primary-care appointment | ~7 days | ₱1,700–₱3,500 |
| Specialist consultation (first) | ~118 days | ₱5,200–₱8,700 |
| MRI scan (one area) | ~55 days | ₱10,000–₱17,000 |
| CT scan | ~55 days | ₱12,000–₱20,000 |
| Gastroscopy / endoscopy | ~82 days | ₱46,000–₱70,000 |
| Cataract surgery (per eye) | ~164 days | ₱70,000–₱100,000 |
| Knee arthroscopy | ~228 days | ₱130,000–₱190,000 |
| Inguinal hernia repair | ~200 days | ₱87,000–₱130,000 |
| Gallbladder removal | ~237 days | ₱160,000–₱230,000 |
| Hip replacement | ~273 days | ₱350,000–₱450,000 |
| Knee replacement | ~309 days | ₱380,000–₱490,000 |
| Tonsillectomy | ~228 days | ₱87,000–₱120,000 |
| Carpal tunnel release | ~218 days | ₱52,000–₱78,000 |
| X-ray | ~18 days | ₱2,300–₱4,400 |
| Ultrasound scan | ~36 days | ₱4,400–₱8,100 |
| Echocardiogram | ~55 days | ₱7,300–₱12,000 |
| Colonoscopy | ~91 days | ₱52,000–₱81,000 |
| Coronary angiogram | ~55 days | ₱73,000–₱110,000 |
| Varicose vein removal | ~182 days | ₱87,000–₱130,000 |
| Lumbar disc surgery (discectomy) | ~246 days | ₱260,000–₱380,000 |
| Rotator cuff repair (shoulder) | ~228 days | ₱190,000–₱260,000 |
| Hysterectomy | ~182 days | ₱200,000–₱300,000 |
| Vasectomy | ~91 days | ₱12,000–₱20,000 |
| Bunion surgery | ~228 days | ₱120,000–₱160,000 |
Prescriptions
Medicines are bought at pharmacies; generic medicines are widely available.
Dental care
Dental care is mostly private and inexpensive.
Adult public dental cover: limited. Typical self-pay prices:
| Treatment | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Check-up + X-rays | ₱995–₱2,240 |
| Scale & polish | ₱1,495–₱2,985 |
| Filling | ₱2,240–₱4,975 |
| Extraction | ₱2,240–₱6,220 |
| Root canal | ₱7,465–₱17,420 |
| Crown | ₱9,955–₱22,395 |
| Implant (post only) | ₱29,860–₱62,210 |
| Implant + crown | ₱49,770–₱87,095 |
| Veneer (per tooth) | ₱9,955–₱22,395 |
| Full denture (per arch) | ₱12,440–₱29,860 |
Finding a doctor or specialist
Well-known hospital groups (listed, not vetted or ranked):
Check a provider's inspection rating or registration with Department of Health ↗.
Health insurance
Insurers and schemes people in Philippines commonly use, and cover for visitors. Listed for comparison, not recommended — check the policy wording yourself.
| Insurer | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| PhilHealth ↗ | National / public scheme | National health insurance for all Filipinos. |
| Maxicare ↗ | Local health insurer | HMO plans. |
| Intellicare ↗ | Local health insurer | HMO plans. |
| PhilCare ↗ | Local health insurer | HMO plans. |
Visiting Philippines?
Your entitlement: None — no agreement with the UK and the GHIC isn't valid. Visitors pay, and private hospitals often want a deposit.
EHIC / GHIC: EHIC/GHIC not valid.
Pharmacies: Mercury Drug and other chains are widespread.
Insurance: Travel insurance with evacuation is essential, especially for islands and diving.
Useful links
Open the full interactive guide, compare tool & tracker →Content last checked: 2026-10-02. Figures are typical/official-source references, not quotes — see the links above for the current real number.