anyone with Philippines experience?
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Has anyone moved to Philippines? My wife is from Davao and we have plans on at least trying part-time there. My biggest (and really only) concern is health care. I need my pool and gym but the condo has all that. Any comments?
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Hi John,
I toured Cebu with stops in Manila and Borocay many years ago and have no experience in Davao but as it's a city of at least 1.7 million it should have good private hospitals and clinics. You should join one or more of the Davao expats groups on facebook so you can start getting a clear picture of the current standards. Just remember to take individual posts with a grain of salt and read for consensus.
Best,
IL Overseas Editor Jessica Ramesch -
Hi John,
We’ve checked in with Roland Dalton an expat in Southeast Asia, Norm Bour a full-time travel journalist and nomad, and Keith Hockton who is IL's Asia Correspondent, to get answers to your question.
Here is what Roland had to say: The health care in all of the Philippines is divided in two, in the urban areas it is far superior, with some excellent western style hospital/ medical facilities, many doctors having studies in the States and Australia. It is also reasonably inexpensive compared to North American costings.
In the rural areas it is sub standard, the local populace cannot afford the medical fees, also in the rural areas in the south, malaria is still prevalent as is rabies. These ailments are very rarely found in the built up areas.
Basically if you’re going to get sick, do it in a built up area!!
From Davao, Darwin, Australia is only a few hours flight away. Aussie has many reciprocal health agreements with many other countries.Here is Norm's response: John, the question of “health care” is one of the most common that we run into. As older (70/71) US residents who have been on the road since 2019, we have encountered a few “challenges,” including a few emergency room visits.
When it comes to health care in a certain COUNTRY, it depends on your status with the government of that country. This information is NOT legal information, but is based on research on the Philippines and many other similar situations.
If you are a “citizen,” with the full rights and privileges, you would be entitled to the same as everyone else, which would probably include public services (usually free or cheap, but may be busier in hospitals), but you can also get private insurance as well. We encountered that in Mexico, Turkei, and many other countries. Presumable you will be/ or have been entitled to live in the Philippines due to your marriage (exclusive of visa limitations), but I cannot tell you if that makes you a “resident” or some other category. Some countries grant spouses the full rights and privileges, others do not. The pool and the gym you speak of might not come into the picture at all, but if you need emergency services or medical treatment, the country has well trained physicians, though their actual facilities may not be as good as other countries. Davao is a large city, so their services would probably be up to par with Manilla and other large towns.”Here is Keith's response: There are some very good clinics in Manila, but they are not cheap and they cater to a well heeled crowd. Outside that area not so much - three people that I spoke to there said that for something serious they would fly to Kuching, in Sarawak or directly to Penang or KL, in Malaysia. There are direct flights from Manila.
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Hi. In 2022 I was on assignment in Guam working as a Military and Family Life Counselor with the Air Force. While there, I heard about a wellness health program at St. Luke's in Manila, Philippines. I was having some breathing issues so I decided to book one of these packages. For about $500, you can get a complete wellness checkup at St. Luke's hospital in Manila, all in one day, a room at the hospital, a massage, dinners and buffets in the clinic, a nurse assigned to you for the day taking you to all your tests in one location, and they even chauffer you to any place in Manila that you want to go. Additonally, whatever test that is not scheduled in the package (such as a colonoscopy, which I opted to have), can be scheduled within a three day stay while you are there. The colonoscopy cost me about $100 extra over the cost of the package. It was some of the best medical care I have received, especially in the States. I have enclosed some information about these packages for your information. You can go online and find more info about these packages too.
One-day analysis
Patients receive their complete checkup results before leaving the medical center.
St. Luke's Wellness Center uses the latest research to create packages that can detect early signs of disease or monitor existing illnesses. They consider a patient's medical history, physical examination, and appropriate tests when creating a wellness check.
Packages can be customized with additional tests based on a patient's specific risk factors. The cost of an executive check-up in the Philippines can range from Php3,000 to Php15,000 ($60 tto $260) , with more expensive packages involving more tests.
To book an executive check-up, you can call St. Luke's Medical Center at 0998-582-2276, 0998-582-2285, 0928-520-0239, or 0947-994-3550. You can also send an SMS to 0947-993-0471. -
Hi John,
Having lived in the Philippines, here are my thoughts from my experience:
Urban Areas (Metro/Tier-1 Cities): Cities such as Manila, Cebu, and Davao are equipped with advanced medical technologies and specialized care options. These cities also have more healthcare professionals and private facilities, which translates to shorter wait times, but the cost of services can be high, particularly in private hospitals.Rural Areas (Provincial): In contrast, provincial and rural areas face significant disparities. Facilities in these areas are often underfunded, lack modern equipment, and face shortages of trained healthcare professionals. Access to specialized care is limited, and people may need to travel to nearby urban centers for more comprehensive treatment. Affordability in public facilities is generally better, but the quality and accessibility are challenging.
And then, you have conveneient access to afforadable healthcare in the neighborhood countries like Thailand & Malaysia including Medical Tourism option.Please do let me know if you would like to know further. Happy to help. Cheers!
Thanks,
Pramod