Understanding Healthcare in the Philippines As a foreign national, If you’re planning to live, work, or travel in the Philippines — especially in the sprawling urban jungle that is Metro Manila — understanding how healthcare works here isn’t just useful, it’s absolutely essential. The Philippine healthcare system is a fascinating, sometimes frustrating, but ultimately resilient network of private hospitals, government hospitals, and private clinics that collectively serve over 113 million people. Healthcare in the Philippines operates on two parallel tracks: a robust and well-resourced private healthcare sector, and an underfunded but critically important public healthcare infrastructure. For expats, digital nomads, retirees, and long-term visitors, understanding how to navigate both tracks…