MANILA – Government-run and compulsory contributory health care financing schemes accounted for the largest share of the country’s health spending in 2024, according to the latest data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

Government schemes comprised 44.7 percent of the Current Health Expenditure (CHE), followed by household out-of-pocket payments at 42.7 percent, and voluntary health care payments at 12.6 percent.

The country’s Total Health Expenditure (THE) rose to PhP 1.56 trillion in 2024, reflecting a 17.1 percent increase from PhP 1.33 trillion in 2023. Health spending represented 5.9 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the year.

CHE contributed 92.2 percent to the overall health expenditure, while Health Capital Formation Expenditure (HK) made up the remaining 7.8 percent. CHE saw an 18.7 percent increase, while HK rose by 1.7 percent.

On a per capita basis, individual health spending climbed to PhP 12,751 in 2024, up 17.6 percent from PhP 10,840 in 2023.

For the first time, the PSA also reported on Primary Health Care Expenditure (PHCE), which totaled PhP 748.80 billion in 2024—up by 19.2 percent from PhP 628.41 billion in 2023. The figure remains preliminary, as the methodology is still under refinement.

According to the World Health Organization, primary health care is the first level of contact between individuals and the national health system, underscoring its vital role in ensuring accessible health services for all.