Abstract
In the Philippines, anecdotes on the dwindling use of essential healthcare services as an indirect consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic are mounting, but compelling evidence remains scarce. In this study, we examined the magnitude of decline in insurance claims of twelve (12) high-burden diseases and five (5) common procedures from 1,286 public and private hospitals.
From March to September 2020, seasonally adjusted insurance claims for high-burden diseases declined by almost 60 percent compared to the previous year. In contrast, change in insurance claims for procedures vary across hospital type, level, and ownership.
CGDev observed a 30 percent decline in claims for procedures in publicly owned end referral hospitals but with modest growth in lower-level hospitals. Less urgent procedures such as cataract surgery suffered a huge decline relative to chemotherapy, vaginal delivery, and cesarean sections. Governments must address the needs of both COVID and non-COVID patients to reduce the total harm caused by the pandemic.
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Image Credits: Health Lab
