Medical care expenditures increased by 3.7 percent in 2000

Total family expenditures for medical care in 2000 was reported at P34.6 billion increasing by P4.2 billion or higher by 13.7 percent from its P30.4 billion figure in 1997. This translates to P2,660 medical care expenditures for each family in 2000.

Expenditures for drugs and medicines reported the highest percentage with 46.4 percent, hospital room charges with 24.1 percent, medical charges (including doctor's fee) with 21.7 percent, other medical goods such as alcohol, bandage, plaster, etc. with 3.5 percent and the combined expenditures for dental charges, contraceptives, and other medical and health services with only 4.3 percent.

Adjusted for the 22.0 percent inflation measured from 1997 to 2000, total family expenditures for medical care was P28.4 billion, lower by 6.8 percent than the 1997 figure.

NCR reported the highest average total family expenditures on medical care

Across the regions, NCR reported the highest average total family expenditures for medical care at P4,430. Aside from NCR, four other regions reported average family expenditure for medical care more than the national figure of P2,660. These include Region IV (P3,359), Region VI (P2,881), CAR (P2,799) and Region III (P2,701).

Highest average family expenditure for four medical sub-groups was likewise noted in NCR with P1,957 for drugs and medicine, P9,922 for hospital room charges, P2,971 for medical charges, and P1,091 for dental charges. On the other hand, Region III reported the highest average family expenditures for contraceptives with P396, while Region IV for other medical goods and supplies with P270 average family expenditures, respectively. Meanwhile, CAR topped all other regions in average expenditure for other medical and health services with P1,317. This category includes service fees for herbolarios, faith healers, among others.

ARMM reported the least average family expenditures in all types of medical care expenditures except in dental charges, where Region VIII reported the least.