Health Disparities

Health disparities are preventable differences in the burden of disease, injury, violence, or opportunities to achieve optimal health that are experienced by socially disadvantaged populations. Health disparities are inequitable and are directly related to the historical and current unequal distribution of social, political, economic, and environmental resources.

Health disparities result from multiple factors, including:

• Poverty

• Environmental threats

• Inadequate access to health care

• Individual and behavioral factors

• Educational inequalities 

The Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) has identified a significant healthcare gap in Mindanao, as revealed in their study on health service coverage in the Philippines. The research highlights disparities in access to healthcare, particularly evident in low registration rates for the National Health Insurance Program (NHIP) in conflict-affected provinces in Mindanao. Factors such as employment, poverty levels, and inefficiencies in enrollment processes contribute to this disparity, with many provinces in Mindanao lacking adequate hospital bed density. While the Philippines is commended for its progressive health policies, the study emphasizes the need to address regional health outcome discrepancies, suggesting improvements in data management, primary healthcare coverage, and strategic shifts in service purchasing by PhilHealth to ensure equitable healthcare access and funding for all covered conditions. These findings underscore the importance of targeted interventions to enhance healthcare equity and outcomes in Mindanao.