Treatment Gaps in Parkinson’s Disease Care in the Philippines

Abstract

Neurological services and resources are scarce in low-income and developing countries, such as the Philippines. We looked into the treatment gaps in Parkinson’s disease (PD) care in the Philippines in the following areas: epidemiology, healthcare, financial coverage, pharmacotherapy, surgical treatment and manpower. We collected relevant data on the above-mentioned areas. There is no available Philippine data on PD prevalence. Philippine healthcare is paid through user fees at the point of service. The average consultation fee in Manila ranges from US$10.57–31.74. The average minimum daily wage is US$9.39–10.17. Philippine healthcare is devolved to the local government units. Deep brain stimulation surgery is only available in Manila. Most PD medications are available in the Philippines. There are only nine movement disorder specialists for a population of 100.98 million. Gaps and challenges in PD care in the Philippines still exist.

KEYWORDS :

• DBS
• epidemiology
• financial coverage
• manpower
• medical care
• Parkinson’s disease
• pharmacotherapy
• physician density
• treatment gaps

Financial & competing interests disclosure

RDG Jamora serves on the advisory board of Lundbeck Phils. and Torrent Phils. He has received honoraria from the Philippine offices of Abbott, Allergan, Lundbeck, Medichem, Natrapharm, Novartis, Sun and Torrent. He has received research grants from the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD), the Philippine Neurological Association and the Collaborative Center for X-linked Dystonia Parkinsonism (CCXDP). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.