There were 16 cases of heart failure for every 1000 Filipino patients admitted due to a medical condition in 2014. Hypertension was possibly the most common aetiologic factor. Compared to western and Asia-Pacific countries, the local mortality rate was relatively higher.

ObjectivesHospitalisation for congestive heart failure (CHF) was reported to be 1648 cases for every 100 000 patient claims in 2014 in the Philippines; however, there are no data regarding its economic impact. This study determined CHF hospitalisation cost and its total economic burden. It compared the healthcare-related hospitalisation cost from the societal perspective with the payer’s perspective, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).MethodsThis is a cost analysis study. Data were obtained from representative government/private hospitals and a drugstore in all regions of the country. Healthcare costs included cost of diagnostics/treatment, professional fees and other CHF-related hospital charges, while non-healthcare costs included production losses, transportation and food expenses.ResultsThe overall mean healthcare-related cost for CHF hospitalisation (class III) in government hospitals in the Philippines in 2014 was PHP19 340–PHP28 220 (US$436–US$636). In private hospitals, it was PHP28 370–PHP41 800 (US$639–US$941). In comparison, PhilHealth’s coverage/CHF case rate payment is PHP15 700 (US$354). The mean non-healthcare cost was PHP10 700–PHP14 600 (US$241–US$329). Using PhilHealth’s case rate payment and the prevalence of CHF hospitalisation in 2014, the total economic burden was PHP691 522 200 (US$15 574 824). Using the study results on healthcare-related cost meant that the total economic burden for CHF hospitalisation would instead be PHP851 850 000–PHP1 841 563 000 (US$19 185 811–US$41 476 644).ConclusionsThe calculated healthcare-related hospitalisation cost for CHF in the Philippines in 2014 demonstrates the disparity between the actual cost and PhilHealth’s coverage. This implies a need for policymakers to review its coverage to make healthcare delivery affordable.

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