Equity in Health Benefit Utilization and Financial Risk Protection in Outpatient and Inpatient Care: Baseline Survey of Two Socioeconomic Groups of a Pilot Primary Care Benefits Scheme in the Catchment Areas of a University-Based Health Facility

Abstract

Background. Health inequities in the Philippines are driven by health workforce maldistribution and health system fragmentation. These can be addressed by strengthening primary care through central social health insurance (PhilHealth) coverage. However, high reported PhilHealth population coverage and health provider accreditation have not necessarily increased health benefit utilization or financial risk protection. Objective. This study aims to examine the impact of an enhanced, comprehensive primary care benefits package at a university-based health facility. This paper reports baseline utilization of health services and health benefits, and out-of-pocket health spending in two socioeconomic strata of the catchment population, for outpatient and