Pediatrics in Philippines

Pediatrics is the field of medicine that focuses on the medical care of infants, children, and adolescents from birth up to the age of 21. Medical doctors who specialize in this field are called pediatricians. Not only do they provide medical care for children who are acutely or chronically ill, but they also provide preventative health services for healthy children. They manage the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of the children under their care through all stages of growth and development. They are involved in the prevention, early detection, and management problems, including:

• Developmental delays and disorders
• Functional disabilities
• Behavioral problems
• Social stresses
• Mental disorders, including depression and anxiety disorders.

When children get hurt or sick, they treat a range of injuries and diseases, such as infections, cancers, organ diseases, and dysfunctions, as well as genetic and congenital conditions. Some pediatricians are primary care physicians (meaning they are your first stop for general medical care and wellness visits for your children), while others specialize. There are more than 30 pediatric specialties, including pediatric oncology (the treatment of cancers in children), pediatric neurology (the treatment of brain and nervous system disorders in children), and pediatric cardiology (the treatment of heart conditions in children).

In general, pediatricians perform the following procedures to take care of your child:

• Physical exams
• Diagnose and treat illnesses, injuries, infections, and other health problems
• Evaluate your child’s physical, emotional, and social development
• Give you information about your child’s health, fitness, safety, and nutrition needs
• Prescribe medications and antibiotics
• Give vaccinations
• Refer you to a specialist if they think your child needs expert care. 

How Long Should I Stay in Philippines?

In most cases, you and your child can leave the hospital or clinic right away after a pediatric procedure. Depending on the type of diagnostic test or medical treatment your child receives, you should plan to stay in Philippines for around 2 to 7 days. During your stay, your child may need to attend several follow-up checkups where the pediatrician checks if the treatment is working for them.  

What's the Expected Recovery Time?

The recovery times can be different from one child to another, depending on the overall health of your child, the specific condition they have, and the treatment they receive. For diagnostic tests, such as a physical exam, there is typically no recovery time needed. After vaccination, some children may develop a fever for 1 to 2 days. The pediatrician will let you know when your child can resume their normal activity level and go back to school after treatment.

What Aftercare is Required?

During your child’s recovery period, it is important that you monitor them closely. Make sure that they drink plenty of liquid, eat a healthy diet (as recommended by the pediatrician), and get plenty of rest. A regular visit to the pediatrician is important, every two to three months for children aged 1-month-old to 2 years old, every six months for 2 to 3 years old, and then once a year after the age of 4 up to 21. 

What's the Success Rate?

As the field of pediatrics continues to advance, the safety and success rate of pediatrics procedures continues to increase as well. With new technology, more knowledge, and a deeper understanding of pediatrics, the death rate of infants and children has been decreasing significantly in the last century. Of course, all procedures carry some type of risks and side effects. For instance, vaccinations have some side effects such as low-grade fever, soreness, temporary headache, or a severe allergic reaction. 

Are there Alternatives?

There are no alternatives to seeing a pediatrician that manages the health, growth, and development of your child. Should your pediatrician found something that needs specialized care, they will refer you to the relevant specialist.

Pediatrics in and around Philippines

About the Philippines

The Philippines is an island nation in the heart of Southeast Asia. It extends from the south of China to the northern tip of Borneo. It is also known as the ‘Pearl of the Orient Seas’, the Philippines is an archipelago of 7,107 islands. It comprises three main island groups, Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Manila, the capital city, lies in the southwestern part of Luzon. Quezon City is the largest and most populous city in the country.

It is a prominent English-speaking country and was once a colony of Spain and the United States. It’s the most Westernised country in Asia. However, its culture is a mix of indigenous Malay culture and Spanish and American heritage.

Besides being one of the top tourist destinations, the Philippines is also an emerging medical tourism destination. It ranks in 8th position among popular medical tourism countries and more than 10,000 medical tourists visit the Philippines every year for various treatments. The following factors all contribute to the progress of medical tourism within the Philippines.

• Expert and board-certified medical professionals with international qualifications and training.
• Internationally-accredited hospitals with state-of-the-art medical equipment and modern facilities.
• Affordable costs compared to advanced nations
• Inexpensive accommodation
• The English language is widely-spoken making communication with the Medical team and patients easy.
• Tropical climate helps in the recovery and recuperation

The most common and popular procedures and treatments in the Philippines are cosmetic surgery, weight-loss surgery, dermatology, ophthalmology, and dentistry. As of late, people come here even for liver and kidney transplant surgeries, and cardiac surgeries due to the cost advantage it provides.

For example, a Breast Augmentation surgery that costs between $7,500-$8,500 in the US costs only between $3,000-$3,500 in the Philippines which would be a saving of about 58% to 60%. Also, a coronary artery bypass surgery costing $70,000-$133,000 in the US, will only cost between $11,500-$17,500 and would result in a saving of almost 83% to 86%. Even after adding travel and living expenses, it still makes it a, very good value for the patient to get medical care in the Philippines and several of the more popular Hospital and Clinics are located in Manila, and are St. Luke's Medical Center, Makati Medical Center, The Medical City and Asian Hospital and Medical Center

Popular Parts of the Philippines

The Philippines has a total land area of 116,000 square miles, with a large population of 107,791,044 million people. It has many pristine beaches, mountains, rainforests, islands, heritage towns, and monuments, With hotels, food, and transportation very affordable, it’s also a good budget tourism destination.

The following are some of the most beautiful places to visit in the Philippines:

• El Nido –is known for its white-sand beaches, clear turquoise waters, and coral reefs and is the gateway to the Bacuit archipelago which is a group of islands. The laid-back town of El Nido is a base for island-hopping tours, and kayaking trips to mountainous Cadlao Island, El Nido is situated on the northern edge of mainland Palawan.
• Coron – Is also situated in Palawan and is known for its warm waters, ideal for snorkeling, kayaking, and deep diving. The breathtaking Kayangan Lake, surrounded by karst walls is a visual treat. It is the cleanest lake in the Philippines.
• Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park –is also part of Palawan and is situated to the southeast, in the Sulu Sea. It’s home to countless coral reefs, and expansive breeds of fish, dolphins, sharks, and whales and It is a great water destination for divers.
• Banaue Rice Terraces – They lie within the mountainous region of the Cordilleras. The rice terraces are about 2,000 years old, a result of the labor of the predecessors of the region and They provide efficient space for people to farm on.
• Intramuros – The walled historical area of Manila contains the remains of a bygone era with its cobblestone streets and preserved remnants. Walking tours and carromata rides (two-wheeled box-like vehicles drawn by a single native pony) are popular here.
• Mount Mayon –is a 2,500-meter-tall active volcano. It’s famed for its perfect symmetry and accurate conical shape. You can enjoy the view from some distance or experience it at close quarters, by hiking for a couple of days.
• Hinatuan Enchanted River – Locals believe the river has mystical qualities. They feel fairies and Engkanto (other nature spirits) guard the enchanting blue-green river. The unknown source of clear saltwater is another mystery surrounding the river.

Boracay and Siargao are other popular tourist spots with their powdery white sand and water activities.

Weather and Climate in the Philippines

The Philippines has a tropical maritime climate. The general weather is hot and very humid. It experiences only three seasons:

1. Summer Season – A very hot and dry summer season is between March and May.
2. Wet Season – Rainy Season is between June and November when the southwest monsoon is most active. In this period, typhoons are common, especially during September and October.
3. Dry Season – There is a cool and dry season between December and February, due to the cold winds brought in by the northeastern monsoon.

The average temperature of the Philippines ranges between 25°C and 32°C (78-90°F) with humidity of about 77%. High-altitude areas are much cooler, with night temperatures dropping to 20°C (68°F). The average annual temperature is around 26.6°C (79.9°F)

Getting Around in the Philippines

The Philippines is an island nation, most international travelers reach the country by air. The country has many international airports in various cities including Cebu, Davao, Manila, Kalibo, and Angeles.

Many airlines operate flights in and out of Manila to several destinations. Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, and Air Asia are the national carriers of the Philippines. Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, and many Middle Eastern airlines operate direct flights to Manila. The Southeast Asian cities of Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City have wide connectivity to Manila and Cebu. You can reach Manila directly from London by flying Philippine Airlines. US travelers can fly via Japan to the Philippines.

Cebu Pacific, Tigerair Philippines, and PAL Express are some low-cost carriers that service domestic destinations in the country.

For transport within the Philippines, you have Jeepneys which are WWII- army jeeps converted into transport jeeps. They are cheap, open, and usually fully loaded with passengers which are normally cramped with 14 to 20 people sitting shoulder to shoulder depending on the length of the vehicle They operate as collective taxis, picking up and dropping passengers within cities.

Tourist Visas in the Philippines

Travelers from more than 150 countries that have diplomatic relations with the Philippines can enter the country without a tourist visa. EU, Australia, Japan, and the US are a few visa-exempt countries. In general, you can stay for up to 30 days, provided your passport is valid for at least six months after your arrival. Showing proof of onward and return journeys is compulsory.

Citizens of India, China, and Egypt are some of the countries that will need to get a visa in advance to enter the Philippines.

Additional Information

• Philippine Peso or Piso (PHP) is the official currency of the Philippines. Its subdivision is 100 centavos or centimos for a Peso. The current exchange rate for one US dollar is 51.99 PHP. You will be able to use US Dollars in Metro Manila and possibly in Cebu City. In other areas, it’s better to have pesos for exchange.
• You will find all major banks and plenty of ATMs everywhere. Master and Visa cards are accepted in most businesses.
• Tagalog or Filipino language is the main spoken language. English is also spoken and understood in the Philippines, due to the US influence during its colonization.
• Roman Catholicism is the major religion of the Philippines. 91% of the population are Christians and about 5.5% comprises of Islam religion.
• New Year’s Day, Araw ng Kagitingan, Independence Day, National Hero’s Day, Bonifacio Day, and Christmas are some of the important holidays in the Philippines.