Manila Healthcare Guide: Hospitals, Costs & Pharmacies

Manila healthcare: what changes when you arrive

Manila's healthcare system runs on a two-tier structure: a public sector anchored by Philippine General Hospital, the national referral centre for tertiary care^[1], and a dense private network that handles the vast majority of traveller care. See our Philippines healthcare guide for country-wide context.

For international patients, the most-used networks are St. Luke's Medical Center (BGC and Quezon City campuses), The Medical City (Ortigas) and Makati Medical Center. All three maintain dedicated international patient services^[4], and each runs a 24-hour emergency department.

English is spoken fluently by doctors and most nurses across private hospitals, reflecting the bilingual nature of Philippine medical education. Communication is rarely a barrier at Makati or BGC facilities.

Finding a doctor or hospital in Manila

Private hospitals in Makati, BGC (Taguig), and Ortigas (Pasig) are the practical starting point for travellers. St. Luke's Medical Center BGC, The Medical City Ortigas, and Makati Medical Center each have formal international patient services^[4], and all three run 24-hour emergency departments.

Manila Doctors Hospital in Ermita is DOT-accredited for medical tourism and has a dedicated International Healthcare Services unit for concierge coordination. Private hospitals generally want a deposit or a guarantee of payment before or on admission; have your card or travel insurance documents ready at the gate.

How to book an appointment1. Online booking. All three major international-patient hospitals (St. Luke's BGC, The Medical City, Makati Medical Center) accept appointments via their official websites or mobile apps. Book specialist slots 24-48 hours ahead.

2

Walk-in at outpatient departments. Walk-in consultations are accepted at all major private hospital OPDs; arrive before 8 am to avoid midday queues. Outpatient departments are busiest on Monday mornings.

3

Teleconsultation. Online platforms such as MedsGo connect patients with doctors licensed in the Philippines, who can issue a prescription after the consultation.

For non-emergency situations, Grab rides rather than ambulances are the norm for reaching a hospital in Metro Manila; if you can move safely, a booked car is faster in most scenarios outside a life-threatening emergency.

Public hospitalsPhilippine General Hospital on Taft Avenue is the national referral centre for tertiary care^[1], but queues for non-emergency care can run several hours. Travellers without local PhilHealth membership will be billed as private patients.

What to expect to pay

GP consultation fees at Metro Manila clinics vary widely and are rarely published. Metro Manila's leading private hospitals do not publish consultation fees either, so ask for the doctor's professional fee before you book.

No Metro Manila private hospital publishes an emergency tariff. Expect laboratory tests, medicines and supplies to be billed on top of the emergency consultation, and a private tertiary emergency department to cost substantially more than a public hospital.

PhilHealth's case rate for a dengue admission is ₱19,500, rising to ₱47,000 for severe dengue^[19]. Those rates apply only to PhilHealth members: an international traveller is not enrolled, pays the full private-hospital bill, and receives none of it.

International insurers such as Allianz and Cigna are accepted at the major private hospital networks^[4]. Direct billing is not guaranteed: Asian Hospital, for one, asks for 50% of the estimated cost before inpatient admission^[16], and many hospitals default to upfront payment and later reimbursement unless prior authorisation is arranged.

Carrying travel insurance that covers dengue and tropical illnesses is strongly advisable. The gap between out-of-pocket cost and policy coverage can be substantial at a four-star private facility.

Blood panel (independent lab)	$4–9 Independent lab
Chest X-ray	$5–11 Independent lab
Dengue NS1 test	$21 Independent lab, walk-in
Dental cleaning	$43 Oral prophylaxis, Makati clinic
Dental crown	$410 Zirconia, Makati clinic
Hospital room, per night	$45–154 Public tertiary; private higher

Metro Manila's top private hospitals publish no rates, so the figures above come from independent labs, a published dental menu and public-hospital tariffs; a private tertiary bill will run higher.

Pharmacies in Manila

Pharmacy chains like Mercury Drug, Watsons, Rose Pharmacy, Southstar Drug, and Generika are found on most main streets and inside all major malls. Some branches stay open 24 hours in key Metro Manila locations; not all branches operate around the clock, so confirm the nearest 24-hour outlet before you need it urgently. Most mall-based outlets operate 10 am to 10 pm.

A practical quirk for newcomers: even over-the-counter medications are handed to you from behind a counter by a staff member rather than being self-selected from shelves. Ask for the product by name or active ingredient; most pharmacy staff speak enough English to assist. Antibiotics require a prescription, while antihistamines and common anti-inflammatory drugs are generally available without one.

MedsGo and similar apps deliver across Metro Manila, useful if you are unwell and cannot travel; prescription medicines still need a valid local prescription. Pharmacies inside the major private hospitals fill prescriptions written by the attending physician after your consultation.

Local tips for getting care

The dengue risk. Dengue is endemic year-round in Metro Manila and spikes between May and October during the rainy season. See a doctor promptly for any fever lasting more than two days, especially with headache behind the eyes or a rash. A dengue NS1 antigen test at an independent laboratory costs around ₱1,230 (~$21)^[11].

The upfront payment trap. Hospitals in Manila routinely ask for a deposit before admitting non-emergency patients. Have a card with enough available credit, or your insurer's direct-billing pre-authorisation number, accessible when you enter the hospital.

The prescription import issue. Bring a doctor's letter in English stating your condition and dosage for all prescription medications. Carry only a quantity sufficient for your stay. Foreign prescriptions cannot be filled at Manila pharmacies; if you run out of a non-controlled medication, you will need to consult a local doctor first.

Dangerous drugs at customs. Opioids, benzodiazepines, and other substances classified under the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act (Republic Act 9165) need a doctor's letter describing your condition and a prescription giving the trade and generic names, up to 30 days' supply^[17]. More than 30 days' supply, or an amount above the INCB threshold for your medicine, also needs a PDEA authorisation requested at least 30 working days before you arrive^[18]. Carry all controlled medications in their original pharmacy-labelled packaging.

Tap water. Manila tap water is not considered safe to drink. Use bottled or filtered water for drinking, brushing teeth, and preparing any oral medication that requires dilution.

If you are carrying a controlled substance into the Philippines and need more than 30 days' supply, or more than the INCB threshold for your medicine, write to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Compliance Service at least 30 working days before you arrive; PDEA replies within 15 working days.

Useful links

Frequently asked questions

Can I fill my home-country prescription at a Manila pharmacy?

No. Philippine pharmacies can only dispense based on prescriptions written by locally licensed doctors. Bring a sufficient supply for your trip, and if you run out of a non-controlled medication, you will need to see a Manila-based doctor to obtain a local prescription.

What documents do I need to bring prescription medication into the Philippines?

Carry the original prescription showing your physician's name and licence number, and a doctor's letter in English stating your diagnosis and dosage. The quantity must match what the prescription specifies for the duration of your visit, under the FDA and Bureau of Customs Joint Circular No. 1 (2015).

Do I need a special permit to bring benzodiazepines or opioids to Manila?

Not for up to 30 days' supply. Medicines classified as dangerous drugs under Republic Act 9165 need a doctor's letter describing your condition and a prescription giving the trade and generic names, up to 30 days' supply. More than 30 days' supply, or more than the INCB threshold for your medicine, also needs a PDEA authorisation requested at least 30 working days before you arrive. Carry medications in their original pharmacy-labelled containers.

Which Manila hospitals accept international health insurance?

St. Luke's Medical Center BGC, The Medical City Ortigas, and Makati Medical Center all accept international insurers including Allianz and Cigna. Arrange direct-billing pre-authorisation before admission, as hospitals default to upfront payment without prior approval.

Is dengue fever a real risk for short-stay visitors to Manila?

Yes. Dengue is endemic year-round in Metro Manila and surges during the rainy season from May to October. Any fever lasting more than two days, with headache behind the eyes or a rash, should be checked by a doctor promptly. A dengue NS1 antigen test at an independent laboratory costs around ₱1,230 (~$21).

Are there 24-hour pharmacies in Metro Manila?

Yes. Mercury Drug operates 24-hour branches at selected locations across Metro Manila, and Rose Pharmacy also maintains some 24-hour outlets. Delivery apps such as MedsGo also deliver across Metro Manila; prescription medicines still need a valid local prescription.

Sources

Health guides for Philippines

Country guide

CountryHealthcare in Philippines

Healthcare in Manila