Healthcare in Manila

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 country's largest government hospital, and a dense private network that handles the vast majority of traveller care. See our Philippines healthcare guide for country-wide context.^[1]

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 carry 24-hour emergency departments and maintain dedicated international patient units.^[2]

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.^[3]

Navigating care

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 24-hour emergency departments and formal international patient services.^[2]

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.

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 country's national referral centre and handles complex or charity cases. , but queues for non-emergency care can run several hours. Travellers without local PhilHealth membership will be billed as private patients.^[1]

Costs

What to expect to pay

Private GP and general-medicine consultations at Metro Manila clinics start at around ₱400–640 (~$7–10) when booked online, with walk-in rates higher. Metro Manila's leading private hospitals do not publish consultation fees, so ask for the specialist's professional fee before you book.^[4]

No Metro Manila private hospital publishes an emergency tariff. As a public benchmark, the Philippine Heart Center charges ₱750 (~$12) for the initial emergency consultation and the first four hours, then ₱200 per hour, with laboratory tests and supplies billed on top. A private tertiary emergency department will cost substantially more.

PhilHealth's published case rate for a dengue admission is ₱19,500, rising to ₱47,000 for severe dengue. 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. Direct billing is not guaranteed — Asian Hospital, for one, asks for 50% of the estimated cost before inpatient admission — and many hospitals default to upfront payment and later reimbursement unless prior authorisation is arranged.^[4]

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.

Metro Manila's top private hospitals publish no rates, so the figures above come from independent labs and published 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. Philippine authorities enforce prescription rules strictly: antibiotics require a prescription, while antihistamines and anti-inflammatory drugs are generally available without one.^[8]

MedsGo and similar apps offer delivery within two hours across Metro Manila for both OTC and prescription medicines, useful if you are unwell and cannot travel. Hospital-based MedExpress pharmacies, located inside The Medical City and other major private hospitals, fill prescriptions written by the attending physician immediately after consultation.

Local tips

Local tips for getting care

The dengue risk. Dengue is endemic year-round in Metro Manila and spikes sharply between May and October during the rainy season. Any fever lasting more than two days, especially with headache behind the eyes or a rash, warrants a dengue NS1 test. Rapid test kits cost ₱300-700 (~$5-11 / ~€4-10) at pharmacies.^[9]

The upfront payment trap. Hospitals in Manila routinely ask for a deposit before admitting non-emergency patients. Have ₱20,000-30,000 (~$324-486 / ~€281-420) in credit capacity, 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) require a PDEA Import Permit before you arrive. A 30-day supply is the maximum with supporting documentation. Carry all controlled medications in their original pharmacy-labelled packaging.^[10]

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, contact the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Dangerous Drugs Board well in advance of your travel date. Processing a PDEA Import Permit typically takes 7-14 days.

Useful links

• Philippine FDA, drug and food regulation
• Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), import permits
• Dangerous Drugs Board, schedules and regulatory control
• St. Luke's Medical Center BGC, international patients
• The Medical City, Ortigas, international patient services
• Makati Medical Center
• Manila Doctors Hospital, International Healthcare Services
• Bureau of Customs, arriving traveller guidelines

Frequently asked questions

Sources

1. [1] Philippine General Hospital — official website
2. [2] International Insurance — Best hospitals in the Philippines for expats
3. [3] Philippine Statistics Authority — population and language data
4. [4] Hospi.info — Top hospitals in Manila for international patients
5. [5] Philippine News Agency — PhilHealth dengue benefit package update
6. [6] ClinicFinderPH — Dengue test and treatment cost Philippines 2026
7. [7] ExpatFocus — Philippines prescriptions and medications
8. [8] Yelp Manila drugstores — user reviews on pharmacy counter dispensing
9. [9] ClinicFinderPH — Dengue endemic year-round, rainy season spikes
10. [10] Respicio & Co — Bringing controlled prescription medicines into the Philippines
11. [11] Exact Check Diagnostic Center — published price list (1 July 2025)
12. [12] Philippine Heart Center — official rates and fees (18 November 2024)
13. [13] UP-PGH — official rates and fees
14. [14] PhilHealth Circular 2024-0037 — Annex A, list of medical case rates
15. [15] Ora Dental, Centuria Medical Makati — published treatment menu
16. [16] Asian Hospital — admission and pre-payment policy

Health guides for Philippines

• ConditionADHD in the Philippines: PDEA Permit Rules and Stimulant Access
• MedicationRitalin in Philippines: PDEA Rules, Supply and Prescribers
• MedicationLisdexamfetamine in Philippines: PDEA Permit, Brands and Access

Country guide

• CountryHealthcare in Philippines