International private medical insurers have a ‘vital' role to play in the wake of natural disasters such as Typhoon Haiyan, MediCare International has said.
Following Typhoon Haiyan, which struck the Philippines, a massive aid programme is underway with charities spearheading reconstruction efforts.
MediCare International questioned with much of the country's infrastructure now severely damaged, who will support the support workers should they fall ill as result of the now severely depleted sanitation and fresh water supplies, as well as climate-sensitive diseases?
Industry statistics suggest on average around 50% of expatriates do not hold international private health insurance, meaning many, including NGO workers, are potentially at risk particularly in the event of natural disasters.
In the Philippines, while theory the government provides healthcare free at the point of use to all 94 million of the population, including expatriates, via PhilHealth, on the ground healthcare facilities vary considerably from good quality in Metro Manila to very poor in remote areas.
Health care spending remains low at only US$7 a person a year, with government subsidies being cut, the insurer added.
It said international private medical insurers have a "vital role" to play in such circumstances, offering as they do an effective back up for both long term expatriate workers based in the Philippines and front line NGO and aid workers who may be sent out to help with reconstruction and care programmes.
Debbie Purser, managing director of MediCare International said: "In places such as Tacloban City where the destruction has been widely reported, it is reasonable to assume local healthcare facilities will be severely stretched.
"In such circumstances, international healthcare insures such as ourselves would fly policyholders needing urgent medical treatment out to nearby centres in countries such as Singapore and Thailand, should treatment elsewhere in the Philippines not be possible.
"International private medical healthcare providers like ourselves are therefore there to care for the carers. We have access to resources via our Assistance Providers without needing to call upon what are sure to be overstretched local resources."
