PHILIPPINES RADIOTHERAPY MARKET ANALYSIS

Market Challenges And Opportunities

Philippines Radiotherapy Market- Restraints

• Limited oncology training opportunities: According to an article published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information in November 2022, for the entire country, there are only 10 medical oncology, nine general surgery oncology, nine radiation oncology, two gynecologic oncology, and two hospice and palliative medicine residency programs. Training slots are also limited per program. Each year, only about five new fellows are accepted into the two gynecologic oncology specialist programs. Each year, one to two residents are accepted into the nine radiation oncology residency training programs. Thus, a limited number of training spots is anticipated to hamper market development over the forecast period.
• Low penetration of health insurance coverage: Limited health insurance coverage in the Philippines poses a major challenge for the growth of the Philippines radiotherapy market. According to 2022 Philippine National Demographic and Health Survey published in June 2023, Health insurance options in the country include PhilHealth, the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), the Social Security System (SSS), and private insurance. In total, 70% of women aged 15 to 49 have some type of PhilHealth coverage, with 29% being paying members, 13% being nonpaying members, 17% being dependents of a paying member, and 12% being dependents of a nonpaying member. Other than PhilHealth, 44% of women have health insurance; 39% have insurance through the Social Security System, and 4% have private health insurance. Additionally, 27 % of women do not have any health insurance coverage thus, low penetration of health insurance coverage in the country is expected to hinder the market development throughout the analysis period.
• Shortage of Qualified Personnel: The shortage of qualified personnel is significantly restraining the growth of the Philippines radiotherapy market. There is a lack of an adequate number of trained medical physicists, radiation oncologists, radiographers, and nurses who are specialized in radiotherapy planning and treatment delivery. This shortage of skilled manpower is due to the low number of training seats available in medical physics and radiation oncology programs in the country. 

Philippines Radiotherapy Market- Opportunities

• Supportive government policies: Supportive government policies have played a vital role in shaping the development of the radiotherapy treatment centers in the country. For instance, in March 2022, the Philippine Institute for Development Studies stated that the Universal Health Care Act (UHC), or Republic Act 11223; and the National Integrated Cancer Control Act (NICCA), or Republic Act 11215 offer equal and reasonable cancer care delivery and finance. The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) is required by UHC law to offer universal health insurance to Filipinos. It also requires PhilHealth to pool funds and place them in a unified fund known as the National Health Insurance Fund.
• Training and Education Programs: Initiatives to develop and expand training and education programs for radiation oncologists, medical physicists, and radiation therapists present opportunities to enhance the workforce and provide high-quality care. With a population of over 100 million people, there is immense potential for development in the health sector. Promoting training in modern radiotherapy techniques through university programs and certifications can help boost the number of qualified specialists over time. It is also important to conduct regular workshops for technologists and nurses on safe radiotherapy practices. Training centers sponsored through public-private partnerships could travel to different regions and train local hospital staff, thus creating opportunities for market players over the forecast period.

Philippines Radiotherapy Market- Drivers

• Rising prevalence of cancer: The rising prevalence of cancer is the major factor driving growth of the Philippines radiotherapy Market. According to the Globocan 2020 report, 92,606 individuals succumbed to cancer in 2020, out of which 17,063 death occurred due to lung cancer, a staggering 18.4% of total cancer deaths. Additionally, the number of lung cancer cases reported in 2020 was also high, 13,406 a 19.9% of total cases reported in males.
• Increase in Healthcare expenditure: Increase in healthcare expenditure for cancer treatment has resulted in development of the radiotherapy treatment in Philippines. For instance, in March 2022, Philippine Institute for Development Studies, Philippines leading source of policy research and advice, stated that spending for cancer reached US$ 840 million in 2022, a 140.75% increase from the US$ 350 million in 2019.
• Collaboration with international organizations: Collaboration with international health organizations has significantly contributed to advancing radiotherapy services in the Philippines. The government has partnered with organizations like the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to modernize radiotherapy infrastructure and expand access to care. Through initiatives like the IAEA's program on cancer control in developing countries, several public hospitals have received grants and assistance to purchase new linear accelerators, MR-SIM, and brachytherapy equipment since 2020.