Guimaras health inflation jumps to 6.3% on pricier medicine

By Mariela Angella Oladive

Health inflation in Guimaras rose to 6.3% in May 2026 from 1.4% in the same month last year, driven by higher prices of medicines, vitamins, laboratory tests, and selected hospital services, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported.

PSA data on year-on-year changes in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) by commodity group showed that health inflation ranged from 1.0% to 4.1% between May and December 2025 before rising above 6% in the first quarter of 2026.

Health inflation reached 6.2% in January, 6.4% in February, and peaked at 7.5% in March before easing to 5.8% in April and climbing again to 6.3% in May.

During a press conference on June 16, Provincial Statistics Office (PSO)-Guimaras Information Officer I Orlie E. Tabia attributed the increase to higher prices of selected health care goods and services.

“Based on the detailed health inflation data, the main drivers of the increase were vitamins and minerals, branded and generic medicines, pharmaceutical preparations used to treat illnesses and injuries, private inpatient curative and rehabilitative services, and medical laboratory services such as blood and urine tests,” Tabia said.

She explained that the continued increase in prices of selected health care goods and services may result in higher household spending, particularly among families with regular health care needs.

“As to whether rising healthcare costs are becoming a concern for households, yes, they may add to household expenses, especially for senior citizens, persons with chronic illnesses, and families with regular healthcare needs,” she said.

However, Tabia clarified that the PSA inflation report measures changes in prices and does not directly assess access to medicines or medical services.

“What the data show is that healthcare-related costs have been increasing, which may affect the purchasing capacity of some households,” she stressed.

Tabia said a more comprehensive assessment of how rising health care costs affect access to medicines and medical services would require inputs from health care providers and authorities such as the Provincial Health Office and the Guimaras Provincial Hospital.

She also noted that higher medicine prices may be influenced by increases in production and operating costs, although the PSA does not collect data on manufacturers’ production expenses or pricing decisions.

Guimaras recorded a headline inflation rate of 4.7% in May 2026, higher than the 4.4% registered in April.

Health was among the commodity groups that posted faster annual price increases during the month, alongside food and non-alcoholic beverages; alcoholic beverages and tobacco; recreation, sport and culture; and personal care and miscellaneous goods and services.

Nationally, overall inflation eased to 6.8% in May 2026 from 7.2% in April, the PSA reported, while health inflation at the national level stood at 4.1% — below the rate recorded in Guimaras.