Philippines trails ASEAN peers in healthcare readiness

By Joseph Bernard A. Marzan

MANILA — The Philippines faces rising healthcare demand and significant gaps in technology implementation and funding as it trails most of its Southeast Asian peers in perceived healthcare readiness, according to the ASEAN Care Readiness Index 2026.

The Philippines posted an overall readiness score of 77.9 out of 100, compared with the six-market average of 80.7, in a survey of 50 senior healthcare and MedTech decision-makers in each participating country.

The Philippines ranked lowest among six countries, with Thailand logging the highest overall readiness score among the six markets at about 84, followed by Indonesia at about 83.9, Malaysia at about 80, Vietnam at about 81, and Singapore at about 77.1, based on the four pillar scores presented in the report.

The comparisons are directional rather than definitive because the index measures the perceptions of 300 decision-makers about organizational readiness for the next three to five years, rather than objectively measuring national healthcare-system quality.

The index, commissioned by trade fair organizer Messe Düsseldorf Asia, covers the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam, and assesses readiness across four “pillars”.

These include workforce, infrastructure and technology, future care and rehabilitation, and MedTech innovation and supply chains.

For the Philippines, rising healthcare demand was the leading future pressure, cited by 54 percent of respondents, according to the accompanying press release.

Funding and investment were identified as a significant barrier by 58 percent of Philippine respondents, while 60 percent cited technology implementation capability as a barrier.

The country’s infrastructure and technology score of 73.33 was its weakest among the four pillars and was also the lowest among the six markets.

Thailand scored 85.5, Indonesia 83.67, Vietnam 82.17, Malaysia 80.17 and Singapore 77.5 in the same pillar.

The technology gap is particularly significant because digital health, artificial intelligence (AI), data and interoperability were identified as the leading investment priority across all six markets, with 60 percent of respondents calling for further investment.

Digital transformation and AI were also identified by 54 percent of respondents as a pressure on future readiness, while the same proportion said technology implementation capability limits readiness.

Across the six markets, 44 percent identified digital health and AI as the single largest future capability gap, more than twice the proportion that cited MedTech innovation at 17 percent.

The Philippines also lagged its peers in future care and rehabilitation, posting a score of 77.58, the lowest among the six markets.

Thailand led this pillar at 85.83, followed by Indonesia at 83.83, Vietnam at 80, Malaysia at 76.5, and Singapore at 73.67.

The report said the future care and rehabilitation pillar had the lowest average score overall at 79.6, highlighting the need to prepare for ageing, rehabilitation, and long-term and community-based care.

Despite these gaps, 86 percent of respondents across the region said their organizations were prepared to deliver rehabilitation and support hospital-to-home transitions, while 84 percent felt prepared to meet ageing populations and rising long-term care demand.

The Philippines performed better in workforce readiness, scoring 80.5, compared with 84.33 for Indonesia, 84 for Thailand and Vietnam, 79.5 for Malaysia, and 76.5 for Singapore.

The report found that 91 percent of respondents across the region felt prepared in workforce skills and leadership for future care models, while 84 percent felt prepared in workforce capacity and resilience. However, 46 percent said workforce capacity and skills still limit readiness.

The Philippines’ strongest showing was in MedTech innovation and supply chain, where it scored 81.17, although it remained below Thailand’s 85.5 and Indonesia’s 84.67.

Vietnam scored 81.83 in the same pillar, Malaysia 80, and Singapore 75.83.

Across the region, 42 percent of respondents said MedTech innovation and adoption require additional investment, while 34 percent cited procurement and supply-chain vulnerabilities as constraints on readiness.

The index found a broader “readiness paradox” across ASEAN, with 94 percent of respondents saying their organizations are prepared for future demand even as they identify significant gaps in digital capabilities, technology implementation, funding, and care capacity.

Messe Düsseldorf Asia Managing Director Lars Wismer said confidence should serve as a starting point for further improvements.

“Confidence is a strong starting point, but readiness cannot stand still,” Wismer said.

He said Southeast Asian healthcare systems are simultaneously dealing with technology adoption, workforce constraints, ageing populations and changing models of care.

“The opportunity now is to strengthen the connections between these areas, ensuring investment in technology is matched by the people and infrastructure to implement it, and that innovation responds to how and where care will increasingly be delivered,” he added.

The index recommends turning digital ambitions into implementation capability, strengthening workforce capacity and skills, preparing for care beyond hospitals, and building resilient MedTech ecosystems.

The findings place the Philippines at a particular disadvantage in infrastructure and technology compared with its ASEAN peers, while its relatively stronger workforce and MedTech scores suggest areas where existing capabilities could be built upon.

The report’s six-country comparison should be read as a snapshot of perceived organizational readiness rather than a judgment on the quality of healthcare systems, as each market was represented by only 50 respondents.

The ASEAN Care Readiness Index 2026 is scheduled to be unveiled in Singapore alongside Medical Fair Asia, Medical Manufacturing Asia and RehaCare Asia from Sept. 9-11.