The Distribution of Dermatologists in the Philippines

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Health Services Research
• Public Health

Background:

• Equitable health workforce distribution is crucial for Universal Health Care (UHC) in the Philippines.
• Mapping dermatologist distribution and demographics can enhance access to skin disease treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the geographic distribution and demographic profile of dermatologists in the Philippines.
• To determine dermatologist density and the ratio of dermatologists to general practitioners (GPs).
• To assess the PhilHealth accreditation status of dermatologists.

Main Methods:

• Review of Philippine Dermatological Society (PDS) and PhilHealth databases (as of Nov 2023 and July 2023).
• Analysis of dermatologist distribution by location, age, sex, density (per 100,000 people), and dermatologist-to-GP ratio.
• Creation of heatmaps to visualize distribution and ratios.

Main Results:

• 1345 PDS board-certified dermatologists practice in the Philippines, predominantly women (90.78%) with a median age of 47.
• Over half practice in the National Capital Region (NCR), leading to high density (4.80/100,000) compared to Mindanao (0.27/100,000).
• Only 29.44% are PhilHealth-accredited; the dermatologist-to-GP ratio is 1:30 nationally, but significantly lower in Mindanao (1:118).

Conclusions:

• A significant disparity exists in dermatologist distribution, with a concentration in urban areas like NCR.
• The low number of PhilHealth-accredited dermatologists and unfavorable dermatologist-to-GP ratios in underserved regions limit access to care.
• Recommendations include encouraging more dermatology applicants, particularly men, and prioritizing those from underserved regions for training programs.