What is the Philippines suddenly world-class at? It’s not beaches, not resorts, not the cheapest retirement, not even our famous hospitality. Four of our cities just cracked Southeast Asia’s top 10 for public perception of medical quality, doctor competency and medical accessibility.

According to Numbeo’s 2026 Health Care Index for Southeast Asia, Makati ranked second with a score of 85.0, just behind Chiang Mai. Davao came in fifth at 73.6. Manila placed ninth at 62.5, and Cebu rounded out the top 10 at 60.7. Four Philippine cities — for hospital quality, doctor competency and medical accessibility.

For decades, we’ve been told that world-class healthcare means going abroad — to Singapore, the US, or Europe. We’ve accepted that our public hospitals are overcrowded, private ones are too expensive, and rural areas are left behind. These problems still exist. This recent ranking tells us something else: that in our major cities, things are changing.

Makati’s near-perfect score is no fluke. The city has long been home to top medical institutions, but what’s remarkable is that the index measures perceived quality — how patients feel about their doctors’ competence, the accuracy of their diagnoses, how well the system treats them as human beings. That trust is built by years of consistent care.

Davao, a city that’s often in the news for politics, has quietly been building a healthcare ecosystem that works — making quality care accessible to Mindanaoans who used to have to fly to Manila for serious procedures.

Manila and Cebu, despite ranking lower, still made the cut because, despite their flaws, they have some of the most advanced tertiary hospitals in the country. The system may be strained, but the people working in it are resilient and skilled.

Things, however, get complicated — and a little frustrating.

Remember the P89.9 billion in PhilHealth funds controversially ordered transferred to the National Treasury. Of this, P60 billion was actually remitted, made in three tranches in 2024.

The Supreme Court ordered it returned in December 2025, and by April 2026, it was reportedly officially released. PhilHealth confirmed full receipt.

The money was returned on paper — but was it really? The funds were restored in the 2026 national budget, meaning taxpayers essentially paid for them again after they had already been taken.

Health reform advocate Dr. Tony Leachon has called this “double jeopardy” — the public purse bearing the cost twice. Labor groups emphasize that these are workers’ hard-earned contributions, not the government’s “extra wallet.”

The funds are now being used to expand benefits like the YAKAP program. But the whole process leaves a bitter taste — our money was taken, fought over in court, and ultimately returned through another round of public spending.

And then there’s the Philippine General Hospital (PGH).

During then-President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s tenure, the PGH received substantial financial support from March 2017 to January 2021 — P100 million per month from Pagcor, coordinated through the Office of the President. But under the current administration, that consistent financial lifeline vanished. No fanfare, no explanation, just silence. And the difference is painfully visible.

Netizens share the present alarming state of the PGH. Even chairs meant for the waiting area are being used by patients on IV drips, while others lie on stairways, in hallways, and in any available space due to overcrowding.

For 2026, only P450 million was allotted to continue PGH’s Multi-Specialty Building — barely half of the P900 million needed. Urgent requests totaling P1.7 billion for personnel and maintenance support, and another P1 billion for fire safety compliance, were completely excluded. This, after the hospital endured three fire incidents in 2024 alone.

To be fair, the 2026 budget increased overall PGH operational funding to over P7.2 billion. The new infrastructure footprint is limited to just two specific projects. The big-ticket items — the ones that would actually make PGH safer and more functional for the millions of Filipinos who depend on it — were left out.

So, here we are. Four Philippine cities are being recognized for healthcare excellence, and that’s genuinely worth celebrating. But we can’t let these rankings blind us to the cracks in the foundation. The P60 billion is back in theory, but only after a convoluted process that cost taxpayers twice. PGH is getting more funding on paper, but critical safety and staffing needs remain unfunded.

The Numbeo rankings matter, but real progress is built on healthcare that people can access, afford, and trust. A healthier Philippines happens when healthcare funding reaches the people who need it — and stays there.