The high annual population growth rate of over 2% adds to the cost of poverty reduction. The government lacks a strategic approach to population, largely due to the influence of the Catholic Church, the religion of over 80% of the population. Reproductive health services are available to only 50% of families and maternal mortality remains extremely high by regional standards, having reduced only to 162 per 100,000 births from 209 in 1993. The 2015 MDG target of 52 appears out of reach.
Anxiety that these shortcomings in government sexual health program might result in an explosion of HIV/AIDS has not been fulfilled. HIV prevalence is currently low in the Philippines and the government can afford to finance a program to achieve universal access to treatment and care by 2009. However, one third of infections have been traced to returning migrant workers, a potential source which is notoriously difficult to control.
Health programs in the Philippines have also succeeded in reducing the occurrence of many other diseases, including malaria, and MDG targets for infant and child mortality rates are likely to be achieved. However, there are two structural problems within the country which undermine progress. Firstly, the poor standard of nutrition amongst about half of the population, confirmed by the slow rate of progress towards the MDG targets for dietary intake and child weight. Secondly, the lack of health facilities and staff in rural areas - about 12% of qualified doctors left the country in 2006. Good health services are concentrated within cities where those employed by government and business are members of the National Health Insurance scheme. Just under 50% of the workforce is confined to informal employment and likely to be excluded from social services and welfare safety nets.
