Practice Profile and Geographical Distribution of Ophthalmologists in the Philippines
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Abstract
Objectives: Determine practice profile, distribution, ophthalmology/population ratio (OPR), and density per region, and compare them based on the dimensions of eyecare services: availability, affordability, accessibility, and adequacy. Methods: A cross-sectional study of members and non-members of the Philippine Academy of Ophthalmology (PAO) from August to December 2022 using an online survey. Results: There were 1140 respondents, 636(58%) males. 979(86%) were actively practicing. 852(89%) hold only or predominantly private practice. 541(55%) were general ophthalmologists (GO). 134 respondents are still in training. Primary clinics were highest in the National Capital Region (NCR) (34%). 80% of all clinics of ophthalmologists are located in Luzon. Ophthalmologists held clinics in only 244(15%) municipalities/cities. 22% of municipalities/cities in Luzon, 9% in Visayas, and 8% in Mindanao had ophthalmologists. Conclusion: Almost all were seeing patients in practice or in training. Despite a slight male predominance, women ophthalmologists were >20-35% in Western countries. There was an increase in density to 15.6. NCR has the highest density (52.8), better than the United Kingdom (49) in 2012. Luzon had the highest density among the 3 major areas in the Philippines at 21.8, better than China’s 20 in 2016. Region 12 and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) had low density.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Roland Joseph D. Tan, MD, Roseny Mae C. Singson, MD, Maria Victoria A. Rondaris, MD
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Creative Commons License All articles published in Annals of Medicine and Medical Sciences are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Roland Joseph D. Tan, MD, Community Ophthalmology Committee, Philippine Academy of Ophthalmology, Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines. Department of Ophthalmology, Southern Isabela Medical Center, Santiago, Isabela, Philippines.
Community Ophthalmology Committee, Philippine Academy of Ophthalmology, Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines.
Department of Ophthalmology, Southern Isabela Medical Center, Santiago, Isabela, Philippines.
Roseny Mae C. Singson, MD, Community Ophthalmology Committee, Philippine Academy of Ophthalmology, Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines. Department of Ophthalmology, Asian Hospital and Medical Center, Alabang, Muntinlupa, Philippines
Community Ophthalmology Committee, Philippine Academy of Ophthalmology, Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines.
Department of Ophthalmology, Asian Hospital and Medical Center, Alabang, Muntinlupa, Philippines
Maria Victoria A. Rondaris, MD, Community Ophthalmology Committee, Philippine Academy of Ophthalmology, Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines. Faculty of Medicine & Surgery, University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines.
Community Ophthalmology Committee, Philippine Academy of Ophthalmology, Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines.
Faculty of Medicine & Surgery, University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines.
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