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History

The Pre-Spanish Era: Pre 1656

Health care in the Philippines extends as far back as the 15th century. Prior to the arrival of the Spaniards, life and by extension health care, was centered around the animate and inanimate world.

A babaylan would mediate ritual offerings, bridging the gap between spiritual and physical world. Offerings ranged from food to blood sacrifices, as it was believed health could be restored by appealing to the gods.

Traditional Filipino medicinal herbs were used for a wide variety of ailments. Anonas leaves were applied to the stomach for indigestion. Betel-nuts leaves and areca nut leaves were common for injuries, chewed and then applied. Sambong was used to treat kidney stones, rheumatism, coughs, colds, hypertension, and diarrhea .

Spanish historian Miguel de Loarca said the natives were “good physicians and had a remedy for every poison.” The seeds of the igasud were chewed as an antidode for poison. It was renamed Pepita of San Ignacio by the Spanish. Other antidotes include boiled bark of palanigan and the bark of the bagosabak. While the Spanish were impressed by the medicinal knowledge of the Filipinos, they still believed that Western health care would have to be taught to the Filipinos .

The Spanish Era: 1565 –1898

Further Information: Spanish colonial period

As the Spanish were exposed to the unfamiliar environment of the Philippines, they were stricken with foreign disease. To combat this, they created hospitals specially for their health. Some of the first health institutions in the country were handled by Spanish friars.

Hospital Real

Built in Cebu in 1565, Hospital Real was the first hospital in the Philippines. It was relocated to the Manila to accompany the government. The hospital aimed to nurse the Spanish army and navy, those inflicted with disease, and military casualties. Miguel Lopez de Legazpi had permission from King Philip II to set up the hospital exclusively for Spanish soldiers and sailors, it denied Spanish and mestizo women. Although Hospital Real received funding from the Spanish Government, it lacked finances, manpower, and supplies. Administration of Hospital Real was transferred to both the Order of St. Francis and the Confraternity of La Misericordia. Hospital Real was destroyed during an earthquake on June 3, 1863.

Hospital De Naturales

Fray Juan Clemente, a 54-year-old botanist and lay brother, was instrumental in conception of the Hospital De Naturales. He often made medicine for the many people who begged outside the convent, until eventually the number of patients could grew too large for accommodations. Clemente raised funds in order to build better facilities, and he himself constructed two wards of nipa and bamboo.