Four Philippine cities, including two in Metro Manila, secured spots in the top 10 of a Southeast Asian ranking of leading healthcare hubs.
Based on the Numbeo Health Care Index by City 2026, Makati recorded the highest Health Care Index score in Southeast Asia at 85.0, while Manila ranked ninth with 62.5. Davao placed fifth with 73.6, while Cebu rounded out the top 10 with 60.7.
The rankings placed Philippine cities alongside major urban centers in Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, and Vietnam. Numbeo’s Health Care Index is based on user assessments of healthcare factors such as medical personnel, quality of service, equipment, responsiveness, accessibility, and cost.
The results come as local governments continue to expand healthcare support, with Davao City earmarking ₱609.3 million for its Lingap para sa Mahirap medical assistance program serving more than 159,000 clients annually, while Cebu’s public facilities are backed by DOH’s ₱49.2-billion MAIP and ₱17.39-billion Zero-Balance Billing allocations for eligible indigent patients.
Since July 2025, the Makati city government has disbursed ₱741.47 million to Makati Life Medical Center for services rendered to beneficiaries of the Makati Health Plus Program.
In Manila, Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso’s administration has moved to reopen and renovate several local healthcare facilities in recent months, including neighborhood health centers intended to bring primary care closer to residents. Sta. Ana Hospital also landed on Newsweek and Statista’s World’s Best Hospitals list for the Philippines, ranking 25th nationwide.
Manila has also received Universal Health Care and Urban Governance Exemplar recognitions from the DILG and Philippine Health Insurance Corporation for localized social welfare and medical service delivery. Its public hospitals have likewise earned Green Viability citations from the Department of Health, with Justice Jose Abad Santos General Hospital and Ospital ng Maynila Medical Center receiving four Green Stars, while Sta. Ana Hospital received three Green Stars.
