Heart disease remains leading cause of death among Filipinos

A total of 14,921 Filipinos died from heart disease in the first two months of 2026 as access to cardiac care remains uneven across the country.

A total of 14,921 Filipinos died from ischaemic heart disease, commonly known as coronary heart disease, in the first two months of 2026, making it the country’s leading cause of death by a wide margin.

The Philippine Statistics Authority’s latest provisional data show that IHD deaths were more than double the number of pneumonia deaths at 5,222, followed by cerebrovascular diseases, neoplasms and diabetes mellitus.

The figures point to a problem that has persisted for years. Heart disease has remained the country’s leading cause of death, while access to timely and appropriate cardiac care remains uneven across the country.

Ischaemic heart disease is a condition caused by reduced blood flow to the heart, and treatment can also become financially overwhelming, with a Philippine Journal of Cardiology article putting the average cost of coronary artery bypass graft surgery in the Philippines at around ₱700,000 to ₱1 million.

The average Filipino earning a net salary of ₱20,000 would need to work almost three years to cover the cost, assuming every peso goes toward the expense. That becomes even more difficult once food, transportation, bills, contributions, and other daily needs are taken out.

PhilHealth has expanded coverage, providing up to ₱523,853 for percutaneous coronary intervention for acute heart attacks and up to ₱960,000 for qualified coronary artery bypass surgery. However, patients still need access to capable facilities and must meet package requirements.

That access remains uneven, with a 2023 Journal of Asian Pacific Society of Cardiology study identifying only 54 PCI-capable hospitals in the country as of 2022, 79.6% of them privately owned and only 11 government-owned.

The same study found that 19.5% of provinces were not covered by the hospitals’ geographic areas of responsibility, highlighting how location can determine whether a patient can quickly reach advanced cardiac treatment.

The country has major government cardiac institutions such as the 354-bed Philippine Heart Center in Quezon City, while Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao, Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu and Bicol Regional Hospital and Medical Center provide specialized services in other regions.

Yet even new facilities show how much remains to be built, with Pasig City General Hospital opening its first city-government cardiac catheterization laboratory in 2025.

Heart disease has been the top killer of Filipinos for years, and many call for healthcare progress to eventually be measured by how quickly a Filipino can get lifesaving cardiac care, regardless of whether they live in Metro Manila or a provincial town.

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