Consumers health
refers to the decisions you make about the purchase of product and use of health information and services that will have direct effect on your health. refers to all things related to the health of the individual consumer, or user, of health services.
Health services refer to health information, actions, procedures or work furnished, or supplied to help satisfy your needs and wants as a consumer. This is services and things people do to and for other people. Example of health services are medical consultation and treatment, using the telephone, using the electricity, and payment for transportation, payment for haircut, payment for news papers and your favorite magazines and comics
Health consumer those who use health information, products, and services. This groups includes the well, the sick, the young, the middle-aged, the rich and the poor.
1.3 Relationship health information and decision making Problems with services The mental health marketplace is replete with unqualified therapists, some of whom have no training whatsoever .Most dentists provide competent care, but consumers should be alert to the signs of overselling and dental quackery. Problems with products In light of scientific and technologic advances, it is not surprising that many people believe that health is purchasable. The health marketplace abounds with products of every description to accommodate peoples desires. The problem areas include dietary supplements; herbal and homeopathic products; exercise devices; diet pills and potions; self-help books, recordings, and gadgets; youth and beauty aids; magnets; and some types of overthe-counter drug products.
Health services All services performed, provided, or arranged by the Services to promote, improve, conserve, or restore the mental or physical wellbeing of personnel.
1.2 Health related problems of the consumer Souces of health information and advices 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. The World Health Organization The American Public Health Association The British Health Care Association The British Medical Journal The American Medical Association
1.4 Quackery Quackery is the promotion of unproven or fraudulent medical practices. Random House Dictionary describes a "quack" as a "fraudulent or ignorant pretender to medical skill" or "a person who pretends, professionally or publicly, to have skill, knowledge, orqualifications he or she does not possess; a charlatan"
Different problems of consumers regarding health information , products, and services Health products are those substances, materials or equipment prepared or manufactured for you to buy and use in the maintenance of health and the treatment of diseases. Example is foods, eyeglasses, medicines, cosmetics, cars, appliances and others.
is the Republic Act 7394 (R.A. 7394).
Self-medication Self-medication is a human behavior in which an individual uses unprescribed drugs to treat untreated and often undiagnosed medical ailments.
Self-diagnosis Self-diagnosis is the process of diagnosing, or identifying, medical conditions in oneself. It may be assisted by medical dictionaries, books, resources on the Internet, past personal experiences, or recognizing symptoms or medical signs of a condition that a family member previously had.
What is Republic Act 7394? Republic Act 7394 (RA 7394) is the "Consumer Act of the Philippines" which was promulgated on July 15, 1992. It is the policy of the State to protect the interest of the consumer, promote his general welfare and to establish standards of conduct for business and industry. What are the objectives of the RA 7394 or otherwise known as "Consumer Act of the Philippines?
Danger of self-medication Self-medication usually involves common drugs which are freely available. A study carried out in the United States showed that nearly[b] 2 billion dollars per year[/b] were spent on such remedies. It is questionable whether the benefits outweigh the potential hazards. They account for poisonings, allergy, habituation, addiction, and other adverse reactions. Above all their use often delays proper treatment of the disease. Danger of quackery An old saying is: "A robber demands your money or your life; but, a quack demands your money and your life!" NCAHF divides the harm done by quackery into six categories: economic harm (to individuals and society), direct harm (injury, permanent injury, death), indirect harm (injury, permanent injury, death), psychological harm, harm to society, and harm to professionalism
Protection of consumers against hazards to health and safety; Protection of consumers against deceptive, unfair and unconscionable sales acts and practices; ("unconscionable" means not right, not reasonable or not guided by conscience) Provision of information and education to facilitate sound choice and the proper exercise of rights by the consumer; Provision of adequate rights and means of redress ("redress" means remedy or to set right <an undesirable or unfair situation>); Involvement of consumer representative in the formulation of social and economic policies.
What government agencies in the Philippines implement the "Consumer Act of the Philippine" and what are their areas of concern? The following agencies implement the Consumer Act:
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)
DTI handles the following areas of concern: What's the law in the Philippines that protects you as a consumer? The law that safeguards and protects the consumers in the Philippines a. b. c. d. e. Consumer Products and Service Warranties Consumer Product Quality and Safety Deceptive, unfair and unconscionable sales acts and practices Price Tag Weights and measures (metrication)
f. g. h. i.
Labeling and Packaging Advertising and sales promotion Liability for Products and Services Service and repair shops Department of Agriculture (DA)
What is consumer product or service? Consumer product or service means goods, service and credits, debts or obligations which are primarily for personal, family, household or agricultural purpose, which shall include, but not limited to food, drugs, cosmetics and devices. What should a consumer do if he/she has a complaint?
a. Agricultural Products o Quality and Safety o Labelling and Packaging
Department of Education (DepEd) a. Consumer education and information
Department of Health (DOH)
a. Food, drugs, cosmetics and devices and hazardous substances o Quality and safety o Price Tag o Labelling and Packaging o Advertising & Sales Promotion
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) a. Consumer credit transactions extended by banks and other financial intermediaries
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) a. Credit facilities extended to consumers by financing companies
When is the Consumer Act applicable? The Act is applicable if:
the COMPLAINANT is a natural person; the SUBJECT of the violation is a consumer product or service; and the NATURE of the complaint is regarding any of the aforementioned concern
Identify the problem. Create a fair settlement. Would any of the following options do: o money back (Refund)? o product repair (Repair)? o exchange or change item (Replace)? Gather documentation as much as you can regarding your complaint. Examples of documents you can gather are sales receipts, warranties, repair orders, contract/agreement, cancelled checks, or any document which will support the complaint. These documents will serve as your evidence or proof. Go back to the store or office where you made the purchase. Talk to the person who sold you the product or service. Be calm and accurate in telling the problem and what steps should be taken in order to solve the problem. If that person irritates you and doesn't help, talk to the supervisor or manager and tell your complaint. A huge percentage of consumer problems are resolved at this level. If you are not satisfied with the support, write a formal letter of complaint to the concerned government consumer protection agencies in the Philippines mentioned above. o In the letter, indicate your name and address; the name and address of the establishment against whom you are complaining; the circumstances regarding the complaint including names, places and dates etc.. Enclose supporting documents such as official receipts, deed of sale and the like. And be prepared to make a personal appearance when called, especially during the mediation conference.
How long can a consumer file a complaint? Within 2 years starting from the time the consumer transaction
happened (when the deceptive or unfair transaction took place). To whom does a consumer file a complaint?
What are the advantages of filing complaint before the implementing agencies (administrative proceedings)? The advantages are:
In the Provincial Office. The administrative complaint shall be filed in duplicate with the Provincial Office having jurisdiction over the subject of the complaint. In areas where there are no Provincial Offices, the complaint shall be filed in the Regional Office. In cases where the complainant and respondent are situated in different provinces, the complainant has the option to choose the place where to file the complaint. The civil/criminal action shall be filed with the appropriate regular courts (Municipal Trial Court/Regional Trial Court). What are the remedies available to consumers? For Administrative Proceedings:
o You can save more money and time in mediation/arbitration. o You can avoid more hassles. Complainant need not undergo the rigors and expense of a court case How are consumer complaints resolved? Complaints are resolved through:
replacement or repair of product or services reimbursement to complainant of amount spent in pursuing the complaint refund of payment made restitution or rescission of contract
For civil/criminal action
civil action refund of payment made award of damages restitution or rescission of contract replacement or repair of product or services reimbursement to complainant of amount spent in pursuing the complaint criminal action - defendant, if found guilty by the court can be sentenced to imprisonment or payment of fine or both, at the discretion of the court.
The implementing agency where the complaint is filed, after jurisdiction is determined, will call the parties for mediation conference and find ways for amicable settlement. If no amicable settlement is arrived at, the complaint will be scheduled for preliminary conference for the parties to enter into stipulation of facts or arrive at simplification of issues. Formal hearing will be conducted by the Arbitration Officer and decision will be rendered. Decision of the Arbitration Officer is appealable to the Secretary of the concerned Department within 15 days from receipt of the decision. Decision of the Department Secretary is appealable within 15 days from receipt of the decision to the Intermediate Appellate Court or the Supreme Court on the following grounds: There is grave abuse of discretion. The decision rendered was in excess of jurisdiction or authority of the Arbitration Officer The decision is not supported by evidence or there is serious error in findings of facts.
What administrative penalties can be imposed upon establishments found to have violated any of the laws covered by the Consumer Act? Administrative penalties that can be imposed are:
The issuance of a cease and desist order, provided, however, that such order shall specify the acts that respondent shall cease and desist from and shall require him to submit a report of compliance therewith within a reasonable time; The acceptance of a voluntary assurance of compliance or discontinuance from the respondent which may include any or all of the following terms and conditions: an assurance to comply with the provisions of this Act and its implementing rules and regulations; an assurance to refrain from engaging in unlawful acts and practices or unethical trade practices subject of the formal investigation; an assurance to comply with the terms and conditions specified in the consumer transaction subject of the complaint; an assurance to recall, replace, repair or refund the money value of defective products distributed in commerce; an assurance to reimburse the complaint out of any money or property in connection with the complaint, if any, and to file a bond to guarantee compliance therewith. Restitution or rescission of the contract without damages; Condemnation and seizure of the consumer product found to be hazardous to health and safety, unless the respondent files a bond to answer for any damages or injury that may arise from the continued use of the product; The impositon of administrative fines in such amount as deemed reasonable by the Secretary, which shall in no case be less than Five Hundred Pesos (P500.00) nor more than Three Hundred Thousand Pesos (P300,000.00) depending on the gravity of the offense, and an additional fine of not more than One Thousand Pesos (P1,000.00) for each day of continuing violation.
Safety, effectiveness and quality: Scientific evidence from tests done to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of traditional medicine products and practices is limited. While evidence shows that acupuncture, some herbal medicines and some manual therapies (e.g. massage) are effective for specific conditions, further study of products and practices is needed. Requirements and methods for research and evaluation are complex. For example, it can be difficult to assess the quality of finished herbal products. The safety, effectiveness and quality of finished herbal medicine products depend on the quality of their source materials (which can include hundreds of natural constituents), and how elements are handled through production processes. Knowledge and sustainability: Herbal materials for products are collected from wild plant populations and cultivated medicinal plants. The expanding herbal product market could drive over-harvesting of plants and threaten biodiversity. Poorly managed collection and cultivation practices could lead to the extinction of endangered plant species and the destruction of natural resources. Efforts to preserve both plant populations and knowledge on how to use them for medicinal purposes is needed to sustain traditional medicine. Patient safety and use: Many people believe that because medicines are herbal (natural) or traditional they are safe (or carry no risk for harm). However, traditional medicines and practices can cause harmful, adverse reactions if the product or therapy is of poor quality, or it is taken inappropriately or in conjunction with other medicines. Increased patient awareness about safe usage is important, as well as more training, collaboration and communication among providers of traditional and other medicines. The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) was created in 1995 to create a universal health coverage for the Philippines. It is a tax-exempt, government-owned and government-controlled corporation (GOCC) of the Philippines, and is attached to the Department of Health. It states its goal as insuring a sustainable national health [1] insurance program for all. In 2010, it claimed to have achieved "universal" coverage with 86% of the population, although the 2008 National Demographic Health Survey showed that only 38 percent of respondents were aware of at least one household member being [2] enrolled in PhilHealth. Nevertheless, this social insurance program provides a means for the healthy to pay for the care of the sick and for
Traditional medicine is the sum total of knowledge, skills and practices based on the theories, beliefs and experiences indigenous to different cultures that are used to maintain health, as well as to prevent, diagnose, improve or treat physical and mental illnesses. Traditional medicine that has been adopted by other populations (outside its indigenous culture) is often termed alternative or complementary medicine. Herbal medicines include herbs, herbal materials, herbal preparations, and finished herbal products that contain parts of plants or other plant materials as active ingredients.
those who can afford medical care to subsidize those who cannot. Both [3] local and national government allocate funds [4] to subsidize the indigent. Immunization, or immunisation, is the process by which an individual's immune system becomes fortified against an agent (known as theimmunogen). When this system is exposed to molecules that are foreign to the body, called non-self, it will orchestrate an immune response, and it will also develop the ability to quickly respond to a subsequent encounter because of immunological memory. This is a function of the adaptive immune system. Therefore, by exposing an animal to an immunogen in a controlled way, its body can learn to protect itself: this is called active immunization. Preventive medicine or preventive care consists of measures taken to [1] prevent diseases, (or injuries) rather than curing them or treating their symptoms. This contrasts in method withcurative and palliative medicine, and in scope with public health methods (which work at the level of population health rather than individual health). Occupational medicine operates very often within the preventive medicine.
prevention
stages before it causes significant morbidity.[8]
Tertiary prevention
Methods to reduce negative impact of existent disease by restoring function and reducing disease-related complications.[9]
Quaternary prevention
Methods to mitigate or avoid results of unnecessary or excessive interventions in the health system.[10]
Examples[edit]
Some specific examples of prophylaxis include:
Many vaccines are prophylactic, vaccines such as polio vaccine, smallpox vaccine, measles vaccine, mumps vaccine and others have greatly reduced many childhood diseases; HPV vaccines prevent certain cancers; influenza vaccine.[14] Birth control methods are used to prevent unwanted pregnancy. Condoms, for instance, are sometimes euphemistically referred to as "prophylactics" because of their use to preventpregnancy, as well as the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Daily and moderate physical exercise in various forms can be called prophylactic because it can maintain or improve one's health. Cycling for transport appears to very significantly improve health by reducing risk of heart diseases, various cancers, muscular- and skeletal diseases, and overall mortality.[15] Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables each day may be prophylactic. It may reduce the risk of heart disease.[16]
Definitions[edit]
Level Definition
Primary prevention
Methods to avoid occurrence of disease.[7] Most population-based health promotion efforts are of this type.
Secondary
Methods to diagnose and treat existent disease in early
Maternal and Child Health Clinics Canossa Health and Social Center Foundation, Inc. - E. Jacinto Street, Magsaysay Village, Tondo Chinese General Hospital and Medical Center - Blumentritt Street, Santa Cruz Clinica Arellano General Hospital - Doroteo Jose Street, Santa Cruz De Ocampo Memorial Medical Center - Nagtahan Street, Santa Mesa Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital - Lope de Vega Street, Santa Cruz Dr. Mirando Unciano, Sr. Medical Center - V. Mapa Street, Santa Mesa Esperanza Health Center - Santa Mesa F. Lanuza Health Center and Lying-in Clinic - Alvarez Street, Santa Cruz GAT Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Center - Delpan Street, Tondo Hospital of the Infant Jesus - Laong Laan Street, Sampaloc Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center - San Lazaro Compound, Rizal Avenue, Santa Cruz Manila Doctors' Hospital - United Nations Avenue, Ermita Maria Clara Health Center and Lying-in Clinic - Maria Clara corner Prudencio Streets, Sampaloc Mary Chiles General Hospital - Dalupan Street, Sampaloc Mary Johnston Hospital - Juan Nolasco Street, Tondo Medical Center Manila[1] - General Luna Street, Ermita Metropolitan Medical Center - Masangkay Street, Tondo Nephrology Center of Manila - San Andres Street corner Leon Guinto Street, Malate Ospital ng Maynila Medical Center - Quirino Avenue corner Roxas Boulevard, Malate Ospital ng Sampaloc - Geronimo Street, Sampaloc
Ospital ng Tondo - Jose Abad Santos Avenue, Tondo Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital - P. Sanchez Street, Santa Mesa Pedro Gil Health Center and Lying-in Clinic - A. Francisco Street corner Perlita Street, San Andres Perpetual Help Hospital - Laong Laan Street, Sampaloc Perpetual Succor Hospital - Cayco Street, Sampaloc Philippine General Hospital - Taft Avenue, Ermita Presidential Security Group Station Hospital - Malacaang Park Saint Jude Hospital and Medical Center - Don Quijote corner Dimasalang Streets, Sampaloc San Lazaro Hospital - Quiricada Street, Santa Cruz Santa Ana Hospital - New Panaderos Street, Santa Ana Seamen's Hospital - Cabildocorner San Jose Streets, Intramuros The Family Clinic, Inc. - Maria Clara Street, Sampaloc Tondo Foreshore Health Center - Pacheco Street corner Santa Fe Street, Tondo Tondo Health Center - Gagalangin, Tondo Tondo Medical Center - Kalakal Street, Balut, Tondo Trinity Woman and Child Center "The Birthplace" - New Panaderos Street, Santa Ana United Doctor's Medical Center - near Mabuhay Rotonda University of Santo Tomas Hospital - Arsenio Lacson Avenue, Sampaloc
Health care (or healthcare) is the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease, illness, injury, and other physical and mental impairments in humans. Health care is delivered by practitioners in medicine, optometry, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, allied health, and other care providers. It refers to the work done in providing primary care, secondary care, and tertiary care, as well as inpublic health.
Access to health care varies across countries, groups and individuals, largely influenced by social and economic conditions as well as the health policies in place. Countries and jurisdictions have different policies and plans in relation to the personal and population-based health care goals within their societies. Health care systems are organizations established to meet the health needs of target populations. Their exact configuration varies from country to country. In some countries and jurisdictions, health care planning is distributed among market participants, whereas in others planning is made more centrally among governments or other coordinating bodies. In all cases, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), a well-functioning health care system requires a robust financing mechanism; a well-trained and adequately-paid workforce; reliable information on which to base decisions and policies; and well maintained facilities and logistics to deliver quality medicines and technologies.[1] Health care can form a significant part of a country's economy. In 2008, the health care industry consumed an average of 9.0 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) across the most developed OECD countries.[2] The United States (16.0%), France (11.2%), and Switzerland (10.7%) were the top three spenders. Harvard Health Policy researcher, Dr. Ashish Jha is quoted saying "The (United States) healthcare system has the potential to collapse under its own weight, requiring Americans to pay even more for healthcare, forcing draconian and blunt cuts in the kinds of services available, and putting high quality healthcare out of reach for the poor and the sick." (Dr. Ashish Jha - Health Policy] Health care is conventionally regarded as an important determinant in promoting the general health and well-being of people around the world. An example of this is the worldwide eradication ofsmallpox in 1980 declared by the WHO as the first disease in human history to be completely eliminated by deliberate health care interventions.[3]
