MANILA — The Philippine Heart Association (PHA) emphasized that there is only one cardiac expert for every 44,000 Filipino patients, highlighting the nation’s shortage of cardiologists on Thursday.
“Talagang napakaliit pa rin ng ating cardiologist numbers. Karamihan dito, 50 percent ay nasa National Capital Region,” stated Dr. Walid Amil, national president of the PHA.
Amil pointed out that Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi do not have any cardiovascular specialists.
He told state media PTV, “What we are doing now is to increase the number of chapters, and encouraging cardiologists to serve underserved areas in the country.”
According to Amil, the PHA is building the PhilCardio Registry to enhance cardiovascular care and data in the Philippines.
The PHA made no mention of preliminary results from the PhilCardio Registry or specified aims.
As the Marcos Jr. administration promised to build more specialist hospitals throughout the nation, the PHA reported in November 2025 that approximately 2.5 million individuals in various parts of the Philippines need access to cardiologists.
In order to ensure that more Filipinos with heart conditions have access to cardiovascular doctors, the PHA stated that it is trying to open chapters in more locations.
With cardiovascular disease accounting for nearly 30% of all deaths in the country, the lack of specialized doctors poses a significant challenge for the healthcare system. Patients often face long waiting times for consultations and may have to travel great distances to access cardiology services.
The PHA is urging the Department of Health (DOH), medical schools, and private healthcare institutions to collaborate on initiatives aimed at increasing the number of cardiologists. Proposed measures include scholarships for specialization, expanding fellowship slots, and improving working conditions to retain specialists.
In addition to increasing the number of specialists, the PHA stresses the importance of public education on heart health, early detection, and lifestyle modifications to reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease.
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