COMPONENTS OF CONSUMER  Consumer health is not just about

HEALTH buying health products and services.

 All of us are consumers.  It is also about making decisions and
 We acquire health information, having a clear and deeper understanding
purchase health products, and avail of to make wise choices.
health services to appraise, improve,  Consumer health has three components:
and maintain our health.  health information,
 Health information is an idea that we  health products,
hear from people around us, read from  health services.
books and other printed materials, or  Health information plays a big role in
from the media that influence our the life of individuals. It gives details
health. that people can use to make informed
 Health products are items that we decisions about their health and of
consume to improve our well-being others.
such as medicine, food, clothes,
furniture, electronics, etc. HEALTH INFORMATION
 To ensure consumer health, criteria and  Health information is any concept, step,
guidelines in selecting health products/ or advice that various sources give to
services must be considered. aid the health status of an individual.
 Various forms of providers and plans  The type of information varies
must also be known to a consumer. depending on various considerations
 Health services are programs we avail such as but not limited to health history,
from various providers such as drugs, and alcohol consumption, and
physicians, nurses, therapists, health eating disorders.
workers, hospitals, clinics, and the  All information about the health
government. products are included in this area.
 Some examples of these health services  It gives the materials used in
are insurance, treatment and cure, and manufacturing the product, date, uses,
complementary and alternative expirations, and even cautions.
medicine.  People acquire health information and
 In this light, we must all be educated products from various sources such as
consumers.
 authorized person, media, and The following questions are the things to
technology. consider before buying health products or
 It is important to identify the reliability availing health services.
of these sources. WHAT?
 What are the available details of the
SOME RELIABLE SOURCES OF product? Are the details updated? Are
INFORMATION the side effects specified?
 Medical and health professionals  What is the purpose of the health
(Family and school doctors, dentists, information?
nurses, health science educators) WHO?
 Government agencies like Department  From whom is the health information?
of Health (DOH), Food and Drug Is this information confirmable?
Administration (FDA), Bureau of Food WHAT ELSE?
and Drugs (BFAD), Department of  Is there an option where customers can
Trade and Industry (DTI) give feedback/suggestions and receive
 Websites ending in gov, edu, and org. the needed answers?
 Local health officials
 Educational institutions WHAT ARE HEALTH PRODUCTS?
 Health products are food, drugs,
SOME UNRELIABLE SOURCES OF cosmetics, devices, biologicals,
HEALTH INFORMATION vaccines, in-vitro diagnostic reagents,
 Outdated customs, practices, and and household/urban hazardous
superstitions without scientific basis substances and/or a combination of
 Information based on ignorance and and/or a derivative thereof (FDA Act,
prejudice. 2009).
 Commercialized health information  These products may be purchased from
 Personal options and incomplete various places like supermarkets,
information pharmacies, and hospitals.
 Quack or pseudo healers  Examples: eyeglasses, appliances,
medicines, grooming aids, car, etc.
GUIDE QUESTIONS OR CRITERIA IN
ASSESSING HEALTH INFORMATION
GUIDELINES ON THE PURCHASE OF  Inquire for more and review if possible
GOODS AND SERVICES  ask direct questions from sales
 Evaluate which products and services personnel if there are things about
will be beneficial, harmful or useless. the product that are not clear to you
 Know the local laws and regulations before buying it. Clarifying things
that protect consumers. will make you more confident as a
 Locate dependable medical, dental and consumer. You can also get some
nursing services. information from other consumers
regarding the product.
 Apply knowledge acquired with respect
to personal and environmental health in
the purchase of personal goods and Health services are usually offered by
services healthcare providers. "A healthcare provider
is a trained professional who provides
SOME TIPS ON HOW TO BE A WISE people with healthcare". Health services are
CONSUMER offered by health service providers. There
 Gather correct and sufficient are three types, as follows:
information  Health Professionals. These are
 get as much information by reading individuals who are licensed to
critically the details on the practice medicine and other allied
nutritional quality of the food. Be health programs and work in the
aware that being knowledgeable of medical profession. Examples:
the laws will protect you as a doctor, nurse, nutritionist, etc.
consumer.  Healthcare Facilities - These are
 Compare and contrast details of places or institutions that offer
available products healthcare services. Examples:
 compare and contrast the products and hospitals, walk-in surgery center,
services available before you purchase. health center, extended healthcare
Judge for yourself which among the facility.
products are most effective. You can  Health Insurance - It is a financial
use the questions in assessing the health agreement between an insurance
information as your initial guide company and an individual or
 group for the payment of healthcare protection and benefits as that of
costs. the principal member.
 Health professionals are licensed to
Philippine Insurance Corporation practice medicine. Knowing each
(PhilHealth) is a government-owned of these professionals and their
and controlled corporation (GOCC) functions can give benefits such as
created through Republic act 7875 also the application of immediate and
known as the National Health Insurance appropriate treatment, avoidance of
(NHI) Act of 1995. It aims to provide time and resources wastage, and the
health insurance coverage for all like. Knowing them will not also
Filipinos and ensure affordable, lead someone to avail of fraudulent
acceptable, available, and accessible health services.
health care services for all citizens of
the Philippines (Learner's Material on
the Philippine Health Insurance
Corporation (PhilHealth) - Grade 10 As a wise health consumer, you should
2017). know the different health services
 The vision statement of PhilHealth provided by these professionals. Some
 Bawat Pilipino Miyembro, of these services are as follows:
 Bawat Miyembro Protektado,  Feeding program for elementary
 Kalusugan ng Lahat Protektado" school children
 Immunization for different diseases
 PhilHealth ensures that every intended for infants and children
Filipino is a member by covering from age 2 and above.
them under different membership  Prenatal check-up for mothers and
programs which are categorized babies
according to various sectors of our  Free maternity clinic
society.  Family planning program
 Once enrolled under PhilHealth, a
member should declare his or her  Health services are usually offered
legal dependents so they can also by healthcare providers. A
be extended of the same healthcare healthcare provider is a trained
 professional who provides people g) Cardiologist - specializes in the
with healthcare. diagnosis and treatment of the heart and
 Health Professionals. These are blood vessels.
individuals who are trained and h) Allergist - specializes in diagnosing
licensed to practice medicine along and treating body reactions resulting
with allied health program and from unusual sensitivity to food,
work in the medical profession. medicine, dust and other substances.
 Examples: doctor, nurse, i) Pulmonologist - specializes in diseases
nutritionist, physician, etc of the lungs and respiratory tract.
j) Neurologist - specializes in providing
There are different types of physicians diagnosis and surgical treatment of
based on their area of specialization. rent diseases of the nervous system.
types specialization. k) Gastroenterologist - specializes in the
a) Pediatrician - specializes in children's diagnosis and treatment of diseases in
health care and treatment of diseases. the gastrointestinal system.
l) Geriatrician - specializes in care of
b) Psychiatrist - specializes in the elderly and the diseases that affect
diagnosis and treatment of mental them.
disorders. m) Surgeon - specializes in performing
c) Obstetrician - specializes in the care of surgical operation in treating diseases,
women during pregnancy and injuries and deformities.
childbirth.
d) Ophthalmologist - specializes in n) Urologist - specializes in diseases and
diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases abnormalities of the gastro-urinary
and disorders. tract.
e) Anesthesiologist - specializes in o) Gynecologist - specializes in diseases
administering various anesthetics to and care of the female reproductive
assure proper operative procedures. organs
f) Dermatologist - specializes in the
diagnosis and treatment of skin Healthcare Facilities – These are places or
diseases. institutions that offer healthcare services.
There are different types of healthcare  Consumers received health information,
facilities. products, and services from various
a. Hospital - It is an institution where sources, thus individuals may be prone
people undergo medical diagnosis, care to frauds. An example of which is
and treatment. In the Philippines, there quackery.
are two classifications of hospitals:  Quackery is a form of a health fraud, an
general and specialty. General hospitals advertisement, promotion, or sale of
have complete medical, surgical, and products and services that have not been
maternal care facilities. On the other scientifically proven safe and effective.
hand, specialty hospitals handle a It is being operated by a quack. A quack
particular disease or condition or deal is a person who dishonestly pretends to
with only one type of patient. have medical skills or knowledge.
b. Walk-In Surgery Center - It is a  Three major characteristics of quackery
facility that offers surgery without the 1. It is a big business.
patient being admitted in the hospital. 2. It multiplies and spreads fast. It is
c. Health Center - It is a facility that progressive.
caters a specific population with various 3. It is claimed that it is for incurable
health needs. condition
Possible Effects of Quackery:
Extended Healthcare Facility - A facility  Taking a quack "cure" may delay or
that provides treatment, nursing care, and lose the chance to be healed.
residential services to patients, often the  The person may experience placebo
elderly. effect - that he/she improves for natural
reasons and not because of the
substance that the quack provides.
Health Insurance - It is a financial  Loss of money
agreement between an insurance company
and an individual or group for the payment  Giving false hopes to the sick person
of healthcare costs. and the family.
•Example: PhilHealth, Private Healthcare  The actual damage done to the
Plans individual by using fake products and
services
 It may cause overdose and over body-based practices, and mind-body
medicines. medicine.
These are three forms of quackery:  Examples of biologically based
 Medical quackery includes cures, practices are taking herbal medicine.
treatments, and remedies of various  Energy medicine uses magnetic fields
health conditions that are drugless or of biofields.
bloodless in nature.  Manipulative and body-based practices
 Nutrition quackery involves promotion are body kinesthetic are concerned with
of food fads and other nutritional movement therapy.
practices that claim to be all-natural.  Mind body medicine uses mental
These are believed to have beneficial exercises in belief that the brain is
properties of multiple plants in one central to the health.
product.
 Device quackery makes use of
miraculous gadgets (such as dials,  HERBAL MEDICINE
gauges, electrodes, magnets, and  There are ten herbs that are proven
blinkers) that are believed to cure and tested to have medicinal value
certain health conditions. and approved by the Department of
Health (DOH)
 Complementary and alternative
medicines are treatments that are 10 DOH-APPROVED HERBAL PLANTS
applied along with typical and accepted  Republic Act 8423
medical treatments but are not  Traditional and Alternative Medicine
considered standard. Act (TAMA) of 1997
 These include herbal medicine,  Philippine Institute of Traditional and
magnetic fields, nutrition therapy, Alternative Health Care (PITAHC)
acupressure, movement therapy, mental DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
exercises, etc.  Traditional Medicine Program
 There are four major domains of  Administrative Order No. 12
complementary and alternative  Was tasked to promote and advocate
medicine: biology-based practices, traditional medicine nationwide
energy medicine, manipulative and
1. Akapulko  Allium sativum
 Cassia alata  "Garlic"
 ringworm bush  Used for:
 Acapulco  Antibacterial properties
 Anti-hypertensive properties
 Reduces cholesterol in the blood
 Used for: hence helps control blood pressure
 Skin fungal infections such as  Preparation:
ringworm, jock itch insect bites,  Can be roasted fried, or blanched in
ringworms, eczema, scabies and boiled water for 15 minutes. Take 2
itchiness pieces 3 times a day after meals
 Preparation:  For sore throat and toothache, peel
 Pound Akapulko leaves, squeeze the skin and chew
the juice and apply topically on  For disinfecting wounds, crush the
affected area twice a day until garlic bulb and apply
cured. 4. Bayabas
2. Ampalaya  Psidium guajava
 Momordica charantia  "Guava"
 "Bitter melon" or "bitter gourd"  Used for:
 Used for:  As antiseptic- for cleaning wounds
 Lowering blood sugar levels;  Astringent
diabetes  Preparation:
 Hemorrhoids  Freshly pound leaves are used for
 Fruit can be cooked and prepared in toothache
a number of ways  Boil chopped leaves for 15 minutes
 Preparation: at low fire. This can be used as a
 Chop leaves then boil in a glass for mouthwash or disinfectant for
15 minutes. Cool and strain. Take wounds
1/3 cup 3 times a day after meals 5. Lagundi
 Juice ampalaya leaves and drink a  Vitex negundo
spoonful daily  "5-leaved chaste tree"
3. Bawang  Used for
  Cough and Colds affect the energy flow.
 Asthma Acupuncture is believed to treat
 Preparation: musculoskeletal dysfunction.
 Boil half cup of chopped fresh or
dried leaves in 2 cups of water for
10 to 15 minutes. Drink half cup  Reflexology
three times a day.  Like acupuncture, reflexology
6. Niyog-niyogan focuses on treating specific
 Quisqualis indica L. disorders through massaging the
 Is a vine known as "Chinese honey palms of the hand and soles of the
suckle" feet.
 Used for:  Ventosa Cupping Massage
 Anti-helminthic  This procedure is done by placing
 eliminates intestinal parasites inverted glasses that have flames
 Preparation: from burning cotton on specific
 The seeds are taken 2 hours after points in the body.
supper  It is believed to relieve muscle and
 If no worms are expelled, the dose joint pains.
may be repeated after 1 week  Nutrition therapy
 Caution: Not to be given to children  Nutrition therapy approaches
below 4 years old treatment of a medical condition by
7. Sambong providing a tailored diet for the
 •Blumea balsamifera patient.
 "Ngai camphor or Blumea camphor"  Acupressure
 Used for  Uses the same technique as that of
 Treating kidney stones acupuncture. The only difference is
 As diuretic that acupressure does not use
needles but hands to apply pressure
 Acupuncture on certain points of the body.
 It is a form of energy medicine
where long thin needles are inserted
to specific parts of the body to
  Serves as DOH key regulatory agency
and implementer of the country's food
control system
 Ensures safe and good quality
Some of these laws are discussed briefly processed food, drug, and cosmetics
below, in the form of a matrix.  Regulates production, sale and traffic of
 Traditionaland Alternative Medicines food, drug, and cosmetics
Act (TAMA)  Protects the health of the consumers and
 It provides for the improvement of handles consumer complaints
quality and delivery of health care
services in the country through the  The Consumer Act of the Philippines is
development of traditional and a law that protects the interest of the
alternative health care and its consumer, promotes general welfare,
integration into the health care and establishes standards of conduct for
system. business and industry.
 Consumer Act of the Philippines or RA  Department of Health (DOH). Provides
7394 national policy direction and develops
 It protects the interest of consumers national plans, technical standards and
and promotes their general welfare. guidelines in health. Regulates all
It also establishes standards of health services and products. Inspects
conduct for business and industry. establishments that dispense food.
 Cheaper Medicines Act or RA 9502 Adopts measures to ensure the quality
 It is intended to achieve universally of meat, milk products, cosmetics, and
acccessible and cheaper and quality other consumer goods.
medicines by pursuing and  Department of Trade and Industry
effective competition policy in the (DTI) Serves as the primary
pharmaceutical sector. coordinative promotive facilitative, and
regulatory amlof the government for the
 Below are their functions relative to country's trade, industry and investment
consumer protection. activities. Ensures the quality and safety
 Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) of products. Checks the warranty and
price tags of products. Monitors
 advertisements and retail ways in order  Watches for illegal price fixing
to prevent any deception of consumer.  Right to be informed, be protected,
Guaranties consumer welfare and choose, ken safety
protection
Below are some international organizations
relevant to consumer protection
 International Food Protection Institute
(IFPI)
 ensures food protection through
policies and practices for a safer
global food supply.
 Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
 protects and promotes public health
through control and supervision of
food safety.
 World Health Organization (WHO)
 directs international health within
the United Nation's System and to
lead partners and global health
responses.
 Checks the warranty and price tags of
products
 Monitors advertisements and retail
ways in order to prevent any deception
of consumer
 Enforces laws and regulations relating
to food
 Acts on how foods are advertised and
labeled
 Adopts measures to ensure the quality
of meat, milk products, cosmetics, and
other consumer goods