THE Philippine Society for Sleep Medicine (PSSM), a professional organization of sleep experts in the Philippines with clinical training in the diagnosis and management of sleep disorders, is advocating for the establishment of more sleep centers in the country in order to address sleep conditions and other issues among Filipinos.
He said that at present, there are about 40 to 50 sleep centers in the country but are mostly concentrated in Metro Manila. According, to PSSM President Dr. Rodolfo Dizon, Jr., part of PSSM’s goals is to recognize these centers and to partner with them not only to ensure quality but also to lower the costs to make these sleep centers’ services more accessible to more Filipinos nationwide.
Dr. Dizon also cited the need to establish more training institutions on sleep conditions. “There are at least 10 to 15 training centers in the country like in the Lung Center of the Philippines and the Philippine Heart Center. We hope that in the future this number will increase,” he said.
He also pointed out that the PSSM is also hopeful of the expansion of coverage that’s why the PSSM is lobbying for the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) to include sleep diagnostics in PhilHealth coverage.
“Today, sleep diagnostics is somehow partly covered but there are certain conditions that have to be met. We’re really looking forward to have a wider coverage from the government for sleep diagnostics,” Dr. Dizon pointed out during his talk titled “PSSM Primer and Overview of Sleep Health in the Philippines.”
Locally sourced data
Among PSSM’s other objectives is to be able to provide more locally sourced data on sleep health and sleep apnea and not rely much on foreign data. This is needed, he said, so the government like the Department of Health (DOH) can craft appropriate policies so that the public becomes more aware of the perils of lack of quality sleep with regard to their health.
He also pointed to the lack of enough sleep specialists in the country. “It is very easy to purchase the equipment needed but the concern here is the lack of sleep specialists who will be there to take care of the patient. That’s why, for now, we’re pushing for a bigger budget to increase the number of sleep centers and corollary to that is to increase the number of sleep specialists in the country, which numbers to only about 82 at present. It’s a small number to cater to the sleep concerns of around 120 million Filipinos,” he emphasized.
The PSSM is also pushing for the passage of a piece of legislation to address sleep disorder in the country, particularly Senate Bill 2063 or the “Sleep Disorder Awareness and Education Act” authored by Senator Mark Villar. The proposed measure seeks to establish a sleep disorder awareness and education program, but Dr. Dizon said that it hit a small snag since sleep health concerns are not a top priority nowadays. “But the PSSM remains hopeful that with a little more push, the bill will be passed in the next Congress.”
Costs of sleep testing
ACCORDING to Dr. Jimmy Chang, PSSM Vice President, the range of costs for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) testing and the range of testing involved depends on the hospital.
In government hospitals, he said, the tests can cost around P15,000 to P20,000, but in private hospitals, it can go to as high as P55,000. But regardless of the costs, the concern is the long waiting time, which highlights the magnitude of the problem of sleep condition.
“We recognize the issue and as a society, we plan to advocate measures in order for our country to have the resources available to test and treat these patients. We acknowledge that there is this problem, that there is already awareness, and we have to be able to provide services to these patients as well. That is our direction, and we’re trying to get the government and other stakeholders to be involved in the issue. As a society, we can’t advocate for it without the support of other stakeholders and inform them to make sleep health a priority and allocate resources for people with sleep disorders.”
The value of sleep
SLEEP is not about shutting our body’s down, according to Gerry Camacho, Sleep Business Marketing Group Head of Uratex Philippines. “It is about how our bodies and minds recharge. We can probably relate to batteries that need to sleep to recharge. Regardless of age and socio-economic status, one thing remains true: how we sleep impacts how we perform the next day.”
He said consumers recognize that knowing the importance of sleep, they are willing to invest in products that they know will give them a good one. They believe that good sleep is not just about feeling rested because it has a powerful impact on the physical, mental, and emotional well-being. “When we sleep well, we wake up energized. Sleep has a calming effect as well because it relieves stress and helps people manage emotions better.”
Citing Project Snooze, Acquisition Apps, Inc., Camacho explained that to get that perfect night’s sleep, there should be a comfortable mattress because it’s not just about lying down but about waking up without the aches. This is where a mattress with medium firmness is needed. An ideal sleep environment is also needed like quiet surroundings, blackout curtains and reduced screen time, cool room temperature, and proper ventilation. There should also be supportive pillows with just the right amount of softness and support.
Camacho said consumers are not necessarily looking for luxuries but only want functional comfort. “Bottomline, a well-rested mind leads to better focus, better productivity, and decision making. Sleep also retains an overall mindset. When we sleep well, we feel more positive, motivated, and in control.”