CONSUMER HEALTH 10

II. Learning Competencies –

At the end of this lessons the learner can now say:

1. I CAN differentiate reliable from unreliable health information, products, and services

2. I CAN explain the guidelines and criteria in the selection and evaluation of health information,
products, and services

3. I CAN discusses various forms of health service providers and healthcare plans

4. I CAN select health professionals, specialists, and healthcare services wisely

5. I CAN explain the nature and dangers of quackery

6. I CAN report fraudulent health services

7. I CAN explain the different kinds of complementary and alternative healthcare modalities

8. I CAN explain the importance of consumer laws to protect public health

9. I CAN identify national and international government agencies and private organizations that
implement programs for consumer protection

10. I CAN participate in programs for consumer welfare and protection

Decisionmaking is an important skill that you

must learn in order to live a healthy and normal life. This CONSUMER HEALTH lessosns will help you
understand the basics of consumer health.
Activity 1

READ THE SITUATION AND ANSWER THE QUESTION:

A teenager once went to the local market to buy materials for a Science project. Upon passing by some
stalls, he was invited for a free orientation on the latest product of a company. The company was selling
“health rings” that can detect the mood of a person and help lower body temperature and blood
pressure. The teenager was easily attracted, which made him buy two health rings for himself and his
sister. He spent Php 600 for the items. After a week, the teenager and his sister developed red spots and
rashes on their fingers. Upon checking, the rings are observed to have rust around them. The teenager
wants to file a complaint so the company may return his money

Questions:

1. What is the nature of the teenager’s problem?

2. Who can help him with his problem?

3. If you were in his position, what would you ask yourself before buying the product?

4. As a grade 10 student, how can you help the teenager?

CONSUMER ACT (RA(Republic Act )# 7394)

* Is a national policy which aimed to PROTECT THE INTEREST OF THE CONSUMERS AND BUYERS OF THE
PRODUCT AND SERVICES. It also aims to set and maintain standards of conduct for both the business
and industrial sector

OBJECTIVE of RA # 7394:
1. Protection of consumers against hazards to health and safety

2. Protection of consumers against deceptive and UNFAIR SALES ACT and practices.

3.Giving of INFORMATION AND EDUCATION SO CONSUMERS CAN MAKE SOUND CHOICES AND
DECISIONS

4. Provision of adequate rights

5.Allowing consumers to be represented in the making of social and economic policies.

Consumer health aims to develop a person’s ability to evaluate and utilize

health information, products, and services wisely and effectively.

Consumer health has three components:

1. Health information, is any concept, step, or advice that various sources give to aid the health
status of an individual. IT plays a big role in the life of individuals, any idea that we hear from people
around us, read from books and other printed materials, or from the media that influence our health. . is
information that people require to make wise choices and decisions about their health or the health of
other people.

2. Health products are items that we consume to improve our well-being, like
medicine, food, clothes, furniture, electronics, etc.

3. Health services. are programs we avail from various providers such as

physicians, nurses, therapists, health workers, hospitals, clinics, and the
government. Some examples of these health services are insurance, treatment and cure,
complementary and alternative medicine.
All of us are consumers. We acquire health information,
purchase health products, and avail of health services to appraise, improve,
and maintain our health.

In this light, we must all be educated consumers who make wise selection
of information, products, and services that are scientifically proven and
legally approved.
It is our duty to evaluate and examine
the reliability of the sources .

Let us find out how we can be educated in consumer health .

People acquire health information and products from various sources like people, media,
and technology. It is important to identify the reliability of these sources.

Reliable sources of health information and products are

licensed professionals who took up specialized and intensive studies in
the field. They are the ones who have the qualified educational
background and can give scientific explanation to validate information.
We can also find reliable health information from health books, and accredited online sources.

On the other hand, unreliable sources of information and products are those from
people who are not experts in this field. Aside from health information and products, people also avail
of various health services from different providers. Health services are often connected to healthcare.

These programs aim to appraise the health conditions of individuals through screening and
examinations, cure and treat disorders, prevent and control the spread of diseases, provide safety,
emergency care, and first aid, and ensure a follow-up program for individuals who have undergone
treatments. Health services are usually offered by healthcare providers.

“A healthcare provider is a trained professional who provides people

with healthcare” There are different types of healthcare providers, such as:
Health Professionals Individuals who are licensed to practice medicine and other allied health programs.
An example of a health professional is a physician.
 A physician records the medical history of individuals, provides diagnoses, performs medical
examinations, and prescribes medications. There are different types of physicians based on their area of
specialization.

Activity 6: DOCTOR WHO? ( assignment)

What are the different types of physicians?

6.

What are
the
different
types of
physicians?
1.Gastroenterologist- A Gastroenterologist is a physician with
dedicated training management of diseases of the
gastrointestinal tract and liver.
 2.geriatrician Geriatrics or geriatric medicine is a speciality that is based on improving health
care for elderly people. It supports healthy improvement in older adults by preventing and
treating disease and disability that often comes with ageing

3.gynaecologist A gynecologist specializes in caring for the reproductive health of a woman

from the time she gets her first period all the way to post-menopause. Any conditions that
affect the reproductive system, such as those with the cervix, uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, or
vagina, are diagnosed and treated by a gynecologist.

4. neurologist Neurologists are specialists who treat diseases of the brain and spinal cord,
peripheral nerves and muscles. Neurological conditions include epilepsy, stroke, multiple
sclerosis 

5. orthopaedist medical specialized. a doctor who specializes in the treatment of bones that
have not grown correctly or that have been damaged: It may take six months to see an
orthopedist for a hip replacement.

6. ophthalmologist Ophthalmologists are medical doctors who specialize in the diagnosis and

treatment of eye and vision problems.

7. pediatrician A pediatrician is a medical doctor who treats children. They provide: Preventive
health maintenance and ongoing monitoring for healthy children. Medical care for children who
are acutely or chronically ill.

8.pulmonologist A pulmonologist is a physician who specializes in the respiratory system.

From the windpipe to the lungs, if your complaint involves the lungs or any part of the
respiratory system, a pulmonologist is the doc you want to solve the problem. Pulmonology is a
medical field of study within internal medicine.

9.urologist They are physicians who specialize in the genitourinary tract—the kidneys,

urinary bladder, adrenal glands, urethra and male reproductive organs—and male fertility.
Urologists are also trained in the surgical and medical treatment of diseases that affect these
organs

10dermatologist Dermatology is a branch of medicine that deals with the skin and diseases of
the skin. It concerns the study, research and diagnosis of normal skin and disorders of the skin.
Cancers, cosmetic and aging conditions of the skin, fat, hair, nails and oral and genital
membranes are all aspects of dermatology.

11.cardiologist Cardiologists are doctors who diagnose, assess and treat patients with
diseases and defects of the heart and blood vessels (the cardiovascular system). This
page provides useful information on the nature of the work, the common
procedures/interventions, sub-specialties and other roles that may interest you.
12.anesthesiologist Anesthesiologists are medical doctors who administer anesthesia and
manage pain. Some anesthesia numbs a small area of the body. General anesthesia makes
you unconscious (asleep) during invasive surgical procedures.

13.family physician Family physicians do not treat diseases; they take care of people. ... Family
physicians are expert at managing common complaints, recognizing important diseases,
uncovering hidden conditions, and managing most acute and chronic illnesses. They emphasize
health promotion and disease prevention.

14obstetrician Overview. An OB-GYN, or obstetrician-gynecologist, is a doctor who specializes

in women's health. The female body experiences many different biological functions, including
menstruation, childbirth, and menopause. OB-GYNs provide care for all of this and more.

15.Endodontist Highly trained endodontists (dental specialists) repair tissues inside the tooth
in intricate ways. They diagnose and treat complex causes of tooth pain, such as tooth
abscess (infection). Endodontists perform root canal treatments and other procedures to relieve
pain.

16. internist- internal medicine or general internal medicine is the medical specialty dealing with the
prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of internal diseases. Physicians specializing in internal
medicine are called internists, or physicians in Commonwealth nations. 

17.Primary care physician- A primary care physician is a physician who provides both the first
contact for a person with an undiagnosed health concern as well as continuing care of varied
medical conditions, not limited by cause, organ system, or diagnosis. The term is primarily used in
the United States

18.Surgeon- In modern medicine, a surgeon is a physician who performs surgery. There are also
surgeons in podiatry, dentistry, orthodontics, and veterinary medicine. It is estimated that surgeons
perform over 300 million surgical procedures globally each year

19.Dentist- As doctors of oral health, dentists are trained to diagnose, treat and prevent oral
diseases; promote oral health; 

A dentist, also known as a dental surgeon, is a medical professional who specializes in dentistry, the
diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases and conditions of the oral cavity. The dentist's
supporting team aids in providing oral health services

20.Periodontist- A periodontist is a dentist who specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, and

treatment of periodontal disease, and in the placement of dental implants. Periodontists are also
experts in the treatment of oral inflammation.

Pedodontist-

Pediatric dentists, also called pedodontists, specialize in diagnosing and treating

dental problems in infants, children, and teenagers. They focus on the unique dental
issues that can develop in the gums, teeth, and jaw as the body develops and grows.
Prostodontist- A prosthodontist is a dentist who has completed dental school plus at least
three additional years of advanced training and education in an CODA-accredited
prosthodontic graduate program. They specialize in treating and handling dental and facial
problems that involve restoring missing tooth and jaw structures.

Prosthodontists handle complex dental cases, including jaw surgery, dentures, implants, and
more. Prosthodontists also offer veneers, crowns, and bridges to restore and replace teeth.

Mental health practitioners

Psychologist -A psychologist is a professional who practices psychology and studies normal and
abnormal mental states, perceptual, cognitive, emotional, and social processes and behavior by
experimenting with, and observing, interpreting, and recording how individuals relate to one another
and to their environments.

Psychiatrist- What exactly does a psychiatrist do?

A psychiatrist is a medical doctor (an M.D. or D.O.) who specializes in mental health,

including substance use disorders. Psychiatrists are qualified to assess both the
mental and physical aspects of psychological problems

In child and adolescent psychiatry (CAP), doctors work with children, young people (up to the
age of 18) and their families. They treat a range of mental health problems and
conditions including autism spectrum disorders, depression, anxiety, substance misuse and
eating disorders.

Other health professionals

NURSE- A nurse is a caregiver for patients and helps to manage physical needs, prevent
illness, and treat health conditions. To do this, they need to observe and monitor the patient,
recording any relevant information to aid in treatment decision-making.

Midwife- What exactly does a midwife do?

A midwife is a trained health professional who helps healthy women during labor,
delivery, and after the birth of their babies. Midwives may deliver babies at birthing
centers or at home, but most can also deliver babies at a hospital. Women who choose
them have had no complications during their pregnancy
WHAT IS A HEALTH CARE FACILITY?
Health facilities are places that provide health care. They include hospitals, clinics, outpatient
care centers, and specialized care centers, such as birthing centers and psychiatric care
centers.
Hospital It is an institution where people undergo medical diagnosis, care and treatment. A hospital
offers different types of medical care like inpatient and outpatient care

.
. Inpatient care refers to care given to individuals who need to stay inside the hospital to receive
proper treatment, monitoring and care

outpatient care refers to treatment that does not require an individual to stay inside the hospital

There are different kinds of hospitals:

- private,
- voluntary, government
 - teaching
A private hospital is operated by individuals to gain profit.

A voluntary hospital does not require profit because it is owned by a community or an org.

A government or public hospital is being run by the state and the treatment fees are
subsidized.

A teaching hospital includes a school for medical students.

In the Philippines, there are two classifications of hospitals:

1. THE GENERAL HOSPITAL complete medical, surgical, and maternal care facilities. Some
examples are the Philippine General Hospital, Baguio General Hospital, Cebu General Hospital, and
Davao Medical Center.
 2.THE SPECIALTY HOSPITAL - handle a particular disease or condition or deal with only one
type of patient.

Some examples are the Philippine Heart Center, Lung Center of the Philippines, and National Kidney
Transplant Institute

Health insurance is a type of insurance that covers medical expenses

that arise due to an illness. These expenses could be related to hospitalisation costs, cost of
medicines or doctor consultation fees.

What is the purpose of health insurance?

Health insurance protects you from unexpected, high

medical costs. You pay less for covered in-network
health care, even before you meet your deductible. You
get free preventive care, like vaccines, screenings, and
some check-ups, even before you meet your deductible.
Health insurance is an agreement you make with an
insurer to have them pay for some or all of your medical
expenses in exchange for a premium. Having health
insurance can keep you from incurring medical bills you
can't afford to pay out of pocket.
EXAMPLES OF HEALTH INSURANCE:
 PhilHealth.
 Medicard.
 Philippine Prudential.
 SunLife.
 Maxicare.
 Caritas Health Shield.

Is PhilHealth a medical insurance?

The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) was created in 1995 to implement
universal health coverage in the Philippines. ... Nevertheless, this social insurance program provides
a means for the healthy to pay for the care of the sick and for those who can afford medical care to
subsidize those who cannot.

PhilHealth – is a national health insurance program of the government that aids in the health
care services of People of the Philippines.
Direct Contributors
Employees with formal employment.
 Kasambahays.
 Self-earning individuals; Professional practitioners.
 Overseas Filipino Workers.
 Filipinos living abroad and those with dual citizenship.
 Lifetime members.
 All Filipinos aged 21 years and above with capacity to pay.

What is alternative medicine?

Alternative medicine is a term that describes medical treatments that are used

instead of traditional (mainstream) therapies. Some people also refer to it as
“integrative,” or “complementary” medicine. More than half of adults in the United States
say they use some form of alternative medicine

Alternative medicines includes the following:

Herbal preparation
Food supplement
 Massage theraphy
And other medicines considered to complement regular medicines

They are not considered as standard medical practices by the experts in medicine,
thus alternative medicine can just accompany but not replace the regular medicine
prescribed by the medical specialist

Traditional alternative medicine may include: Acupuncture. Ayurveda. Homeopathy.

...

Examples of body therapies include:

 Chiropractic and osteopathic medicine.
 Massage.
 Body movement therapies.
 Tai chi.
 Yoga.
 Is Ventosa good for the body?
 Cupping increases blood circulation to the area where the cups are placed.
This may relieve muscle tension, which can improve overall blood flow and
promote cell repair. It may also help form new connective tissues and create new
blood vessels in the tissue.


  What is reflexology used for?
 Reflexology is generally relaxing and may help alleviate stress. The theory
behind reflexology is that areas of the foot correspond to organs and systems of
the body. Pressure applied to the foot is believed to bring relaxation and healing
to the corresponding area of the body.

 What is naturopathy recommended for?

 Naturopathy services may assist with prevalent health conditions
including cardiovascular health, hormonal imbalance, fertility, menopause,
digestion, immune system improvement, stress, sleep disorders, allergies and
skin conditions, migraines, degenerative illness such as arthritis and also
preventative health ...

Acupuncture
This is a traditional Chinese medicine technique that uses
needles to stimulate specific points around the body. The
person who performs this therapy (an acupuncturist) sticks
thin, sterile needles into your skin. The goal is to help your
body’s natural healing process kick in. Studies show
that acupuncture can be effective in treating a number of
conditions, like neck and back
pain, nausea, anxiety, depression, insomnia, infertility,
and more.

Example of alternative medicine

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.

Consumer protection makes markets work for both businesses and consumers. Consumers
need to be able to obtain accurate, unbiased information about the products and services they
purchase. This enables them to make the best choices based on their interests and
prevents them from being mistreated or misled by businesses.

How can it protect the welfare of the consumers ?

The Philippine government adopted RA 7394 (Consumer Act of the Philippines of
1991) as the legal basis for consumer protection in the country. ... provision of
information and education to facilitate sound choice and the proper exercise of rights by
the consumer; provision of adequate rights.
What are the agencies protecting consumer welfare in the Philippines?

What does the Consumer Protection Act cover?

The aim of the Consumer Protection Act is to help safeguard the consumer from
products that do not reach a reasonable level of safety. ... In the safety field, this
Act establishes a civil law right of redress for death, or injury, caused by using defective
consumer goods (the so-called 'product liability' provisions).
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is a prime mover of consumer welfare. It
is committed to protecting the rights and interests of the consumers and is also
committed to developing policies and programs aimed at sustaining the growth and
development of the Philippine economy.

DOH- Department of Health

The Department of Health (DOH) is the principal health agency in the Philippines. It
is responsible for ensuring access to basic public health services to all Filipinos through
the provision of quality health care and regulation of providers of health goods and
services.

FDA - Food and Drug Administration

The agency is responsible for licensing, monitoring, and regulation of cosmetics, drugs,
foods, household hazardous products, medical devices and electromagnetic radiation
emitting devices, pesticides, tobacco and related products, and vaccines for safety,
efficacy, and quality in the Republic of the Philippines.
Roles:
- Implement laws protecting consumers
- Make researches and test the quality of products
- Give guidelines for the quality of the product

What are the 8 basic rights of

consumers?
Consumer Rights and Responsibilities
1. Right to safety - means that we as consumers have the right to be protected
against the marketing of goods and delivery of services that we hazardous to life
and property... for example ; pressure cookers have a safety valve, which if defective
can cause a serious accident.

2. Right to Choose- the consumer has the right to choose from among various
products at competitive prices with an assurance of satisfactory quality. ... 6 Right
to Redress— the right to be compensated for misrepresentation, shoddy goods or
unsatisfactory services.21 May 2011

3. The Right to be informed- means the right to be given the facts needed to make
an informed choice or decision. The right to be informed now goes beyond avoiding
deception and the protection against misleading advertising, labeling or other practices
 4. Right to consumer education.- What is right to consumer education

Consumer education is a right that protects the consumer from large companies
that sell products and services. ... In addition, consumers have the right to be
protected from malicious acts. Consumer education provides resources and information
that inform the consumer of such things as price and trade practices. 9 Sep 2021

5. Right to be heard.- The right to representation is also known as the right to be heard. This
is the right to express consumer interest in the making and execution of government
policies that will have an impact on the supply of goods and services to consumers.

6. Right to Seek redressal-. Right to seek redressal means the right to demand redress in
the event of unfair trade practices or market manipulation. It also requires the right to a just
resolution of a consumer's genuine grievances. Consumers must file a lawsuit whether they
have legitimate complaints.
7. Consumer Protection Act. What are the five consumer rights according to the
Consumer Protection Act?

Right to Fair and Responsible Marketing;

Right to Fair and Honest Dealing;
Right to Fair, Just and Reasonable Terms and Conditions;
Right to Fair Value, Good Quality and Safety; and.
