This review aimed to examine the treatment gaps and challenges that burden Philippine epilepsy care.

Epilepsy is a neurologic disease that carries a high disease burden and, likely, a huge treatment gap, especially in low-to-middle income countries such as the Philippines.

Pertinent data on epidemiology, research, health systems and financing, pharmacologic and surgical treatment options, cost of care, and workforce were obtained through a literature search and review of relevant Philippine government websites.

The estimated prevalence of epilepsy in the Philippines is 0.9%. Epilepsy research in the Philippines is low in quantity compared to the rest of Southeast Asia. Inequities in healthcare services delivered to local government units have arisen due to devolution. Programs for epilepsy care by both government and non-government institutions have been implemented. Healthcare expenditure in the Philippines is largely out-of-pocket, with only partial coverage from the public sector. There is limited access to antiseizure medications, mainly due to cost. Epilepsy surgery is an underutilized treatment option. There are only twenty epileptologists in the Philippines, with one epileptologist for every 45,000 epilepsy patients. Epilepsy care delivery has been further impeded by the coronavirus disease of 2019 pandemic.

There is a large treatment gap in epilepsy care in the Philippines due to high disease burden, sparse research, inadequate public support, inaccessibility of healthcare services and pharmacotherapy, underutilization of surgical options, and low specialist density. Addressing the treatment gap is expected to improve the overall survival and quality of life of epilepsy patients in the Philippines.