Unilab Foundation studies to guide new gov’t efforts in reducing out-of-pocket health spending
Government regulators and policy-makers have committed to institute fresh initiatives that will cut the out-of-pocket health spending of Filipinos. They will use two research papers released recently by the Unilab Center for Health Policy (UCHP), a program of Unilab Foundation, as guides.
The UCHP unveiled during an executive symposium last August 2 the results of its two studies titled “Philippine Health Sector Performance: An Analysis Using the National Health Accounts of 1990-2022” and “Provider Payment Governance in the Philippines: A Proposal.”
Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, in his keynote address at the symposium at the Sheraton Manila Bay, noted that these studies provide crucial insights into the health sector’s strengths and challenges.
In their solidarity messages, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, Senate Committee on Health Chairman Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, and House Health Committee Chair Ciriaco Gato Jr. also vowed to use the results of the UCHP studies as inputs in shaping policy directions that reduce the out-of-pocket medical expenses of Filipinos and promote better transparency and accountability in health spending.
(From left) Unilab Center for Health Policy Program Director Ruben A. Basa, Unilab Foundation Executive Director Jose Maria A. Ochave; Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa; Dr. Enrique Ona, former Health Secretary; Dr. Leopoldo Vega, former Health Undersecretary; Dr. Maria Eufemia Yap, Associate Dean of Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health and Senior Technical Advisor, Thinkwell Philippines; Mayor Trina Alejandra Firmalo-Fabic of Odiongan, Romblon