Financing Public-Private Partnership in Health for Inclusive Recovery from COVID-19 and Stronger Resilience to future Health Shocks
In the Philippines, COVID-19 has disrupted and strained operations for both public and private healthcare. And unlike public hospitals that enjoy implicit and direct government support and guarantees, as well as forthcoming infusions to support the fight against COVID-19, it is not clear whether private hospitals will benefit as much from this kind of support. This note briefly reviews the emerging evidence on the COVID-19 crisis in the Philippines, and it explores health sector financing that: a) benefits public and private hospitals already badly hit by COVID-19; b) supports a public-private partnership wherein private hospitals are “repurposed” to join the frontlines against COVID-19 and c) enables a more inclusive recovery from COVID-19 underpinned by a strengthened health sector built on public-private partnerships. The general argument draws on emerging evidence that countries with strong healthcare systems with test-trace-treat capabilities as well as the ability to tap a “surge component” are among those that responded more effectively to COVID-19. These are also the arguments for building back better from the COVID-9 crisis, in order to increase resilience in the medium term (while COVID-19 is still a risk), as well as the longer-term in case of future health shocks.
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Health workforce issues and recommended practices in the implementation of Universal Health Coverage in the Philippines: a qualitative study.
The Philippines' Universal Health Coverage program faces a critical workforce crisis that threatens its very foundation. A new Ateneo de Manila University study reveals that while the country exports healthcare workers globally, it struggles to retain the professionals needed for its own ambitious health reforms. With only 7.92 physicians per 10,000 population and a shortage of 127,000 nurses, systemic barriers—from restrictive hiring policies to uncompetitive salaries—are driving away the very people meant to deliver healthcare for all Filipinos. The research identifies promising solutions, including scholarship programs and comprehensive benefits, but warns that without addressing these fundamental workforce issues, universal healthcare remains at risk.
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Measuring and Understanding Geographic Inequities in Physician Distribution in the Philippines
Access to quality health care in the Philippines is shaped not only by the availability of physicians, but also by how equitably they are distributed across regions. Many communities, particularly in rural and geographically isolated areas, continue to face limited access to medical professionals, while urban centers often see a concentration of physicians and specialists. The project Measuring and Understanding Geographic Inequities in Physician Distribution in the Philippines seeks to address this challenge by providing a clear, evidence-based picture of physician maldistribution nationwide.