A National Program for Control of Acute Respiratory Tract Infections: The Philippine Experience
Maturing programs on child immunization and diarrheal diseases, a community-based research project, and a rational drug-use program facilitated the launching in 1989 of a nationwide Philippine Control of Acute Respiratory Infections program (Phil-CARI). From 1990 to 1991 the Phil-CARI expanded rapidly, training >80% of its middle managers and frontline health care providers on the case-management protocols of the World Health Organization for acute respiratory infection. Multiple donors and good collaboration with various societies and medical schools assisted the program. However, by 1992, there were difficulties in maintaining training quality, follow-up, and supervision. Donor assistance dwindled and the health care delivery system decentralized. Government procurement systems were unable to meet the logistics demands of the program. The monitoring and evaluation system was inadequate to measure impact. The Phil-CARI provides lessons in searching for more sustainable approaches and systems to meet the various demands of a nationwide ARI control program and to create the desired impact.
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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.