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Health Systems
The Hidden Crisis: How Health Workforce Issues Are Undermining Universal Healthcare in the Philippines
The Philippines, one of the world's largest exporters of healthcare workers—particularly nurses—is struggling to retain professionals needed to implement its UHC vision. With only 7.92 physicians per 10,000 population (below the ideal ratio of 10 per 10,000) and an estimated shortage of 127,000 nurses, the country faces acute shortages that prevent optimal implementation of health programs.
By Patricia Burigsay
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Health Systems
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.
By Patricia Burigsay
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Innovation
ASMPH PCHRD HeartNovation Hub Project
The HeartNovation Hub (HHub) at the Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health is set to become the University’s center for health innovation. Funded by the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD), the Hub will accelerate health technologies, strengthen partnerships with industry, and build a culture of innovation through training, mentorship, and research. By bridging the gap between ideas and practice, the Hub positions ASMPH as a pioneer in developing solutions that can transform health care in the Philippines.
By Patricia Burigsay
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Mental Health
ACRI Conducts Nutrition Focused Physical Examination Training to Advance Autism Research
ACRI conducted Nutrition Focused Physical Examination Training on June 18, 2025, as part of an autism research project comparing children with ASD to their peers. Led by Dr. Maria Christina Kristin S. Reyes, the training equipped researchers and student assistants with hands-on skills to conduct NFPE with children aged 5-9. The peer practicum component built clinical team capacity to accurately administer assessments for the research protocol.
By Patricia Burigsay
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Environmental Health
Implementation Review of the Philippine National Action Plan (PNAP) to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) through One Health Approach 2019-2023 and the Development of a New Medium-Term AMR Action Plan for 2024-2028
ACRI together with the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Agriculture (DA), World Health Organization (WHO), and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), played a central role in developing the Philippines’ 2024–2028 National Action Plan to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). Building on the 2019–2023 plan, this new roadmap strengthens the country’s One Health approach—integrating human, animal, plant, environmental, and economic sectors—to curb the growing threat of AMR. With its research and technical expertise, ACRI contributed to ensuring that the plan is evidence-based, actionable, and sustainable, setting the direction for coordinated national efforts against one of the most urgent global health challenges.
By Geminn Louis C. Apostol, MD, MBA, MSc, PhD (c), Sary Valenzuela, MD, Percival Ethan Lao, MD, Anna Beatrice Enriquez
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Mental Health
Strengthening Community Mental Health: mhGAP Training in Albay
From July 2 to 4, 2025, frontline health workers in Albay completed intensive mhGAP training under the Ka-ginhawa Project, a partnership initiative supported by the Australian Government, CBM Global Disability Inclusion, and the Balik Kalipay Center for Psychosocial Response. The three-day program equipped local providers with essential skills to assess and manage mental health conditions while strengthening referral networks across the province.
By Patricia Burigsay
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Environmental Health
Advancing vaccine uptake to mitigate antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in low and middle-income countries of South or South-East Asia
This project explores how strengthening vaccine uptake can serve as a key strategy to mitigate antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the Philippines and across South and South-East Asia. By reducing the burden of vaccine-preventable diseases and the unnecessary use of antibiotics, the study aims to provide actionable recommendations for national and institutional stakeholders to better integrate vaccination initiatives into AMR control efforts, ultimately contributing to stronger, more resilient health systems.
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Health Systems
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.
By Patricia Burigsay
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Environmental Health
Incorporating Climate Change Strategies into AMR Intervention and Implementation Research Projects: A Scoping Review
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and climate change are two of today’s most pressing global health challenges, with rising temperatures and extreme weather events accelerating the spread of resistant microorganisms, particularly in vulnerable low- and middle-income countries. This project undertakes a scoping review to examine how climate change influences the development of AMR in livestock and aquaculture systems, while also assessing climate-smart practices, policies, and collaborative models that address both issues. Through literature synthesis, expert roundtables, and community dialogues, it seeks to generate evidence and insights that can inform integrated interventions, strengthen policy, and guide future research at the intersection of AMR and climate change.
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Environmental Health
Understand and mitigating the influence of extreme weather events on HIV outcomes: A global investigation
The Philippines faces the dual crises of a rapidly expanding HIV epidemic and intensifying climate-related disasters, yet little is known about how extreme weather events affect HIV prevention, treatment, and care. This study addresses that gap by examining the impacts of typhoons, floods, and droughts on people living with HIV, with a focus on vulnerable populations such as men who have sex with men, transgender individuals, and people who inject drugs. The findings will provide vital evidence to inform climate-adaptive HIV care strategies and guide policies that protect at-risk communities during environmental crises.
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