The Philippines has made important progress towards Universal Health Care, but there is still much work to do to ensure that the health phase of the reforms is delivered equitably, sustainably, and to a high standard. As the country continues to expand coverage, there is a need to rethink how resources are allocated, how providers are paid, and how patients are financially protected. Learning from the experiences of ASEAN countries, with local evidence from research studies of the Philippine Institute for Development Studies-Health Economics and Finance Program (PIDS-HEFP), can help inform these ongoing reforms.
The Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), through its Health Economics and Finance Program, will convene policymakers, academics, health financing experts, and regional practitioners for the UHC in Numbers Series No. 2: “Financing Better Health: Local Evidence and Regional Lessons for Universal Health Care” to be held on September 16, 2026, in Pasig City. The event is organized in support of the 2026 PIDS Annual Public Policy Conference, which highlights human capital development as a national development priority.
The forum will examine strategic purchasing as a key policy lever to improve health system performance and accelerate UHC implementation. Discussions will focus on three areas: integrating fragmented health financing arrangements, strengthening provider payment and remuneration systems, and leveraging data, evidence, and regional collaboration to inform reforms. Drawing on Philippine evidence and regional experiences, the forum will explore practical policy options that can improve value for money, strengthen financial protection, and promote high-quality care under UHC.
The forum is co-hosted by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, the Department of Health, the Asian Development Bank, the National University of Singapore Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, the China Medical Board, and the Southeast Asia Regional Collaborative for Health.
On-site attendance is by invitation only. However, those interested in the discussion may watch the livestream via the official Facebook pages of PIDS and SERP-P.
DOWNLOAD PRESENTATIONS:
Theme 1
Presentation of Dr. Valerie Gilbert Ulep, PIDS Senior Research Fellow and HEFP Program Director
Presentation of Dr. Sarah Reem Hesham, PIDS Senior Technical Specialist
Presentation of Dr. Ery Setiawan, Health Systems Insight Country Director
Theme 2
Presentation of Dr. Lea Conda, PIDS Senior Technical Specialist
Presentation of Ms. Anne Marie Rey, PIDS Senior Technical Specialist
Presentation of Ms. Jhanna Uy, PIDS Supervising Research Specialist and HEFP Program Manager
Presentation of Mr. Lluis Vinyals Torres, World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific Director
Theme 3
Presentation of Dr. Piya Hanvoravongchai, National University Singapore Associate Professor
Presentation of Dr. Chansaly Phommavong, Lao PDR Ministry of Health Health Services Improvement Project Deputy Manager
