It's bad enough that some policies are influenced by politics and selfish interests, but now the government is stepping up its efforts to deceive and misinform the public even further. Public policy should be based on evidence, but not on studies of poor or questionable quality.
Health Policy
Stepwise Approach to Address the Nursing Shortage
POLICY ISSUE With limited manpower and resources, hospitals can only do so much in a pandemic. Sadly, the country is still in the pandemic phase of the COVID-19 outbreak and more cases are expected to be confirmed in the following weeks. The Department of Health (DOH) has recently identified six areas in the Visayas as emerging … Continue reading Stepwise Approach to Address the Nursing Shortage
Conference Poster: Financial Risk Protection Amidst the Pandemic
Our virtual poster for the 23rd Anniversary-Conference of the UP Manila National Institutes of Health is now up for viewing. Title: Financial Risk Protection Amidst the Pandemic: Development of the PhilHealth Benefit Packages for COVID-19Investigators: Melanie C. Santillan, MD; Merla Rose Reyes, RPh; Reiner Lorenzo Tamayo, RN Link to the virtual exhibit: https://nih.upm.edu.ph/nih2021eposters/387 Poster by Neil … Continue reading Conference Poster: Financial Risk Protection Amidst the Pandemic
Op-Ed: Insuring 100 Million People During COVID-19
Happy to share with you our article published by Think Global Health*. In this piece, we narrate the unique role of PhilHealth in the pandemic response and how it will contribute to the country's COVID-19 vaccination plan. To read the full article, please visit this webpage: https://www.thinkglobalhealth.org/article/insuring-100-million-people-during-covid-19 Think Global Health is an initiative of the … Continue reading Op-Ed: Insuring 100 Million People During COVID-19
Mandatory vaccination and ethics
The ethical principle of autonomy, one that is widely used for guiding the professional conduct of health care workers, is relevant in the issue of COVID-19 vaccination. While utilitarianism would suggest that mandating vaccination among health workers will bring about the greatest good for the largest number of people, this could affect respect for autonomy. … Continue reading Mandatory vaccination and ethics
Pen Point 52
In the face of limited resources in a world with unlimited health demands, the need to sustain the viability and sustainability of health financing systems is paramount. Legislators must carefully examine the design of health policies that influence the realization of universal health care and to consider interventions that have the greatest effect on the … Continue reading Pen Point 52
Should PhilHealth use the centrally negotiated price of drugs in the development of benefit packages?
Price negotiation will help determine the prices of drugs to be included in PhilHealth benefit packages. However, these prices, based on my understanding of the JAO, are applicable to providers under the jurisdiction of DOH. As such, providers who are either private or LGU-sponsored may not directly benefit from it. A consolidated/pooled volume will drive … Continue reading Should PhilHealth use the centrally negotiated price of drugs in the development of benefit packages?
Is the government paying more than it should?
This definition of "overpayment" in the context of FFS is outright wrong. We are accustomed to thinking that paying a peso for every peso is the only right thing to do in a country that is deluged by cases of graft and corruption. Our past has conditioned us to think that paying over or under … Continue reading Is the government paying more than it should?
Should the government “criminalize” efficiency gains?
Efficiency gains should NOT be criminalized because they encourage the health care system to provide the best care we all deserve. At one point in time, HCPs paid under the ACR system will achieve efficiency gains by decreasing the overall cost of health care. HCPs do this by meticulously deciding on what and what not … Continue reading Should the government “criminalize” efficiency gains?
Should the government pay for whatever is on the receipt?
Paying for amounts printed on receipts is tantamount to subscribing to FFS rather than ACR. As illustrated above, this is inefficient and could likely promote external fraud. ACR, however, is far from perfect but averaging should've been the best method to determine the average cost of care needed for a specific case or procedure. The … Continue reading Should the government pay for whatever is on the receipt?
Pens & Needles 