Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the public transportation system was paralyzed to limit our mobility. Some government agencies, hospitals, and private organizations were quick to assist medical and non-medical frontliners in their day-to-day travel to and from work by providing other means of transportation such as free shuttle services. Notably, more bike riders are now … Continue reading Share the road
Health Policy
Health Economics Series: Provider Payment in the UHC era
The country is considering several options for provider payment reform that will help achieve universal health care. Population-based interventions will be primarily offered by the government. As such, provider payment mechanism for these interventions will include salary and capitation. Philhealth considers primary health care capitation to promote integrated care through the service delivery network; thus, … Continue reading Health Economics Series: Provider Payment in the UHC era
Pen Point 46
Clearly, we now see the need to invest more in our health system to improve its capacity to address the growing needs of the Filipino people. After this pandemic, let us urge our lawmakers to push for more funding, innovation, and research.
Recommendations to Address the Potential Local Nursing Shortage Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic
The role of nurses has been considered crucial in managing this pandemic, most especially in implementing strategies to #flattenthecurve. While this is the case, shortage in the nursing workforce will not make the management of the pandemic any easier. We recommend an integrated approach comprised of some or all the recommendations mentioned in this policy … Continue reading Recommendations to Address the Potential Local Nursing Shortage Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic
Foster collaborative relationships
Immediately after the news broke that three doctors died due to COVID-19, people took their frustration to Twitter and were quick to blame patients for their failure to divulge accurate health and travel history. For many, this alleged ’lie’ caused the life of an unsung hero who was at the frontline battling the pandemic. A … Continue reading Foster collaborative relationships
Pen Point 45
Why do we keep treating people for illness, only to send them back to the conditions that created the illness in the first place? It is a bit frustrating to give your all just so they can be wasted in the end. Clearly, the current system is inefficient and cure-centric. How do we cure a … Continue reading Pen Point 45
Nudging in health care
We saw a dramatic change in people’s behavior brought about by information (and misinformation) regarding the worldwide spread of COVID-19. People began clamoring for more health information and others started wearing surgical face masks to protect themselves. Following advice from the Department of Health, several organizations cancelled their scheduled conferences and conventions this year. What … Continue reading Nudging in health care
Foreign ownership in the health care market
The proposed measure to allow foreign ownership of transportation and telecommunication services clearly sets a precedent for other public services in the Philippines, such as health care. Opening the Philippine health care market to foreign ownership, obviously, has potential benefits including employment opportunities, better provision of health services, and health technology exchange. Foreign ownership of … Continue reading Foreign ownership in the health care market
Unpaved road to UHC
Almost every day I see patients (or their relatives) looking for stretcher beds as there are no longer available beds in the emergency room. This scenario, I suppose, will persist even when hospital renovations are finished this year. While increasing the hospital's bed capacity potentially decreases waiting time for patients, no amount of beds will … Continue reading Unpaved road to UHC
Top Nine Questions This 2019
It has been a great year. I cannot thank enough the people who have been part of this amazing 2019! In the past, I wrote top lessons I learned during the year. For this year, I will have to put them aside and share with you nine questions I had in 2019 that remain unanswered … Continue reading Top Nine Questions This 2019
Pens & Needles 