Since COVID-19 was declared as a global pandemic, it continuously takes toll on human lives, economies and health systems. In many countries, it was observed that investments in preparedness were not sufficiently prioritized making the emergency response more difficult and burdensome to the health sector.
Appropriate investments and readily accessible health financing measures facilitates the rapid and organize responses in times of emergencies. Moreover, despite of the current crisis, ensuring sufficient funding and transparent spending are the way forward in maintaining and improving the health of all citizens of a country. An important factor to achieve this is through the implementation of supportive and sustainable health financing policies.
Fortunately, for the Philippines, the crisis can be transformed into an opportunity to improve and prepare its health system since relevant health laws and policies are already in place. And, key to the improvement of the country’s health system is the provision of sufficient resources and sustainable funding, specifically in the implementation of the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act and the National Integrated Cancer Control (NICC) Act. As the government aims to permanently eradicate the current crisis, as well as to prevent future ones, it would need all the available support from different stakeholders to strengthen and ensure a resilient health system towards the realization of universal healthcare for all Filipinos.
In this regard, Stratbase ADR Institute, in partnership with CitizenWatch Philippines and Cancer Coalition of the Philippines, invited health partners from different government agencies, academes, civil society organizations, patient groups, private sectors and other stakeholders to discuss the impacts of the current pandemic to the country, and how to mitigate these effects through sustainable health financing.
Program
Introduction
MR. FRANCESCO “PACO” A. PANGALANGAN
Executive Director, Stratbase ADR Institute
Welcoming Remarks
PROF. DINDO MANHIT
President, Stratbase ADR Institute
Speakers
Updates on the Health System Requirements Moving Forward the Pandemic
DR. VALERIE GILBERT T. ULEP
Research Fellow, Philippine Institute for Development Studies
Health Financing Initiatives & Perspectives on UHC
DR. EDUARDO P. BANZON
Principal Health Specialist, Asian Development Bank
Updates on UHC Act Implementation and Priorities for 2021
DR. BEVERLY LORRAINE HO
Director IV, Health Promotion and Communication Service,
Department of Health
Updates on the Implementation of NICC Act, Philippine Cancer Center and Priorities for 2021
CLARITO U. CAIRO, JR., MD, FPSVI, FPCOM
Medical Officer IV, Program Manager,
National Integrated Cancer Control including Palliative and Hospice Care and Thyroid Disorders, Department of Health
DR. MELISSA T. SENA, MPH
Interim Chief, Philippine Cancer Center
Updates in the UHC Act Implementation and Funding Priorities
MR. ISRAEL FRANCIS A. PARGAS
Senior Vice President, Health Finance Policy Sector, PhilHealth
Current Updates on the Philippine Costs in Oncology
DR. CORAZON NGELANGEL
President, Philippine Cancer Society
Possible Reform Areas or Amendments in the UHC Act
SEN. JOSEPH VICTOR “JV” EJERCITO
Former Senator of the Philippines
Reactors
REP. ALFRED VARGAS
Author, National Integrated Cancer Control Act;
5th District Representative, Quezon City
REP. PAUL RUIZ DAZA
Vice Chairperson, Committee on Appropriations;
1st District Representative, Northern Samar
COUNCILOR JORGE BANAL
Head of National Capital Region and Former President,
Federation of Senior Citizens Association of the Philippines
MS. LIZA MARTINEZ, PH.D
Philippine Alliance of Persons with Chronic Illness
MR. PAUL PEREZ
President and Convenor, Cancer Coalition of the Philippines
Appropriate investments and readily accessible health financing measures facilitates the rapid and organize responses in times of emergencies. Moreover, despite of the current crisis, ensuring sufficient funding and transparent spending are the way forward in maintaining and improving the health of all citizens of a country. An important factor to achieve this is through the implementation of supportive and sustainable health financing policies.
Fortunately, for the Philippines, the crisis can be transformed into an opportunity to improve and prepare its health system since relevant health laws and policies are already in place. And, key to the improvement of the country’s health system is the provision of sufficient resources and sustainable funding, specifically in the implementation of the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act and the National Integrated Cancer Control (NICC) Act. As the government aims to permanently eradicate the current crisis, as well as to prevent future ones, it would need all the available support from different stakeholders to strengthen and ensure a resilient health system towards the realization of universal healthcare for all Filipinos.
In this regard, Stratbase ADR Institute, in partnership with CitizenWatch Philippines and Cancer Coalition of the Philippines, invited health partners from different government agencies, academes, civil society organizations, patient groups, private sectors and other stakeholders to discuss the impacts of the current pandemic to the country, and how to mitigate these effects through sustainable health financing.
Program
Introduction
MR. FRANCESCO “PACO” A. PANGALANGAN
Executive Director, Stratbase ADR Institute
Welcoming Remarks
PROF. DINDO MANHIT
President, Stratbase ADR Institute
Speakers
Updates on the Health System Requirements Moving Forward the Pandemic
DR. VALERIE GILBERT T. ULEP
Research Fellow, Philippine Institute for Development Studies
Health Financing Initiatives & Perspectives on UHC
DR. EDUARDO P. BANZON
Principal Health Specialist, Asian Development Bank
Updates on UHC Act Implementation and Priorities for 2021
DR. BEVERLY LORRAINE HO
Director IV, Health Promotion and Communication Service,
Department of Health
Updates on the Implementation of NICC Act, Philippine Cancer Center and Priorities for 2021
CLARITO U. CAIRO, JR., MD, FPSVI, FPCOM
Medical Officer IV, Program Manager,
National Integrated Cancer Control including Palliative and Hospice Care and Thyroid Disorders, Department of Health
DR. MELISSA T. SENA, MPH
Interim Chief, Philippine Cancer Center
Updates in the UHC Act Implementation and Funding Priorities
MR. ISRAEL FRANCIS A. PARGAS
Senior Vice President, Health Finance Policy Sector, PhilHealth
Current Updates on the Philippine Costs in Oncology
DR. CORAZON NGELANGEL
President, Philippine Cancer Society
Possible Reform Areas or Amendments in the UHC Act
SEN. JOSEPH VICTOR “JV” EJERCITO
Former Senator of the Philippines
Reactors
REP. ALFRED VARGAS
Author, National Integrated Cancer Control Act;
5th District Representative, Quezon City
REP. PAUL RUIZ DAZA
Vice Chairperson, Committee on Appropriations;
1st District Representative, Northern Samar
COUNCILOR JORGE BANAL
Head of National Capital Region and Former President,
Federation of Senior Citizens Association of the Philippines
MS. LIZA MARTINEZ, PH.D
Philippine Alliance of Persons with Chronic Illness
MR. PAUL PEREZ
President and Convenor, Cancer Coalition of the Philippines
