Researchers issue policies to include health in economy

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/iloilo/local-news/2013/09/30/researchers-issue-policies-include-health-economy-306097 Philippine Institute for Development Studies (Pids) issued three policy notes on health during the 11th Development Policy Research Month on September 30 with the theme entitled "Making Heath More Inclusive in a Growing Economy.” The forum was joined by Dr. Sofia Chua of the Department of Health (DOH) and Jo Jocson of PhilHealth, both in Western Visayas. The first policy aims to provide an overview of the puzzle of economic growth and stalled health improvement in the Philippines. The second policy explains the large disparities in health status between the poor and the non-poor in the country.The third policy identifies opportunities for making health services and financing more inclusive. In its website, Pids said: "The latest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) figure reported by the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) places the Philippines as the fastest growing economy in the ASEAN region." Pids added that the Philippines "posted a growth rate of 7.5 percent in the second quarter, surpassing its neighbors. Having the same pace, the Philippines and China are now the fastest growing in Asia." The Philippines is gearing up for the Asean economic integration in 2015 and there is an urgent need for promoting a culture of research and research use among decision makers and general public by promoting public research literacy, said Dr. Rafaelita Aldaba, who is the vice president of Pids and officer in charge of project services. While near countries in Asia like Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia have been able to move a significant proportion of their population out of poverty that led to major health improvement, the Philippines has not been as successful in reducing poverty which is deeply entrenched, Aldaba said.