Best Practices in Universal Health Coverage Featured in Symposium


Today, global experiences in achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) as well as the Philippines’ own journey to UHC will be highlighted in a Symposium at the EDSA Shangrila Hotel in Mandaluyong City, organized by Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).

The PhilHealth Symposium, which is being supported by the European Union (EU), will have for its theme: ‘Bawa’t Filipino, Protektado.’ It will bring together international and local experts in health care financing, economic and social analysts, hospital administrators, members of the academe and Health Department officials to discuss best practices in social health insurance program administration.
Gracing the event are Health Secretary and PhilHealth Chairperson Dr. Paulyn Jean B. Rosell-Ubial, PhilHealth Acting President and CEO Ramon F. Aristoza, Jr., PhilHealth OIC-Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Johnny Y. Sychua and Louis Dey, Acting Head of the Development Cooperation of the EU.
Dr. Konrad Obermann, Senior Lecturer of the MIPH Mannheim Institute of Public Health (Heidelberg University) will provide an international perspective on how UHC is achieved, while Ruben John A. Basa, PhilHealth Senior Vice President for Health Finance Policy Sector, will talk on the Philippines’ own journey to UHC.
Session 1 of the whole-day Symposium will focus on the continuum of health care services and delivery networks within the perspective of what services should be covered. Health Policy Specialist Dr. Maria Ofelia O. Alcantara will discuss the Life Stage Approach featured in the Philippine Health Agenda for 2016-2022 while Dr. Enrique Tayag, Director IV of the Bureau of Local Health Systems Development will discuss the inter-relatedness of service delivery networks. Dr. John Wong, Chief Executive Officer of Epimetrics, Inc. will tackle the benefit prioritization process, while Dr. Anthony Leachon, PhilHealth Board Member, will discuss prioritizing coverage for services addressing the top 80 percent burden of disease.
Session 2 will focus on how financial risk protection can best cushion the impact of health care costs. Invited to talk on the latest National Health Accounts is Raquel Dolores Sabenano, Senior Statistical Specialist of the Philippine Statistics Authority. To provide insights on how the No Balance Billing (NBB) policy has impacted on hospital operations, Dr. Elenila Jakosalem, Chief of Bislig District Hospital and Dr. Soraya Pesy Abubakar, Chief of Medical and Professional Staff of Zamboanga City Medical Center will provide perspectives on the policy’s implementation as administrators of a Local Government Unit (LGU) and DOH-retained facility, respectively.
Session 3 aims to highlight efforts to ensure that policies and programs relating to UHC are inclusive. Leading the line-up of speakers are Toomas Palu, Global Practice Manager of The World Bank. He will give an overview of the status of implementation of Republic Act 10351 or the Sin Tax Reform Act of 2012. Krupska Lenina Apit, Project Coordinator for National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction of the Department of Social Welfare and Development will present how the less privileged members of society are targeted. Dr. Eduardo P. Banzon, Principal Health Specialist for Sustainable Development and Climate Change Department of the Asian Development Bank will discuss sustainability mechanisms, focusing on potentials in the informal economy and other sources of funding for social health insurance.
Expected to attend the Symposium are PhilHealth’s development partners, and representatives from the DoH, local government units, academe, and other stakeholders. It is among the activities lined up in observance of PhilHealth’s 22nd Anniversary this month. (END)

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Gazan buried as only known victim of Iran’s strikes on Zionist entity --- Agencies

JERICHO, West Bank: A 38-year-old Gazan, the only known fatality in Iran’s missile attack against the Zionist entity, was buried on Wednesday. Sameh Khadr Hassan Al-Asali had been staying in a Palestinian security forces compound in the occupied West Bank when he was killed by falling missile debris during Tuesday’s attack, which the entity said was largely thwarted by its air defense systems. Security forces personnel carried the body draped in the red, green, white and black Palestinian flag. The crowd of about 200 mourners was made up of fellow Gazans staying in Jericho and local people. A large section of the rocket lay on the ground where it fell outside the compound. Around 700 workers from Gaza have been staying in Jericho, in the Jordan Valley, since the start of the war in Gaza almost a year ago. Unlike citizens of the Zionist entity, who went into bomb shelters after warning sirens sounded across the country, many Palestinians in the West Bank went out to watch the missiles ...
Read more

Kuwait continues to seek stronger relations with world ---KUNA

Guided by HH the Amir, Kuwait leads ambitious strategy to solidify global status KUWAIT: Since the beginning of 2024, Kuwait has continued its efforts to enhance its international relations on both bilateral and multilateral levels, guided by Amiri directives and an ambitious strategic vision aimed at solidifying its status on the global stage and achieving tangible accomplishments across various fields, particularly in diplomacy and politics. On December 16, 2023, following the announcement of His Highness Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah as the new Amir, Kuwait adopted an ambitious approach to strengthen its cooperation with international partners and global organizations while also developing its relationships with friendly and brotherly nations. The visits made by His Highness the Amir to Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries at the end of January 2024 were a cornerstone in this diplomatic endeavor, especially as they marked his first official trips since assuming pow...
Read more

Kuwait officially launches Sahel app in English ---- KUNA

KUWAIT: Kuwait’s Minister of State for Communication Affairs Omar Al-Omar announced on Tuesday the launch of the English version of “Sahel” app, as part of government’s efforts to digitalize and facilitate services. The announcement was made during the Cabinet’s weekly meeting held at Bayan Palace, under the chairmanship of His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. Providing the app in English will allow non-Arabic speakers to utilize services in an easy and efficient way, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Shareeda Al-Maousherji said in a statement after the meeting. Crown Prince UNGA speech Cabinet commended the speech delivered by His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah at the 79th session of the UN General Assembly in New York late last month. During the speech, His Highness the Crown Prince reaffirmed Kuwait’s principle of good neighborliness, and its commitment to backing Iraq’s recovery and...
Read more