The University of the Philippines Visayas Foundation, Inc. together with the Regional Health Research and Development Consortium XI, UPEcon-Health Policy and Development Program and Department of Science and Technology XI conducted a health discussion forum last June 6, 2017 at Marco Polo Hotel, Davao City. This activity with a theme “The Challenge of Reaching the Poor with a Continuum of Care: A 25-Year Assessment of Philippine Health Sector Performance” aimed to disseminate the result of the output of the Philippine Health Sector Review (HSR).
The HSR is an assessment that was made on the long term impact in the implementation of various health sector reforms in the country for the past 25 years. Health sectors that were focused during this activity were tuberculosis, human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) and family planning. Resource speakers were from the Health Policy Development Program (HPDP) led by Dr. Carlo Panelo who also gave the overview of the health sector review and structural changes and shared the topic about the challenge of reducing the burden of tuberculosis. Dr. Rebecca Ramos discussed the challenge of reducing maternal and neonatal mortality and Dr. Christina Langit-Bagro gave the insights in adopting a programmatic approach to HIV and AIDs prevention and control.
Experts from the region were also invited to give their reaction on the topics. Dr. Maria Elinore A. Concha from Southern Philippine and Medical Center reacted to the overview of the HSR, Dr. Lady Jedfeliz C. Molleno from Department of Health XI gave her reaction pertaining to family planning, Dr. Marilyn Lim from San Pedro Hospital, gave her insight regarding the topic on tuberculosis and Dr. Vegloure Maguinsay from San Pedro Hospital shared her thoughts on HIV/AIDS.
Resource speakers during the forum (L-R: Dr. Rebecca Ramos, Dr. Lady Jedfeliz Molleno, Dr. Christina Bagro, Dr. Carlo Panelo, Dr. Vegloure Maguinsay, Dr. Marilyn Lim and Dr. Maria elinore Concha)
Afterwards, there was an open forum where the resource speaker and reactors answered various comments and questions from the students, medical practitioners and academe.
Copies of the final output of the Philippine Health Sector Review (HSR) is expected to be distributed in the region upon completion.
