Partners’ HPSR report – 2021

Philippines

Overview 

There are 47 HPSR-related institutions identified in the Philippines, with a sizeable proportion based in and around Metro Manila. The majority – more than 70% – are university-based, with the remainder composed of local NGOs, independent research centres and think tanks and health service providers.

HPSR has helped to shape health policy in the Philippines. Recent experience suggests, for example, an important role for HPSR in shaping national policies on mental health and food safety. HPSR-related studies have also been conducted on COVID-19 policies. Successful strategies regarding policy include the utilization of technology, the identification of specific mechanisms to improve policy implementation, coordination with government agencies and the community, and a capacity building programme. However, effective evaluation of health policies remains dependent upon their full implementation and enforcement. While HPSR training was severely hampered in 2020 by the constraints imposed as a result of COVID-19, HPSR policy engagement increased, with researchers sharing their expertise on key policy areas.

Institutions by type

List of HPSR institutions

NameLocationType
101 Health Research (101 Health Research)Makati City, PhilippinesIndependent research centre/think thank
Action for Economic Reforms (AER)Quezon City, PhilippinesLocal NGO
Adventist University of the Philippines, College of Health (AUP)Silang, Cavite, PhilippinesUniversity
Adventist University of the Philippines, College of Health (UAP)Silang, Cavite, PhilippinesUniversity
Alliance for Improving Health Outcomes, Inc. (AIHO)Quezon City, PhilippinesLocal NGO
Angeles University Foundation, Graduate School (AUF)Angeles City, PhilippinesUniversity
Ateneo de Manila University, ASMPH Center for Research and Innovation (ACRI)Pasig City, PhilippinesUniversity
Ateneo De Manila University, School of Government (ASOG)Quezon City, PhilippinesUniversity
Ateneo de Manila University, School of Medicine and Public Health (ASMPH)Pasig City, PhilippinesUniversity
Ateneo de Zamboanga University, School of Medicine (ADZU SOM)Zamboanga City, PhilippinesUniversity
Benguet State University, College of Nursing (BSU)La Trinidad, Benguet, PhilippinesUniversity
Bicol Christian College of Medicine, Ago Medical and Educational Center (BCCM)Legazpi City, PhilippinesUniversity
Cagayan State University, Andrews Campus, College of Allied Health Sciences (CSU)Tuguegarao City, PhilippinesUniversity
Cebu Normal University, College of Nursing (CNU)Cebu City, PhilippinesUniversity
Davao Medical School Foundation, Inc., Institute of Graduate Studies and Research (IGSR)Davao City, PhilippinesIndependent research centre/think thank
De La Salle Medical and Health Sciences Institute, Center for Academic Health Sciences Research (CAHSR)Dasmariñas, Cavite, PhilippinesUniversity
De La Salle Medical and Health Sciences Institute, Graduate Studies (GSHMS)Dasmariñas, Cavite, PhilippinesUniversity
De La Salle University, College of Liberal Arts (CLA)Manila City, PhilippinesUniversity
De La Salle University, College of Liberal Arts (CLA)Manila City, PhilippinesUniversity
Development Academy of the Philippines, Graduate School of Public and Development Management (GSPDM)Pasig City, PhilippinesIndependent research centre/think thank
Dipolog Medical Center College Foundation, Graduate School (DMC)Dipolog City, PhilippinesUniversity
EpiMetrics (EpiMetrics)Quezon City, PhilippinesLocal NGO
Field Epidemiology Training Program Alumni Foundation, Inc. (FETPAFI)Quezon City, PhilippinesLocal NGO
Health Futures Foundation, Inc. (HFF)Quezon City, PhilippinesLocal NGO
Holy Angel University, School of Nursing (SNAMS)Angeles City, PhilippinesUniversity
Innovations for Community Health, Inc. (Innovations CH)Marikina City, PhilippinesLocal NGO
Jose Rizal Memorial State University (JRMSU)Dapitan City, Zamboanga Del Norte, PhilippinesUniversity
National Institutes of Health, University of the Philippines Manila, Institute of Aging (IoA)Manila City, PhilippinesIndependent research centre/think thank
National Institutes of Health, University of the Philippines Manila, Institutes of Health Policy and Development Studies (IHPDS)Manila City, PhilippinesIndependent research centre/think thank
Perinatal Association of the Philippines (PAP)Quezon City, PhilippinesLocal NGO
Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS)Quezon City, PhilippinesIndependent research centre/think thank
Philippine Women’s University, School of Medical Technology, Master of Science in Health Systems Management (SMT)Manila City, PhilippinesUniversity
Sagip Buhay Medical Foundation (Sagip Buhay)Manila City, PhilippinesHospital/health service provider
Silliman University, School of Public Affairs and Governance (SU-SPAG)Dumaguete City, PhilippinesUniversity
St. Paul University Dumaguete (SPUD)Dumaguete City, PhilippinesUniversity
University of Cordilleras, College of Nursing (UB-BCF)Baguio City, PhilippinesUniversity
University of La Sallete Santiago (ULS)Santiago City, PhilippinesUniversity
University of Makati, College of Allied Health Studies (UMAK – COAHS)Makati City, PhilippinesUniversity
University of Santo Tomas, College of Nursing (UST Nursing)Manila City, PhilippinesUniversity
University of Santo Tomas, College of Rehabilitation Sciences (UST Rehab)Manila City, PhilippinesUniversity
University of Santo Tomas, Research Center for the Health Sciences (UST CHS)Manila City, PhilippinesUniversity
University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center, Graduate School (UERM)Quezon City, PhilippinesUniversity
University of the Philippines Diliman, National College of Public Administration and Governance (UPD – NCGAP)Quezon City, PhilippinesUniversity
University of the Philippines Diliman, School of Economics (UPD – Economics)Quezon City, PhilippinesUniversity
University of the Philippines Open University, Faculty of Management and Development Studies (UPOU – FMDS)Los Baños, Laguna, PhilippinesUniversity
University of the Philippines, Center for Integrative Development Studies (UP – CIDS)Quezon City, PhilippinesUniversity
University of the Philippines Manila, Department of Clinical Epidemiology, College of Medicine (UPM – CM)Manila City, PhilippinesUniversity
University of the Philippines Manila, Department of Health Policy and Administration, College of Public Health (UPM – CPH)Manila City, PhilippinesUniversity
University of the Philippines Manila, National Teacher Training Center for the Health Professions (NTTCHP)Manila City, PhilippinesUniversity

Knowledge generation 

Only eight HPSR reports were produced for the year 2020, and these focused mainly on addressing policy gaps during the COVID-19 pandemic. Faculty members of academic institutions had opportunities to share their expert opinion on policies for testing, contact tracing, transport and public health. Policy outcomes included contributions to the development of the COVID-19 health protocols, the establishment of public transport capacity levels and of quarantine centres, and an algorithm for testing (among others). Other areas addressed in 2020 included those on mental health and food safety.

Average number of reports produced per institution each year in the Philippines and overall


Engaging policy-makers and the public 

The commitment of key national agencies to strengthen health research in the Philippines has been institutionalized by the Philippine National Health Research System Act of 2013 (RA 10532) and is operationalized by the National Unified Health Research Agenda (2017-2022).

Support for HPSR was augmented through the creation of the Health Policy and Systems Research Management (HSRM) in 2015 by the Department of Health (DOH) to support evidence-based policy-making and the establishment of partnerships with research institutions, aiming to expand the capacity for research. One of its main outputs has been the Medium Term Health Policy and Systems Research Management (HSRM) Agenda 2015, which identified knowledge gaps on health equity and service delivery, and outlined strategies for the achievement of development goals. Building on the accomplishments of the HSRM, the Advancing Health through Evidence-Assisted Decisions with Health Policy and Systems Research (AHEAD-HPSR) Programme was established to augment the strategy to implement the medium-term health policy and systems research agenda of the DOH.

Many examples of the policy influence of HPSR in 2020 were related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of the faculty of academic institutions were able to share their expertise regarding policies on testing, contact tracing, transport, and public health interventions and were able to reach a wider audience, including policy-makers, to help shape and refine policies.

As noted above, policy outcomes included the development of the COVID-19 health protocols, the setting of rules for public transport capacity, the establishment of quarantine centres and an algorithm for the testing and management of patients. Other policies that were tackled in 2020 included those on Mental Health and Food Safety.

Strategies that have contributed to policy success include the utilization of technology and the identification of specific mechanisms to improve policy implementation; coordination with and across government agencies and the community; and providing a capacity building programme to support these strategies. There are, however, challenges related to the full implementation and enforcement of health policies – vital for any assessment of their effectiveness and of the need for any further research or re-evaluation.

Average number of meetings held with policy-makers per institution each year in the Philippines and overall


Average number of media articles published per institution each year in the Philippines and overall


Academic and institutional capacity 

While there is HPSR training in the country, it is very limited in terms of the number of participants, international partnership and frequency. HPSR training was severely hampered in 2020 by the COVID-19 pandemic, in marked contrast to the previous year when it is estimated that more than 180 students were enrolled on reported short courses. Some courses identified through a manual search did not provide information on the number of participants. Government training initiatives are usually carried out in partnership with an academic institution or NGO and no quotas for training are set by local governments.

Total number of HPSR faculty and staff

Total number of participants in HPSR-related short courses


HPSR financing

The Philippines’ national health research budget from the government stood at around US$ 51 million from 2018 to 2020. Health research at national level is funded primarily by the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and the Department of Health (DOH). The DOST-PCHRD is the national coordinating body for health research and is mandated to strengthen and develop capacity for health research by formulating agenda, plans, policies and strategies, and mobilizing resources to support health research in the country.

Under the General Appropriations Act (GAA) Budget, DOST-PCHRD was allotted around US$ 12 million in 2018. This increased to US$ 12.73 million and US$ 12.75 million in 2019 and 2020, respectively.

For the DOH, the health policy and systems research budget is housed under the Health Policy and Development and Planning Bureau. This, in turn, comes under Organizational Outcome 1: Access to Promotive and Preventive Health Care Services Improved. The programme is comprised of International Health Policy Development, Health Sector Policy and Plan Development, and Health Sector Research Development. In 2018, around US$ 4.3 million was allotted, rising to US$ 4.5 million for each of the fiscal years 2019 and 2020.

The main international funders for health interventions in the Philippines include the World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Asian Development Bank (ADB) and USAID, among others. However, there is limited publicly accessible data on international funding streams dedicated specifically to health research.

Total institutional expenditure


Credits and disclaimers

Partners’ health policy and systems research report, 2021

WHO/SCI/HSR/21.1

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