A Gender-Responsive Systems Approach to Universal Health Care in the Philippines

This project contributes to the achievement of the Philippines’ Universal Health Care Law objectives aiming to ensure that all Filipinos have access to affordable and equitable health services. It helps to enhance the governance of the integrated health system at the local level and support health facilities and communities to increase the use of health services particularly for vulnerable populations. This includes women girls and Indigenous Peoples in geographically isolated and disaster-prone provinces in the Philippines. Project activities include: (1) training local officials and health professionals on responsive leadership and participative governance; (2) providing technical assistance to develop local plans (e.g. human resources and supply chain management) and guidelines for the special health fund; (3) providing technical assistance to improve the health information management system for evidence-based planning and budgeting; (4) providing support to develop electronic medical record system; (5) training health service providers on basic health services including nutrition and sexual and reproductive health; and (6) providing technical assistance to develop guidelines for client referral and health facility management. The project seeks to conduct health promotion campaigns and clinic-outreach activities in remote communities. It also aims to advocate for increased representation of vulnerable groups particularly women youth and indigenous peoples in governance committees at the provincial level. The project is expected to benefit approximately 584 000 individuals.

The expected outcomes of this project include: (1) strengthened governance of the integrated health systems in geographically isolated and disaster-prone provinces in the Philippines; and (2) increased utilization of gender-responsive health services by vulnerable population including women girls and Indigenous Peoples in geographically isolated and disaster-prone provinces in the Philippines.