Health systems in transition.

The abstract should provide a summary of the HiT in no more than 250 words. The Box provides an example from the Philippines HiT, 2011 Philippines HiT abstract Consistent with its commitment to the Alma Ata in 1978, the Philippine Government adopted the Primary Health Care (PHC) approach in 1979 to achieve health for all Filipinos by year 2000. The promulgation of the Local Development Code (RA 7160) in 1991 was in line with the community participation ideals of PHC (1992-1999) as it devolved responsibility for health care was devolved to Local Government Units. The Health Sector Reform Agenda was introduced in 2005 to address problems in health care delivery at local level brought about by the devolution proves. Issues of poor accessibility, inequities and inefficiencies of the health system have been the target of health reforms over the last 30 years. Hospital, public health, financing, local health system and regulatory reforms comprised the HSRA approach. In 2005, the DOH streamlined the reform program to ensure access and availability of essential and basic health packages by reducing the four reform areas, namely: 1) designating providers of basic and essential health service package in strategic locations; 2) assuring the quality of both basic and specialized health services; and 3) intensifying the current efforts to reduce the public health threats brought about by endemic, vaccine-preventable and priority diseases. Although studies have yet to be done on the impact of reforming health service delivery, implementation of strategies to improve the hospital services and public health programs have shown some positive gains. However, huge disparities in health outcomes across income groups and geographic areas and challenges in ascertaining physical and financial access to health services as evidenced by high out-of-pocket expenditures, concentration of physical and human resources for health in urban areas and migration of health professionals still exist. The focus of future developments in health should be towards providing universal health care for Filipinos, starting with improving access of the poor and vulnerable to health services. Source: APO, Philippines HiT Vol. 1 No. 2 2011