Policy analysis on the mental health needs of overseas Filipino workers: Addressing gaps through evidence-based policy reform

Background@#There is an increasing number of distressed Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) due to adverse working conditions and unresolved post-repatriation issues. The enactment of the Republic Act 11036 (Mental Health Act) in 2018 supports the commitment of the State in promoting and protecting the mental health of every Filipino. @*Methods@#A systematic review of literature was conducted to generate evidence-based policy tools for the round table discussion conducted by the UP Manila Health Policy Development Hub, engaging all major stakeholders from all sides of the policy issue. Strengths and challenges of the current government initiatives in the phases of predeployment, deployment, repatriation, and reintegration were discussed to attain consensus policy recommendations. @*Results@#Increased migration led to a cascade of distressed OFWs and their subsequent need for trained mental health professionals. In host countries, challenges in on-site services include (i) limited psychiatry practice as prescribed by law of the host countries, (ii) reciprocity of the host country in allowing more welfare officers, and (iii) budget to support more plantilla items of Assistance to Nationals (ATN) staff. The inter-agency collaboration and legal support for all phases of migration should be holistic and set. @*Conclusions and Recommendations@#From the literature review and policy discussion, consensus recommendations included strengthening pre-deployment preparation, curbing the trafficking of minors, improving psychiatry practice through the Bilateral Labor Agreement, developing psychosocial counseling competencies among front line host country personnel, enhancing telecounselling services and exploring telemedicine, among others.

Policy analysis on determining hospital bed capacity in light of Universal Health Care

Background@#Through the years of improving quality health service delivery, hospital bed capacity in the Philippines has remained to be a persistent challenge. In light of the aim of the Universal Health Care Act to protect and promote the right to health of every Filipino, one metric used to identify areas that are in most need or are under served, is the number of public hospital beds vis a vis the catchment population. @*Methods@#The systematic review of literature was utilized to generate a policy brief presented to the invited stakeholders of the policy issue for the roundtable discussion participated by all key stakeholders of the policy issue. Evidence and insights were thematically analyzed to generate consensus policy recommendations. @*Results@#With the current hospital bed availability and maldistribution, the Philippines still faces compounded issues in addressing healthcare demands. Currently, the request for increasing bed capacity is done through legislation. In context, this request is also parallel in expanding service capacity through the allocation of more funds and personnel. The ratio of private and charity beds must ensure to have equity among all patients of varying segments of the population. Enjoining private hospitals to share bed capacity for public service was also explored given appropriate subsidies.@*Conclusion and Recommendation@#To ensure equity in health service delivery, it is imperative to assess, strategize, and conduct prioritization of the needs of government hospitals for increased bed capacity, considering the distribution, socio-demographic profile, and health needs of the catchment population.

A call for an evidence-informed criteria selection to guide equitable health investments in the era of Universal Health Care: Policy analysis

Background@#The passage of the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act in the Philippines in early 2019 intensified the need to ensure equitable health investments by the government. Exploring the different criteria and indicators that are used to determine areas that are most in need of health services can help local and national health authorities determine priorities for health investments given finite resources. @*Methods@#A systematic review of literature on determinants of health equity and other indicators was conducted as pre-work to generate discussion points to the roundtable discussion participated by all major key stakeholders. Shared insights and expertise were thematically analyzed to produce a policy paper with consensus policy recommendations. @*Results@#Based on the review of the literature and the discussion, indicators (mainly physical inaccessibility and socioeconomic factors) for identifying Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA) in DOH Administrative Order 185, s. 2004 is used to prioritize municipalities for health investments. Review of other policies and guidelines to determine the level of health needs and prioritizing investments yielded to four laddered domains: geographic, population characteristics (e.g., social and cultural determinants of access), health system (e.g., health service delivery), and health status. These domains may provide a more equitable set of metrics for health investment. The Local Investment Plan for Health (LIPH) is the current process used for health-related investments at the local level and may be revised to be more responsive to the requirements set by the UHC Act 2018. Hot spotting to concentrate health services by communities may be a more rapid approach to investment planning for health. Bed capacity as a specific metric in the UHC Act 2018 highlights the need for a review of the Hospital Licensure Act 2004. @*Conclusion and Recommendations@#To aid in determining priorities for health investments, a comprehensive integrated analysis of resources, determinants, and indicators should be done to determine the need and the gaps in the available resources. Innovative strategies can also be best implemented such as mathematical models or formulas. Lastly, current strategies in the development, monitoring, and evaluation of investment planning for health at different levels should be strengthened, expanded, and harmonized with other existing development plans.

Review of regulatory policies on and benefits of herbal medicine in the Philippines

@#<p style="text-align: justify;">Herbal products are the mainstay treatment among patients with limited access to conventional medicines and those seeking holistic modalities for health and wellness. Usage continues to increase globally with the growing engagement of science and technology in the scientific and sound development of herbal products. In the Philippines, legislative controls on herbal medicine were established through the creation of the Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care (PITAHC) which aims to include herbal medicine use in the national health care system. This paper aims to review the current regulatory policies on production, registration, promotion, and use of herbal medicines in the country. Current policies provide measures in regulating, implementing, and monitoring of herbal medicines from production to consumption stages. However, improvements based on provisions from international standards can be adopted to guarantee efficacy and safety for public use. Policies are still lacking regarding implications of long-term effects; efficacy on specific populations (i.e. children, elderly, pregnant women); and on potential interactions with other food and drugs. There is also a need to strengthen studies on the environmental determinants influencing the effectiveness of herbal products. Paucity on studies on the cost-effectiveness of herbal medicines is further noted.</p>