The Philippines Health System Review Health Systems in Transition Vol. 1 No. 2 2011 Written by: Alberto G. Romualdez Jr., Consultant Jennifer Frances E. dela Rosa, University of the Philippines Jonathan David A. Flavier, USAID Stella Luz A. Quimbo, University of the Philippines Kenneth Y. Hartigan-Go, Asian Institute of Management Liezel P. Lagrada, Department of Health Lilibeth C. David, Department of Health Edited by: Soonman Kwon, Seoul National University Rebecca Dodd, WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific WHO Library Cataloguing in Publication Data The Philippines health system review. (Health Systems in Transition, Vol. 1 No. 2 2011) 1. Delivery of healthcare. 2. Health care economics and organization. 3. Health care reform. 5. Health systems plans – organization and administration. 6. Philippines. I. Asia Pacific Observatory on Health Systems and Policies. II. World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific. ISBN 978 92 9061 558 3 (NLM Classification: WA 540 ) © World Health Organization 2011 (on behalf of the Asia Pacific Observatory on Health Systems and Policies) All rights reserved. Publications of the World Health Organization can be obtained from WHO Press, World Health Organization, 20 Avenue Appia, 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland (tel.: +41 22 791 3264; fax: +41 22 791 4857; e-mail: bookorders@who.int). Requests for permission to reproduce or translate WHO publications – whether for sale or for noncommercial distribution – should be addressed to WHO Press, at the above address (fax: +41 22 791 4806; e-mail: permissions@who.int). For WHO Western Pacific Regional Publications, request for permission to reproduce should be addressed to the Publications Office, World Health Organization, Regional Office for the Western Pacific, P.O. Box 2932, 1000, Manila, Philippines, (fax: +632 521 1036, e-mail: publications@wpro.who.int). The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the World Health Organization concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Dotted lines on maps represent approximate border lines for which there may not yet be full agreement. The mention of specific companies or of certain manufacturers’ products does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by the World Health Organization in preference to others of a similar nature that are not mentioned. Errors and omissions excepted, the names of proprietary products are distinguished by initial capital letters. All reasonable precautions have been taken by the World Health Organization to verify the information contained in this publication. However, the published material is being distributed without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied. The responsibility for the interpretation and use of the material lies with the reader. In no event shall the World Health Organization be liable for damages arising from its use.