Policy Simulation of the Aquino Health Agenda in Expanding Access to Health Services in Selected Regions in the Philippines
Rachel Lynn Y. Belandres
Economist and Faculty Member
School of Economics
University of Asia and the Pacific
The Aquino Health Agenda was developed to address the problems of Filipinos in relation to access to health care services. Because of this, the policies under it should be simulated to determine if they are really pro-poor and cost effective. Thus, this study aims to simulate the effects of two policies under the Aquino Health Agenda, which are upgrading health facilities under the Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP) and expanding health insurance coverage under the National Health Insurance Program (NHIP), in expanding access to health care services, specifically in increasing the number of live births attended by skilled health personnel in Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), Eastern Visayas and Bicol Region in terms of distribution of benefits across income deciles and in terms of cost effectiveness using Benefit Incidence Analysis and Cost Effectiveness Analysis.
When it comes to pro-poorness, expanding health insurance coverage is more pro-poor than upgrading of health facilities in ARMM, Eastern Visayas and Bicol Region. This implies that if the government aims to achieve equity in expanding access to health care services, specifically in increasing the number of live births attended by skilled health personnel in all selected regions in the Philippines, then they should concentrate on expanding health insurance coverage under NHIP.
On the other hand, when it comes to efficiency or cost-effectiveness, expanding health insurance coverage is more cost effective than upgrading of health facilities in Eastern Visayas, while upgrading of health facilities is more cost effective than expanding health insurance coverage in ARMM and Bicol Region. This implies that if the government aims to achieve efficiency in increasing the number of live births attended by skilled health personnel in the Eastern Visayas, then they should focus on expanding health insurance coverage under NHIP. On the other hand, if the government aims to attain efficiency in achieving the policy goal in ARMM and Bicol Region, then they should focus on upgrading of health facilities.
However, it is still highly recommended that both policy options should be implemented by the Aquino administration in the said regions, since they are both complementary with each other. Upgrading health facilities is beneficial in addressing the problem of low accessibility to health facilities of the poor and the physical problems of health facilities. On the other hand, expanding health insurance coverage is essential in addressing the financial problems of the poor in accessing health care services.
Presentation Slides
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