Mayor Vico Sotto and ULF executive director Atty. Jose Maria “Joey” Ochave signed a memorandum of understanding establishing a framework for the partnership, which will be managed through the Pasig Local Health Board and ULF’s Sustainable Health Care and Heads Up PH programs.
The agreement, Unilab Foundation said in a statement, focuses on making health services easier for residents to access and navigate, while addressing administrative and financing issues that can affect the delivery of care.
According to the MOU, the partnership aims to “strengthen Pasig City’s primary healthcare system, enhance fiscal efficiency in local health financing, provide technical support for the implementation of school mental health programs, and support systemic improvements in PhilHealth utilization and claims performance.”
Making universal health care work locally
Republic Act No. 11223, or the Universal Health Care Act, automatically includes all Filipinos in the National Health Insurance Program and places greater emphasis on primary and preventive care.
Putting the law into practice, however, requires local governments to coordinate health facilities, workers, patient referrals, financing and PhilHealth processes.
Under the Pasig-ULF partnership, one area of work will involve reviewing the city’s local health financing performance.
The partners will map health expenditures, assess the utilization of PhilHealth benefits and examine the accuracy and timeliness of claims filing and reimbursements.
The review is expected to generate recommendations aimed at improving Pasig’s ability to maximize available PhilHealth revenues, minimize delays and strengthen the financial sustainability of city health services.
Streamlining PhilHealth processes
A second component will examine how UHC-related processes operate across Pasig’s health facilities.
The city and ULF will identify bottlenecks involving PhilHealth YAKAP registration, documentation, claims submission, facility accreditation and other workflows.
Simplified procedures and possible digital solutions will then be explored to reduce administrative burdens and improve claims efficiency.
The effort is also intended to make the public health system easier for patients to navigate, particularly when they need referrals or continuing care from different providers.
The partnership will use measurable indicators covering areas such as referral efficiency, PhilHealth utilization, claims performance and patient navigation. Quarterly reports will be used to assess progress and guide adjustments to the work plan.
Mental health support in schools
The third major component focuses on school-based mental health.
Through its Heads Up PH program, ULF will provide technical support and capacity-building to help school personnel recognize early signs of mental health concerns among learners and establish pathways for referring them to qualified professionals.
The program does not seek to turn teachers into mental health practitioners. Instead, it aims to equip school personnel to recognize possible concerns early and know where students and families can seek appropriate assistance.
The partners will also identify gaps and opportunities for better coordination among schools, families, communities and health service providers.
The MOU emphasizes integrating mental health support into the broader health system to promote continuity across preventive, promotive, curative and rehabilitative services.
The World Health Organization estimates that one in seven adolescents globally experiences a mental health condition, with anxiety and depression among the leading causes of illness and disability among young people.
Building a sustainable local model
ULF has previously worked with national and local institutions on UHC implementation and health financing.
The foundation partnered with the Ateneo School of Government on research examining how local governments can optimize health spending under the UHC Law, with technical collaboration from the Department of Budget and Management.
It has also worked with Ormoc City on health delivery in geographically isolated and disadvantaged communities and with the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines on local UHC implementation.
In Pasig, the partnership will combine the city government’s health personnel, facilities and local knowledge with ULF’s research, technical assistance and program-development experience.
For residents, the intended result is a health system in which primary care is easier to access, PhilHealth resources are more effectively used and patients encounter fewer barriers when moving through public health services.
The school mental health component, meanwhile, seeks to create a stronger system for identifying concerns early and connecting children and young people with professional support.
By tying financing, primary care, patient navigation and mental health to measurable outcomes, Pasig and ULF aim to turn the broader goals of universal health care into practical reforms at the local level. —Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
