The Department of Finance said it facilitated the assistance under the Strategic Objective Agreement for Integrated and Sustainable Health Systems in the Philippines, which is proposed to be implemented by the Department of Health.
Unlike loans, grants from development partners carry no repayment obligation.
Health priorities
The funding will support efforts to improve disease surveillance, detection and outbreak response while integrating healthcare delivery across disease programs.
It will also help strengthen the Philippines’ capacity to finance and manage its health sector.
Priority programs covered by the initiative include HIV, tuberculosis, neglected tropical diseases, and maternal, newborn and child health.
The DOF said the program is intended to expand access to quality healthcare while making the health system more resilient and self-reliant.
“Investing in healthcare is investing in our people, our productivity, and our future,” Finance Secretary Frederick Go said.
US partnership
The agreement builds on more than six decades of health cooperation between the Philippines and the US.
The DOF said the initiative would also deepen bilateral cooperation on global health security and improve the country’s preparedness against emerging and existing infectious diseases.
The grant comes as the government seeks to strengthen healthcare delivery while ensuring the country can better respond to future public health emergencies. —Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
