Philippines : Build Universal Health Care Program (Subprogram 1)

Sovereign Project | 55105-001

The Government of the Philippines enacted the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act on 20 February 2019 to ensure equitable access to quality health services for all Filipinos with financial protection. The UHC Act envisioned the implementation of a series of reforms over at least 6 years and the proposed program will support the implementation of these health financing, service delivery, and performance monitoring reforms needed to achieve UHC. It is consistent with the Philippine Development Plan, 2017-2022; the country partnership strategy, 2018-2023 of the Asian Development Bank (ADB); and ADB's Strategy 2030. The programmatic approach will provide long-term support to improve the sequencing and implementation of UHC policy reforms and harmonize national and local-level reforms.

Project Details

  • Project Officer
    Banzon, Eduardo P.
    Southeast Asia Department
    Request for information
  • Country/Economy
    Philippines
  • Sector
    • Health
Project Name Build Universal Health Care Program (Subprogram 1)
Project Number 55105-001
Country / Economy Philippines
Project Status Active
Project Type / Modality of Assistance Loan
Technical Assistance
Source of Funding / Amount
Loan 4145-PHI: Build Universal Health Care Program (Subprogram 1)
Ordinary capital resources US$ 600.00 million
TA 6832-PHI: Supporting Building Up Universal Health Care
Japan Fund for Prosperous and Resilient Asia and the Pacific US$ 2.00 million
Operational Priorities OP1: Addressing remaining poverty and reducing inequalities
OP2: Accelerating progress in gender equality
OP3: Tackling climate change, building climate and disaster resilience, and enhancing environmental sustainability
OP6: Strengthening governance and institutional capacity
Sector / Subsector

Health / Health sector development and reform

Gender Effective gender mainstreaming
Description The Government of the Philippines enacted the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act on 20 February 2019 to ensure equitable access to quality health services for all Filipinos with financial protection. The UHC Act envisioned the implementation of a series of reforms over at least 6 years and the proposed program will support the implementation of these health financing, service delivery, and performance monitoring reforms needed to achieve UHC. It is consistent with the Philippine Development Plan, 2017-2022; the country partnership strategy, 2018-2023 of the Asian Development Bank (ADB); and ADB's Strategy 2030. The programmatic approach will provide long-term support to improve the sequencing and implementation of UHC policy reforms and harmonize national and local-level reforms.
Project Rationale and Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy The Philippine economy was hit hard by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and contracted by 9.6% in 2020. Unemployment soared to a record high of 17.6% by April 2020 before easing to 8.7% by October 2020. However, the economy is projected to recover to 4.5% in 2021. With regards to health outcomes, life expectancy at birth has increased from 63.7 years in 1980 to 71.1 years in 2018, and infant mortality decreased from 53.0 per 1,000 live births in 1980 to 21.6 per 1,000 in 2019. The share of deliveries at health facilities increased from 28% in 1993 to 78% in 2017, and the share of total births attended by skilled health providers rose to 84%. However, maternal mortality remains high at 121 per 100,000 livebirths in 2017 (a decrease from 180 in 1990), and adolescent fertility is still high at 55% as of 2018 (up from 52% in 1980). Noncommunicable diseases now account for 68% of all deaths, at an estimated economic cost of around Php756.5 billion per year while current health expenditure (CHE) remains low at 4.1% of 2019 GDP compared to the 2018 global average of 9.8%. Out of pocket spending for health remains high at 47.9% of CHE. Major health system constraints include insufficient government financing and uncoordinated health purchasing, inadequate and fragmented health services, and weak information management and accountability at the national and local government levels. In response, the UHC Act was enacted to guarantee access to quality health services for all Filipinos and address health system constraints. The program loan will support the Philippines implement the law and achieve universal health coverage.
Impact
Project Outcome
Description of Outcome
Progress Toward Outcome
Implementation Progress
Description of Project Outputs
Status of Implementation Progress (Outputs, Activities, and Issues)
Geographical Location Nation-wide
Safeguard Categories
Environment C
Involuntary Resettlement C
Indigenous Peoples C
Summary of Environmental and Social Aspects
Environmental Aspects
Involuntary Resettlement
Indigenous Peoples
Stakeholder Communication, Participation, and Consultation
During Project Design
During Project Implementation
Responsible ADB Officer Banzon, Eduardo P.
Responsible ADB Department Southeast Asia Department
Responsible ADB Division Human and Social Development Division, SERD
Executing Agencies
Department of Finance
Timetable
Concept Clearance 04 Jun 2021
Fact Finding 27 May 2021 to 17 Jun 2021
MRM 30 Jul 2021
Approval 19 Nov 2021
Last Review Mission -
Last PDS Update 19 Nov 2021

Loan 4145-PHI

Milestones
Approval Signing Date Effectivity Date Closing
Original Revised Actual
19 Nov 2021 16 Dec 2021 25 Jan 2022 31 Dec 2022 - 31 Dec 2022
Financing Plan Loan Utilization
Total (Amount in US$ million) Date ADB Others Net Percentage
Project Cost 600.00 Cumulative Contract Awards
ADB 600.00 10 Jan 2023 600.00 0.00 100%
Counterpart 0.00 Cumulative Disbursements
Cofinancing 0.00 10 Jan 2023 600.00 0.00 100%

TA 6832-PHI

Milestones
Approval Signing Date Effectivity Date Closing
Original Revised Actual
19 Nov 2021 18 Jan 2022 18 Jan 2022 31 Oct 2024 - -
Financing Plan/TA Utilization Cumulative Disbursements
ADB Cofinancing Counterpart Total Date Amount
Gov Beneficiaries Project Sponsor Others
0.00 2,000,000.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 2,000,000.00 10 Jan 2023 332,008.04

Project Data Sheets (PDS) contain summary information on the project or program. Because the PDS is a work in progress, some information may not be included in its initial version but will be added as it becomes available. Information about proposed projects is tentative and indicative.

The Access to Information Policy (AIP) recognizes that transparency and accountability are essential to development effectiveness. It establishes the disclosure requirements for documents and information ADB produces or requires to be produced.

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Safeguard Documents See also: Safeguards
Safeguard documents provided at the time of project/facility approval may also be found in the list of linked documents provided with the Report and Recommendation of the President.

None currently available.


Evaluation Documents See also: Independent Evaluation

None currently available.


Related Publications

None currently available.


The Access to Information Policy (AIP) establishes the disclosure requirements for documents and information ADB produces or requires to be produced in its operations to facilitate stakeholder participation in ADB's decision-making. For more information, refer to the Safeguard Policy Statement, Operations Manual F1, and Operations Manual L3.

Requests for information may also be directed to the InfoUnit.

Tenders

Tender Title Type Status Posting Date Deadline
Human Resources for Health Mapping and Monitoring System Developer Individual - Consulting Active
Human Resources for Health Specialist for Health Facilities Individual - Consulting Active
Research associate for the scoping and grading of violations and sanctions for health facilities Individual - Consulting Closed
Costing Expert Individual - Consulting Closed
Diagnosis-Related Group (DRG) Expert Individual - Consulting Closed
International Health Insurance Expert Individual - Consulting Closed
Health Data and Performance Metrics Expert Individual - Consulting Closed
Health Facilities Project Coordinator Individual - Consulting Closed
Health Facilities Research Associate Individual - Consulting Closed
Access to Cancer Medicine Research Associate Individual - Consulting Closed
Research Associate Z Benefits Study Individual - Consulting Closed
International Health Insurance Resource Person Individual - Consulting Closed
International Market Specialist for Medical Devices and Equipment Individual - Consulting Closed
International Contract Management Specialist for Medical Devices Individual - Consulting Closed
Medical Device Project Management and Capacity Building Specialist Individual - Consulting Closed
Lead International Health Insurance Expert Individual - Consulting Closed
Health Promotion Framework Expert (CHED, TESDA, and LEB) Individual - Consulting Closed
Health Promotion Framework Expert (DSWD and DILG) Individual - Consulting Closed
Digital Health Expert (Digitization and Automation) Individual - Consulting Closed
Health Mapping Expert (Business Process and Data Mapping) Individual - Consulting Closed
Capacity Building Expert for Evaluation of HIA Reports Individual - Consulting Closed
Health Data Scientist Individual - Consulting Closed
Health Facility Expert Individual - Consulting Closed
Health Financing Capacity Building Expert Individual - Consulting Closed
Local Health System Expert Individual - Consulting Closed
National Health Promotion Expert (Healthy Learning Institutions Implementation) Individual - Consulting Closed
Health Financing Consultant Individual - Consulting Closed
Health Human Resource Expert Individual - Consulting Closed
National Health Promotion Capacity Building Consultant Individual - Consulting Closed

Contracts Awarded

No contracts awarded for this project were found

Procurement Plan

None currently available.