MANILA – The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), together with the Department of Health (DOH) and development partners, is strengthening efforts to advance Universal Health Care (UHC) through a 16-month reform program designed to improve access, equity, efficiency and health outcomes nationwide.

More than 100 representatives from international development organizations, financial institutions, academic institutions, foundations, civil society groups, government oversight agencies and other stakeholders gathered at the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Headquarters for the 2026 PhilHealth Partners' Forum.

The forum sought to align technical expertise, financial resources and institutional support with the health sector's Shared Agenda and PhilHealth's multi-year Technical Assistance Agenda under its RISE30 Mission.

DOH Acting Secretary Edwin Mercado, acting PhilHealth President and Chief Executive Officer Beverly Lorraine Ho, and ADB Country Director Andrew Jeffries led the discussions aimed at strengthening coordination among institutions involved in UHC implementation.

Mercado outlined plans to establish a dedicated hospital operations division within the DOH to improve coordination between healthcare supply and demand and strengthen oversight of both public and private hospitals.

He said a unified approach to hospital operations could help address gaps in healthcare capacity while promoting greater financial transparency and accountability.

Mercado also emphasized the importance of developing stronger agreements between public and private hospitals to ensure that available healthcare resources are strategically matched with patient needs.

Meanwhile, Ho highlighted PhilHealth's efforts to reform hospital financing by strengthening frontloaded inpatient payments through a global budget approach using diagnosis-related groups.

The reforms seek to move the health insurance system beyond simply financing access toward rewarding quality healthcare and measurable outcomes.

Under the proposed approach, healthcare providers could receive milestone-based incentives for achieving better patient outcomes and meeting established quality standards.

Ho said increased financial support to healthcare providers should be accompanied by greater accountability for the quality of services and results delivered to patients.

The forum also recognized the coordinated efforts of PhilHealth and its partners during the past 18 months, highlighting reforms and initiatives undertaken to strengthen the country's UHC system.

Department of Finance Secretary Frederick Go expressed support for the reform agenda, emphasizing the connection between sustainable health financing, institutional strength, good governance and accountability.

He said reforms aimed at improving governance and maximizing the use of public resources should be viewed as long-term investments in the country's healthcare system.

Go also cited the RISE30 Mission as an important roadmap for guiding PhilHealth's continuing institutional reforms.

ADB Human and Social Development Sector Office Director Eduardo Banzon likewise welcomed the progress achieved by PhilHealth and its partners, expressing optimism that the reforms would produce lasting improvements for future generations.

For her part, Ho reaffirmed PhilHealth's commitment to maintaining a broad ecosystem of government and development partners in support of UHC.

She said the Technical Assistance Agenda would build on existing cooperation in long-term health planning while expanding the network of partners contributing expertise, resources and innovation to the country's healthcare reforms.

The latest initiative underscores a broader effort to ensure that Universal Health Care is supported not only by increased financing, but also by stronger governance, coordinated hospital systems, accountable providers, quality-based incentives and sustained multi-sector partnerships.

NPO NEWS TEAM | PNA-PR