Assistant Secretary Elmer G. Punzalan, MD, FICS, MHA, MHSA

Assistant Secretary Elmer G. Punzalan, MD, FICS, MHA, MHSA





The Challenges ofThe Challenges ofHEALTH LITERACYHEALTH LITERACY

in in Asia and the Pacific: Asia and the Pacific: ““Where do we stand?”Where do we stand?”



What are theWhat are thePRESENT LEVELSPRESENT LEVELSof health literacy of health literacy

throughout throughout Asia-Pacific? Asia-Pacific?


Which Which MEASUREMENTMEASUREMENT TOOLSTOOLS

are available for are available for measurement of measurement of

health literacy in the health literacy in the region?region?


1. Word Recognition Test: REALM

Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine

2.Reading Comprehension Test: TOFHLA Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults


How can health How can health literacy literacy

Be Be IMPROVED IMPROVED and and

ACHIEVE HEALTH ACHIEVE HEALTH GAINSGAINS? ?


1) Financing, 2) Service Delivery, 3) Regulation, and 4) Governance,




> NO SMOKING (Huwag Manigarilyo)> NO SMOKING (Huwag Manigarilyo) > DON'T DRINK ALCOHOL (Iwas Alak) > DON'T DRINK ALCOHOL (Iwas Alak) > NO TO ILLEGAL DRUGS (Talo Ka sa > NO TO ILLEGAL DRUGS (Talo Ka sa Droga)Droga) > EAT LOW-FAT, LOW SALT, HIGH > EAT LOW-FAT, LOW SALT, HIGH FIBER FIBER DIET (Wastong DIET (Wastong Pagkain)Pagkain) > PREVENT HYPERTENSION (Bantay > PREVENT HYPERTENSION (Bantay Presyon)Presyon) > DO PHYSICAL ACTIVITY (Katawang > DO PHYSICAL ACTIVITY (Katawang Aktibo)Aktibo) > MANAGE STRESS (Bawas Stress) > MANAGE STRESS (Bawas Stress)









* an integrated system solution of data collection and * an integrated system solution of data collection and utilization utilization

* for efficient and effective use of evidence-based health * for efficient and effective use of evidence-based health information information

* for planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. * for planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.

* The system provides reliable, accurate and timely * The system provides reliable, accurate and timely informationinformation.





Policy makersPolicy makersProgram Planners Program Planners Program ManagersProgram ManagersService Providers Service Providers Local Government ExecutivesLocal Government ExecutivesDevelopment PartnersDevelopment PartnersThe Academe The Academe Civil Society Civil Society



National GovernmentNational GovernmentOffice of the PresidentOffice of the President

↓↓Department ↔ Department ↔ DepartmentDepartment ↔ Department ↔ Department

Of Of OfOf Of Of Education Education Health Health Finance Finance

↓ ↓ Medical CentersMedical Centers

↓↓Health CentersHealth Centers

↓↓Barangay Health Units → Barangay Health Units → PeoplePeople



How does this How does this EVIDENCE of SUCCESSEVIDENCE of SUCCESS

inform inform Policy Development Policy Development

and Practice and Practice in the region? in the region?



What are the What are the key messages for scaling up key messages for scaling up

EFFECTIVE HEALTH EFFECTIVE HEALTH LITERACY LITERACY

INTERVENTIONSINTERVENTIONSfor health gains?for health gains?




1.Health care access and navigation 2. Chronic disease management

3. Disease prevention and screening


* Action and motivation * Development of preventive health practices * Opportunities to access and evaluate information * Practice health promoting and risk-eliminating/reducing behaviors


Improving health literacy necessitates:Improving health literacy necessitates:

1.Effective communication skills of health care providers

2. Efforts to enhance patient-physician communications especially among disadvantaged populations


3. Interventions: 3. Interventions: a) Make written health information easier to Understand b) Access health literacy organizations/programs c) Provide literacy education computer-assisted instructions d)Traditional text-based instructions, self-paced study materials and multimedia


Improved health literacy Improved health literacy equates with:equates with:•better knowledge•self efficacy and self-care behavior•optimal use of preventive health services


• Less use of emergency department• Decreased hospitalization • Better compliance rates • Healthy Living


• lesser mortality rates • cultural competence • lesser health disparities leading to success in achieving life’s goals.




“Healthy people learn better…. Effective health literacy interventions help improve people’s health... Improved people’s health makes more productive citizens…. More productive citizens contribute to a more productive country…. A more productive country makes a more progressive world…. and A more progressive world gives us a better place to live in!”


Assistant Secretary Elmer G. PunzalanAssistant Secretary Elmer G. Punzalan, , MD, MD, FICS, MHA, MHSAFICS, MHA, MHSA

Department of HealthDepartment of Health

PHILIPPINESPHILIPPINES

EVERYONE !

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Assistant Secretary Elmer G. Punzalan, MD, FICS, MHA, MHSA