Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance

Sustainable Health Financing through Health Promotion Funds

E. Ulysses N. Dorotheo, MD, FPAO

Healthy People, Wealthy Nation (Achieving Inclusive Growth in the Philippines through Health Promotion)

29 January 2014

Health for all •  An impossible dream?

You receive 1 billion pesos/year to spend for the health of the PH population (100 million).

3 options:

1. Keep the money for yourself - for your “health”

2. Give every person ten pesos/year to spend for his/her health

or

or

3. You invest in programs to increase the health of the population

In this case you need a health-increasing infrastructure

The overall goal in health is to improve or maintain the health of the people.

Health care / disease management: focus on people with diseases

Disease Prevention: focus on people with risk factors

Health promotion strengthens resources for health in all people

(with disease / risk factors / the healthy)

Most return on investment in health promotion; least in disease management

An overall approach from disease management to disease prevention

to health promotion is needed.

Health Promotion means

changing the environment

and

changing the behaviour

for better health.

Why sustainable?

o We have a long-lasting (and increasing) problem (e.g. NCDs)

but also

o We offer innovative solutions with a long-term inclusive policy and action plan

(Health Promotion and Disease Prevention)

A sustained problem needs a sustainable approach.

others

Blindness

Mental disorders

• Diabetes • Chronic

respiratory diseases

• Cancers • Cardiovascular diseases

Tobacco control

Injuries

Best Practices in Health Promotion Delivery

Set up health promotion fund: focus on innovative, sustainable HP activities

Source of funding: surcharge tax (regular and sustainable funding)

Governance model: independent agency (autonomous decision-making; governance board independent from any political group)

Mandated by law: long-term funding secured for HP use only

What are opportunities to improve HP in the PH?

You may say I’m a dreamer But I’m not the only one

I have a dream today!

Ways forward Premise: inclusive economic growth; healthy people = wealthy people

•  Universal health coverage •  Rationalization plan and DOH •  Earmarked sin tax revenues •  Health promotion legislation