Noncommunicable diseases
WHO actions on NCDs in the Philippines
WHO supports the Department of Health and key stakeholders in the Philippines in developing and implementing relevant interventions, both at the national and local levels. Highlights of NCD-related initiatives include:
- developing and implementing a national policy on the prevention and control of chronic lifestyle-related noncommunicable diseases;
- including NCDs as a priority thrust under “Kalusugang Pangkalahatan”(Universal Health Care) and MDG Max Initiative of the Department of Health (DOH);
- intensifying health promotion of Healthy Lifestyle to the Max Campaign of the DOH;
- promoting healthy foods, through advocacy for mandatory food and nutrition labelling and voluntary certification of healthier food options;
- implementing tobacco control initiatives, such as advocacy for smoke-free places and passage of national law to increase taxes for tobacco and alcohol products;
- developing and implementing a service delivery package of essential NCD interventions at the primary health care level;
- designing and advocating health financing strategies for NCDs; and
- enhancing NCD surveillance, including conduct of surveys on NCD risk factors and monitoring health outcomes and processes for NCDs.
WHO is supporting the DOH in developing and scaling up an essential health package for NCDs. A service delivery package of essential NCD interventions, based on the WHO Package of Essential NCD (PEN) Interventions for primary health care, was piloted in the Municipality of Pateros in Metro Manila.
The service delivery model is now being scaled up and is linked with initiatives from PhilHealth on implementing NCD-related inpatient and outpatient benefit packages, and various DOH offices on enhancing access to medicines and improved surveillance for NCDs.