Summit on financing health care slated

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. and Sanofi-Aventis Philippines Inc., in cooperation with the Department of Health, will hold the first Wealth for Health Summit at the Development Academy of the Philippines, Ortigas Center in Pasig City on July 31. 

The summit aims to gather local government officials, health-related non-government organizations, patient groups, corporate foundations, and other private funders interested in health care projects. 

The one-day forum will discuss issues pertaining to financing health care. It seeks to create a continuing platform where various stakeholders can discuss critical health care financing issues and identify specific areas of cooperation.

“It is a fact that we have to put more money into health for universal healthcare to be possible. This is actually a wonderful time for organizations to get together and contribute to transforming the health system for the well-being of each and every Filipino,” said Dr. Eduardo Banzon, president of PhilHealth.

Discussions will revolve around resources available for health care, health care supply such (health infrastructure and health care providers), and health care demands. 

It will also present current and even proposed models for financing health care projects and programs covering both the demand and the supply side. 

“More importantly, Wealth for Health serves as a matching opportunity for government entities, NGOs and patient groups that need funding and the corporate foundations, private funders and other international agencies that would like to support health care programs in the country,” said lawyer Darwin Mariano, director for public affairs and communications of Sanofi-Aventis. 

The Wealth for Health Summit is also organized in cooperation with the 162 to 52 Coalition composed of Zuellig Family Foundation, Philippine Business for Social Progress, Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines, and Ayala Foundation–Access Health Philippines Partnership.