licensing, regulation and enforcement were strengthened at the Federal
Drug Authority. In 2009, the DOH set maximum retail prices for selected
drugs and medicines for leading causes of morbidity and mortality.
Section 7 presents an assessment of the Philippines health system against
a set of internationally recognized criteria. It suggests that, despite
important progress in improving health status, successive waves of reform
– from primary health care to decentralization to the more recent health
sector reform agenda – have not succeeded in adequately addressing
the persistent problem of inequity. An independent and dominant private
health sector, the disconnect between national and local authorities in
health systems management, and the absence of an integrated curative
and preventive network have together had a negative impact on economic
and geographic access to health care as well as its quality and efficiency.
However, these issues are now attracting attention at the highest levels of
government which suggests that the coming years present an important
window of opportunity for reform.