DONEVA LYN B.

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NATIONAL & GLOBAL HEALTH SITUATIONS

DETERMINANT NATIONAL HEALTH SITUATIONS GLOBAL HEALTH SITUATIONS

S
INCOME AND The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) has issued an COVID-19 vaccines were developed in record time, but getting those vaccines into
SOCIAL STATUS official statement explaining its implementation of increased contribution the arms of people around the world, especially in developing countries, is a
rate starting this year. The state health insurer said it is implementing the
different story. Vaccinations have not yet begun in the Philippines and may not
scheduled contribution rate and adjustment in income ceiling for 2021 to start for several months. NPR's Julie McCarthy has this report on why the country
ensure sufficient funding for the healthcare benefits of its 110 million is so far behind. Unequal allocations of COVID-19 vaccines are causing delays in
members as mandated by Republic Act No. 11223 or the Universal Health many middle- and low-income countries. The world's high-income countries have
Care (UHC) Law. The premium adjustment is provided for in Section 10 of laid claim to nearly half of the current vaccines available, and they're buying more.
the UHC Law and its implementing rules and regulations, the guidelines of But Andrea Taylor with the Duke Global Health Innovation Center says rich
which are contained in Circular 2020-005 published by PhilHealth on countries spent vast amounts of public money to develop vaccines, which have
March 5, 2020. For 2021, those who have a monthly basic salary of reached the market with stunning speed. The Philippines is opting for herd
₱10,000 and below shall have a fixed contribution of ₱350 a month, while immunity and expects to vaccinate 25% of its 110 million people by the end of this
those earning ₱70,000 and higher is fixed at ₱2,450 a month. year. General Restituto Padilla with the country's COVID task force says priority
Contributions of employed members (including Kasambahays) shall be will be given to the urban poor. The Philippines is part of a global picture that is
equally shared between employees and employers, while those of self- troubling to Andrea Taylor of Duke Global Health. She says worldwide, supplies
paying members, professional practitioners and land-based migrant will be limited as vaccines roll out. According to Taylor, it does look very bleak at
workers and other direct contributors with no employee employer the moment. We are likely headed for a situation where high-income countries
relationship are computed straight based on their monthly earnings and are able to fully vaccinate their populations, while low-income countries have only
paid wholly by the member,” the PhilHealth stated. potentially covered their - 3% or 5% of their most at-risk populations, and that is
not a good outcome for anyone. And that's even with the assistance from a WHO
The state health insurer cited in their statement that the law emphasized initiative to ensure that no economy gets completely left behind. Back at the
the importance of members' social health insurance contributions to Davao City hospital, new suspected COVID-19 patients crowd the reception hall.
provide the necessary funding for various reforms under the UHC that are Weary front-liners wonder when they will be given the shots. Dr. Brian Limansag
now being availed of by Filipinos such as but not limited to the following: has another fear - anti-vaxxers. He already sees patients who distrust medical
professionals.
1. Automatic membership of all Filipinos into the National Health
Insurance Program, ensuring access to quality healthcare as a NPR. (2021)https://www.npr.org/transcripts/952969746
fundamental right and not for the privileged few.

2. Immediate eligibility of all Filipinos to PhilHealth benefits each time

they seek treatment at and confinement in any accredited hospitals in the
country and even overseas. This means that the former sufficient
eligibility rules and contribution requirements are no longer applicable.

3. Assignment of every Filipino to a primary care provider (or PCP) of their

choice initially in pilot areas to be identified in each region in 2021.
Accreditation of PCPs shall commence immediately.

This program is called Konsulta or Konsultasyong Sulit at Tama. The PCPs

under Konsulta will act as patients' navigator, coordinator and their initial
and continuing point of contact through the healthcare delivery system.

The PCPs will also be responsible for the health and well-being of patients
assigned under their care, and are expected to detect and help arrest
diseases at the early stages in order to prevent costly treatments later on.

It is also envisioned that PhilHealth will be covering more catastrophic

illnesses as soon as additional funding are made available, as stipulated in
the UHC Law.

4. No co-payment (or No Balance Billing) for confinements in basic or

ward accommodations in both government and private healthcare
facilities, except when availing of amenities, for which PhilHealth will
develop co-payment limits to make costs predictable.

The legislated contribution scheme will enable patients to enjoy

substantial financial risk protection through the gradual decrease in out-
of-pocket expenses.
 5. Lifetime PhilHealth coverage for all members upon reaching the age of
retirement and after contributing at least 120 months to the Program,
ensuring continuing financial protection from health risks brought about
by old age.

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1062906
EDUCATION One of the most important things in society that has been shaken by the It has been a year like no other for schools, colleges and universities.
global pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus, SARS CoV-2, is the 2020 began with the promise of a "fundamental review" of the education system
education sector. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the lives of all as part of the New Decade, New Approach deal.
learners in the Philippines since March. This is the first pandemic to have But, within a few short weeks, more immediate and dramatic challenges were
had a profound impact on education not only in the Philippines but across caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
the world.  In mid-March, the executive took the unprecedented step of closing all schools for
months.
In the Philippines, even before the opening of the school year 2020-2021,
Making the announcement, First Minister Arlene Foster acknowledged that the
some segments of Philippine society were clamouring for an academic
impact on children and society would be "enormous".
freeze due to the COVID-19 pandemic and perceived problems related to
Hundreds of schools did remain open for vulnerable children and the children of
the implementation of the “distance/ blended learning” program of the
key workers.
Department of Education (DepEd) and the so-called “flexible learning”
But attendance statistics showed that only about 1% of all children were in school
program of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). Nevertheless,
between March and June.
both CHED and DepEd believe that learning must continue even amid a
Many pupils were subsequently taught remotely by teachers who adapted to
pandemic. 
providing lessons online, but that provision was mixed.
As of the moment, there are no “face to face” classes yet in the country. While some schools and families made the move to remote learning relatively
The Department of Health (DOH) is not yet recommending it since most smoothly, for others it was a struggle.
areas of the country still have active cases of COVID-19. President Rodrigo
Duterte is thus far not yet inclined to allow “face-to-face” classes this year https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-55426085
(2020) but probably will allow it early next year if the conditions are
favourable. 
https://theaseanpost.com/article/pandemic-destroying-philippine-educati
PHYSICAL Outstanding physical features of the Philippines include the irregular Today, the Earth has, on average, a temperate, accommodating environment for
ENVIRONMENT configuration of the archipelago, the coastline of some 22,550 miles human standards. Today, anything that supports life, such as the atmosphere, the
(36,290 km), the great extent of mountainous country, the narrow and oceans and climate zones such as deserts, tundra and tropical rainforests, which
 interrupted coastal plains, the generally northward trend of the river exist worldwide, is considered a physical environment.
systems, and the spectacular lakes.
https://sciencing.com/types-physical-environment-8523919.html
https://www.britannica.com/place/Philippines
EMPLOYMENT With a new COVID-19 variant surprising us like an unwelcomed guest that
AND WORKING barges in on our holiday festivities, the foreseeable stricter protocols that will ILOILO CITY – Positive vibes marked the start of 2020 in this highly urbanized city,
follow suit, and the still unclear schedule when vaccine will be available to the and not even the global health pandemic can halt the continuous efforts of its local
CONDITIONS Filipino public, it seems like the pandemic’s “franchise” will be renewed next government unit in providing quality service to its constituents.
year. 
And “pandemic fatigue” will continue to plague many. 
The unseen threat of the virus likewise did not stop the accolades for the city.
The World Health Organization defines “pandemic fatigue” as a natural,
expected reaction to sustained and unresolved adversity in people’s lives. Its
symptoms include being demotivated to follow protective measures and “For 2020, probably the biggest accomplishment even despite the pandemic was that
behaviors, as well as feeling complacent, alienated, or hopeless. Supporting this city has gained prominence,” Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas said on Thursday.
the workforce’s mental health and well-being has been a key concern for
many employers in addition to the response to this public health crisis. It is The mayor said the initiatives of the city in responding to the threat of the coronavirus
widely acknowledged that an employee’s job performance and productivity disease 2019 (Covid-19) was recognized and even earned the moniker “Wakanda of
can be severely affected by health issues and impact an organizations’ the Philippines”.
business resilience. In the Philippines, employees had to adapt quickly to a
new environment, shifting to work from home where communications and This, the mayor said, is a bit difficult because of the high expectations for the city.
logistics infrastructure are not always conducive to productivity. Those who “What is important I think is for everyone to work together. We still have a lot of things
reported to work had to navigate a very limited transportation network at to do,” he said.
exorbitant prices, further adding to the stress of the situation. 
Its string of recognitions began with the Asean (Association of Southeast Asian
https://manilastandard.net/mobile/article/343105 Nations) Clean Tourist City Award 2020-2022. While it was awarded in Brunei in
December 2019, it was presented to the city in January.

It is given to cities that have endeavored to beautify public areas, improve the
environment and sanitation, enhance urban spaces, and promote their man-made and
natural attractions.

Further, it aims to provide member states with a tool that will improve their tourism
quality, increase marketing competitiveness but also improve the situation of residents
and livelihood by alleviating poverty.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1126042
SOCIAL From leading relief initiatives following the Taal Volcano eruption to Social support is often identified as a key component of solid relationships and
SUPPORT storming the streets to protest the anti-terror law, Filipinos showed how strong psychological health, but what exactly does it mean? Essentially, social
NETWORK their bayanihan spirit remains intact even as they faced their own support involves having a network of family and friends that you can turn to in
personal challenges. times of need.
A Filipino trait defined as working together towards a shared cause,
the bayanihan spirit was on full display in the country in 2020, when it Whether you are facing a personal crisis and need immediate assistance, or you
was needed most. just want to spend time with people who care about you, these relationships play
As the pandemic forced people to stay at home, many turned to social a critical role in how you function in your day-to-day life.
media to find ways to help, crowdsource information, hold government It is social support that builds people up during times of stress and often gives
accountable, and mobilize online communities to take action. Others them the strength to carry on and even thrive.
staged campaigns nationwide to make their voices heard and also to aid
fellow Filipinos. On the second week of 2020, Taal Volcano erupted, But social support is certainly not a one-way street. In addition to relying on
marking the first of several disasters witnessed by the country this year. others, you also serve as a form of support for many people in your life. 
Many families were displaced and also lost their livelihood.
This triggered an outswelling of support and relief from various groups
who led donation drives, organized feeding initiatives for displaced https://www.verywellmind.com/social-support-for-psychological-health-4119970
families, conducted psychosocial debriefing for traumatized victims, and
led volunteer efforts for stranded animals.
Help came from people from all walks of life, including street vendors in
Sto Tomas, Batangas, who gave up a day of their income to feed evacuees
at Polytechnic University of the Philippines. Others assisted using social
media and digital platforms to organize information. They created a basic
map and web application to show locations of active evacuation centers
to help donors see where to bring relief, among others.

https://www.rappler.com/moveph/times-filipinos-acted-issues-yearend-
2020
CULTURE The culture of the Philippines comprises a blend of traditional Filipino and Culture can mean different things in different spheres, but when it comes to
Spanish Catholic traditions, with influences from America and other parts business, understanding how to capitalize on it is all but essential. Business guru
of Asia. The Filipinos are family oriented and often religious with an Julianna Davies stops by Diversity Journal today to look at ways modern small
appreciation for art, fashion, music and food. businesses can improve and grow their company culture. Ms. Davies has written
 profiles of more than 30 top-ranked MBA programs of 2012, and is passionate
https://www.iexplore.com/ about helping b-school grads find success in the marketplace.

In recent years, the historically whitewashed, male-dominated perception of

corporate culture has given way to a start-up culture that is more diverse and
creativity-driven. Modern company executives are taking a different approach to
business management in order to thrive in the current global market.

https://diversityjournal.com/9955-defining-culture-in-todays-global-world/

GENETICS Located in Southeast Asia, the Philippines is an archipelago covering an Genetics affects us all in many ways. This short film will explore a few of the uses
area of about 300,000 km. The three major island groups—Luzon, Visayas, of genetics.
and Mindanao—are made up of a total of 7107 islands. The country is the Genetics can help us to understand why people look the way they do and why
12th most populous country in the world, and 7th in Asia. In 2016, the some people are more prone to certain diseases than others.
population is 104 million, with a population density of 308 persons/km in Genetics can help health-care professionals to identify certain conditions in babies
2010 and 342 person/km2 in 2016. The majority of the population (54.7%) before they are born using techniques such as prenatal testing.
are in the rural areas (National Statistics Office (NSO) 2015). The annual Genetic technologies are also being used to help develop targeted medicines for
growth rate is around 1.7%, with a crude birth rate and crude death rate certain diseases.
(per 1000 population) of 24.4 and 5.9, respectively (World Health In addition to its use in health care, genetics has a range of other applications. For
Organization 2015). example, the police can use genetic fingerprinting to catch criminals.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ https://www.sciencedaily.com/

PERSONAL COVID-19 is a global concern affecting Higher Education Institutions You likely already have an idea of what coping is – it’s a common concept in the
BEHAVIOR AND (HEIs). This pandemic led to a strong reaction among students who general public. However, like most concepts and constructs, there is a definition of
COPING SKILLS experiences anxiety. This cross-sectional study aimed to examine coping as it is understood in psychological literature that you may not know.
students’ knowledge, attitudes, anxiety, and coping strategies during the
COVID-19 pandemic. Results showed that students possessed sufficient According to the Psychology Glossary at alleydog.com:
knowledge and high-risk perceptions. Non-medical prevention measures
were perceived as highly effective. Students were satisfied with the “Coping refers to the human behavioural process for dealing with demands, both
 government’s actions to mitigate problems. However, an unwillingness internal and external, in situations that are perceived as threats.”
with the online-blended learning approach was observed. Students
utilized various ways to cope up with mental health challenges. It is This is a good start, although to fully understand coping we probably need to
necessary to address students’ mental health during this COVID-19 expand what we think of as “threats.”
pandemic among HEIs.
In the case of coping, threats are not the only situations in which we are in
physical danger, but also situations in which a piece of our self is in danger. The
https://www.tandfonline.com/ ego is frequently the piece in danger, along with our sense of self, our very
identity, our worldview, and our inner beliefs or faith.

These threats manifest in a wide range of situations, from dealing with a romantic
rejection to dealing with the loss of your spouse. The more serious the threat, the
more effective the coping must be.

https://positivepsychology.com/coping/

HEALTH "Blue Cross Philippines, not associated with BC USA, seems a good one. As health services around the world battle COVID-19, public trust in them is
SERVICES However, rates rise sharply after 65 and do not cover previously existing growing. A survey of more than 20,000 adults across 27 countries by Ipsos found
conditions. They have both dollar and peso plans at several levels of rising levels of satisfaction and trust in health services.
coverage. The 'previous condition' caveat leaves most of us retirees out in
the cold because it refers to conditions which existed before the policy is “Despite the coronavirus pandemic putting huge strain on healthcare systems of
signed WHETHER OR NOT THEY WERE KNOWN. That exemption covers a countries around the world, we find more people worldwide giving positive
lot of territory. Think cardiac conditions and cancer," warned one expat in ratings of the health services they have access to than two years ago,” Ipsos says
a discussion about medical insurance in the Philippines. of its Global Health Service Monitor 2020.

"If you have a serious health condition most insurance companies will not Half of people surveyed believe they will receive the best treatment from their
cover you. Healthcare for smaller complaints as said is cheap but for country’s healthcare services. This is up from 41% in the last survey in 2018.
major ops and illnesses it can be crippling expensive. I have friend who
could not get insurance because of a bad back injury, he lived here 4 years https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/12/health-healthcare-trust-ipsos-
developed a heart condition, the hospital said he needed a bypass op survey/
800,000 pesos, he said I will go home bit they said he couldn't fly. He
 booked a flight went back to UK got free accommodation over 60 went to
doctors was told his heart was bad but did not need a bypass at all. He is
on medication for heart problems also Parkinson's disease and diabetes.
Being treated for free. Philippines is great as long as you have a fair
income and good health," explained one expat.

https://www.expatexchange.com/

GENDER MANILA, Philippines —With fewer women in key government positions,

the Philippines has dropped out of the top 10 most gender-equal Past outbreaks of diseases such as Zika and Ebola have taught us the same
countries for the first time. lesson time and time again: In situations of crisis, women’s rights and needs are
pushed aside because they are seen as a bonus or privilege rather than a
The report found that the political empowerment gap in the country has necessity. 
widened considerably over the past two years, which caused its ranking to
drop from 13th to 29th.
The trajectory is always the same — women make up the vast majority of care
“This downgrade is almost entirely attributable to lower female workers and are also overwhelmed with informal care duties, yet their
representation in the Cabinet, which declined from 25 percent to 10 contribution to decision-making is lacking. According to recent research,
percent between 2017 and 2019,” the World Economic Forum (WEF) only 3.5% of 115 COVID-19 decision-making groups across 87 countries contained
said.  an equitable number of men and women.

WEF’s Global Gender Gap Report 2020 showed the country fell eight spots The consequences are a rise in domestic violence, women being pushed out of the
to rank 16th out of 153 economies, from last year’s eighth spot out of 149 paid workforce, the contesting of abortion rights, and discrimination and
countries. harassment of transgender people, to name only a few. 

On the other hand, there is evidence to suggest that countries with more female
leaders had a better response to the pandemic. While this observation quickly
https://www.philstar.com/ became an internet meme, one study — which has yet to be peer-reviewed —
found a six-fold lower death rate in countries led by women, compared with those
led by men.
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/covid-19-is-it-time-for-male-
leaders-to-lean-out-2#3