THE UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE IMPLEMENTERS PROJECT (UHCIP) OF DOH

THE UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE IMPLEMENTERS PROJECT (UHCIP) OF DOH

In order to bridge the gaps in the Philippine health system and to reduce barriers in accessing health care services especially among marginalized communities, the Aquino administration launched its Health Agenda called Universal Health Care (UHC), also referred to as Kalusugan Pangkalahatan (KP), in 2010. Universal Health Care is defined as the “provision to every Filipino of the highest possible quality of health care that is accessible, efficient, equitably distributed, adequately funded, fairly financed, and appropriately used by an informed and empowered public”. Moreover, while the Philippines is on target for most of its Millennium Development Goals (MDG), it is lagging behind in reducing maternal and infant mortality. Therefore, strengthening of public health efforts towards the attainment of UHC and MDGs must be done.

In line with this, the Department of Health (DOH) launched High-Impact Five (Hi-5) last June 2015 which aims to produce major improvements in health outcomes and the highest impact among the vulnerable population. The Hi-5 strategies focuses on five (5) critical UHC interventions, namely: reduction of infant mortality rate; lowering under-five mortality rate; reducing maternal mortality rate; halting Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS); and increasing the service delivery networks in poor communities. National implementation of the Hi-5 activities involves intensifying and synchronizing regional operations through a convergence approach in priority poverty program areas. Thus, the Universal Health Care Implementers Project (UHCIP) was conceptualized to accelerate the attainment of UHC and Hi-5 strategies.  Currently, the project deploys physicians who focus on localization of UHC policies and sustainable health financing in order to protect marginalized communities from health financial risks.

II. Objectives

The Universal Health Care Implementers (UHCI) Project aims to:

a. Improve local health systems that will support the country’s attainment of UHC or “Kalusugan Pangkalahatan;”

b. Provide quality service delivery to marginalized population of the country to accelerate the attainment of Universal Health Care (UHC); and

c. Foster independence in the community’s health care delivery system.
  
III. Functions of UHC Implementers

a. Develops local health systems / programs / projects in the locality based on the UHC-HI5 Strategy;

b. Manages the mobilization of resources and projects related to UHC-HI-5 program implementation in the RHU;

c. Develops / conducts capability building interventions / initiatives / packages for health workers and other stakeholders in the local government unit relative to UHC-HI5;

d. Develops and implements advocacy projects and strategies for UHC-HI5 programs;

e. Conducts regular medical consultations relative to achieving health objectives of the UHC-HI5 strategy; 

f. Manages UHC-HI5 data such as reporting, recording and analysis of data; and

g. Conducts epidemiology investigation whenever necessary.
   
IV. Minimum Qualification Standards Education: Doctor of Medicine
   
V. Target Population/Client

a.  (274) 5th and (39) 6th class municipalities

b. National Government Priority Areas

- 44 Focus Geographical Areas (FGA) with 1,045 Municipalities
- Accelerated and Sustainable Anti-Poverty (ASAP) municipalities
- Whole Nation Initiative (WNI) municipalities
- Areas with Bottom-Up Budgeting (BuB) programs 
- Geographic location and socio-economic classification of the area (GIDA, ICC/IP areas, national priority areas for poverty reduction)

c. LGU Hospitals (Level 1 or 2).  # Source – www.doh.gov.ph