“Filipino families continue to face accessibility problems to primary care services,” said UNILAB’s Center for Health Policy (UCHP) Director Mr. Ruben John Basa where he emphasized during his presentation at the second plenary session of the PhilHealth STUDIES Conference. Held on 18 September 2025 at the Marquis Events Place, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City, the session carried the theme, “Deepening the Role of Evidence in Health Financing Reforms in the Philippines.

Central to Mr. Basa’s presentation was PhilHealth’s Konsultasyong Sulit at Tama (Konsulta) Manual of Operations, a step-by-step guide designed to help healthcare providers implement key components, including membership registration, provider accreditation, and social mobilization. The manual also facilitates affordable access to consultations, diagnostic tests, and medications for Filipino families. UCHP is actively promoting Konsulta to bring these services closer to communities..

More than a policy document, the manual outlines clear procedures for accreditation, patient enrollment, benefit access, financial management, and reporting. By distributing the manual to health facilities, UHCP encourages consistent adoption of Konsulta, helping ensure that services reach those who need them most. Without such guidance, patients risk experiencing uneven access depending on their location.

The impact of Konsulta is most evident when viewed from the perspective of families. Many continue to delay consultations or pay out-of-pocket for basic check-ups. “If our healthcare facilities follow the manual, many patients can access consultations, medicines, and tests at the primary level, thereby avoiding the financial burden that comes with untreated conditions escalating into hospital admissions,” Mr. Basa explained.

He emphasized that Konsulta must function effectively in clinics and health centers where families seek care. “If primary care functions well, we prevent illness from escalating into conditions that cost far more, both financially and in suffering,” he added, illustrating how UCHP is translating policy into practice to make preventive care available, accessible, and affordable.

The manual promotes greater alignment among primary care providers, local government units, and PhilHealth. With standardized procedures, health centers can operate under clear guidance, and patients can expect consistent services across locations. Transitioning Konsulta into a fully operational program requires both financing and clarity, and UCHP has positioned itself as a key driver in ensuring these elements work together.

“Primary care is the foundation of any health system. If Konsulta succeeds, it can make healthcare preventive and affordable, rather than reactive and costly for Filipino families,” Mr. Basa concluded, reinforcing the importance of reforms that respond directly to household needs.

Established in 2024, the UCHP serves as a dialogue partner for Universal Health Care (UHC) and continues to lead reforms that link evidence to practice. Through its advocacy for Konsulta, UNILAB envisions a future where every Filipino can access preventive and affordable care close to home.

The PhilHealth STUDIES Conference is co-organized by the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD).