“By including health research financing in our national agenda, we can have a health system that is fair, resilient, and for all,” said Ms. Maria Violeta G. Intia of the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Health Research and Development, as she delivered the presentation on behalf of Dr. Jaime C. Montoya during 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 second plenary session themed, “Deepening the Role of Evidence in Health Financing Reforms in the Philippines,” reflects the continuing effort to strengthen policy decisions through research and promote a more evidence-informed approach to health financing reforms.

Ms. Intia emphasized that mainstreaming health research financing is essential for guiding resource allocation and evaluating health programs. However, she noted that most studies rely on short-term funding, which limits continuous data collection and long-term analysis. She warned, “Without sustained support, evidence becomes fragmented, weakening policy implementation and delaying the assessment of reforms that influence access to healthcare.” 

To address this gap, DOST-PCHRD collaborates with the Department of Health (DOH) through the Advancing Health through Evidence-Assisted Decisions with Health Policy and Systems Research (AHEAD-HPSR) Program and with PhilHealth through the PhilHealth STUDIES Program.

These initiatives aim to generate evidence-based policy recommendations that advance Universal Health Care (UHC) Law and advances a responsive, equitable health research ecosystem. Yet, Ms. Intia noted that research financing remains largely project-based, limiting the continuity and long-term impact of research. 

DOST-PCHRD proposes institutionalized funding mechanisms to ensure stability,  foster collaboration among government agencies, academic institutions, and regional health research consortia, and embed evidence into every health planning and decision-making level.

The Council also envisions establishing a Health Financing Research Consortium to unify efforts among the DOH, PhilHealth, and the Health Technology Assessment Council, promoting shared research planning, capacity-building, and policy analysis in cost-effectiveness and service utilization. 

Integrating health research financing into the National Unified Health Research Agenda (NUHRA) aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being and AmBisyon Natin 2040. By making it a national priority, the country can establish a long-term direction for evidence generation that informs equitable resource allocation, benefit coverage, and service access under UHC.