Text by Charito Madrideo

Photos by Joseph Bautista

UP Manila Chancellor Michael Tee and Dean Francis Capule of the College of Pharmacy were joined by the officers and members of ISPOR Philippines; faculty and students at the College of Pharmacy; and the participants of the conference

The International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) Philippines and the University of the Philippines Manila (UPM) College of Pharmacy (CP) conducted a two-day conference titled “Health Technology Assessment (HTA) in the Philippines— Mapping the Milestones and the Road Ahead” from October 8 to 9, 2024, at the Henry Sy Sr. Plenary Hall, Henry Sy Sr. Building.

The conference’s main objectives are to explore the progress, challenges, and opportunities for HTA in the Philippines; to present the updated HTA administrative order, methods guide, process guide, and stakeholder engagement framework; to discuss the roles of stakeholders; and to elect the new officers and to ratify the constitution of ISPOR Philippines.

UPM Chancellor Michael Tee, in his opening remarks, highlighted the integration of patient-centered approaches in decision-making, the importance of engaging communities, and creating a system that not only measures value in terms of clinical outcomes and costs but also encompasses the broader dimensions of health, including accessibility and social determinants. “Our ultimate goal must be to create a system that acknowledges the diverse needs of our communities. Every patient deserves not just treatment, but care that respects their unique circumstances and values. There is no one-size-fits-all approach,” he concludes.

“Every patient deserves not just treatment, but care that respects their unique circumstances and values. There is no one-size-fits-all approach,” UPM Chancellor Michael Tee stated as delivered the opening remarks

Dr. Angela Wee Co, ISPOR Philippines president, gave an overview of ISPOR Philippines and discussed financing healthcare interventions for Universal Healthcare (UH). Dr. Jason Alacapa, chief executive officer and principal of metaHealth, provided introductions for ISPOR Philippines, metaHealth, the conference’s program and agenda, and participants. Dr. Jacinto Blas Mantaring III, chair of the HTA Council of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), discussed “HTA to Support Universal Healthcare: Progress, Challenges, and Opportunities.” Mr. Adrian Skelly of the ISPOR Asia-Pacific Region talked about “How HTA was implemented in other Asia-Pacific countries.”

Dr. Angela Wee Co, ISPOR Philippines president, gave an overview of ISPOR Philippines and discussed financing healthcare interventions for Universal Healthcare (UH)

Dr. Jacinto Blas Mantaring III; Dr. Josephine P. Contreras-Tolentino, president of the Philippine Society of Medical Oncology (PSMO); Dr. Clementine A. Bautista, lead head of the UHC Surge Team of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth); and Ms. Karen Alparce-Villanueva, president of the Philippine Alliance of Patient Organizations, composed the panelists for the discussion about the HTA in the Philippines. Dr. Jason Alacapa and Asst. Prof. Frances Lois U. Ngo served as the moderator.

Dr. Jacinto Blas Mantaring III, chair of the HTA Council of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), discussed “HTA to Support Universal Healthcare: Progress, Challenges, and Opportunities.”

For the second day, Dr. John Wong, president of Epimetrics Inc., presented the “HTA Evaluation Results.” Mrs. Anne Julienne Genuino-Marfori, chief of the HTA Division of the DOST, expounds on the “Presentation of the updated Administrative Orders (AO), methods guide, process guide, and stakeholder engagement framework.” Finally, Mr. Adrian Skelly shared about the “HTA Best Practices.” The three speakers also composed the day’s panel discussion and were joined by Mr. Lorenzo Javier of the Department of Health’s (DOH) Pharmaceutical Division. The moderators were UPCP Assoc. Prof. Margarita Gutierrez and Dr. John Paul Caesar Delos Trinos, chief scientific officer and principal at metaHealth. For the final lecture, Mr. Juan Paolo Tonelete of the World Health Organization (WHO) discussed “HTA and the WHO List of Essential Medicines.”

Mr. Adrian Skelly of the ISPOR Asia-Pacific Region talked about “How HTA was implemented in other Asia-Pacific countries”

The participants were then grouped for the tabletop discussion where Dr. Robert Leong, chief data officer and principal of metaHealth, served as the main facilitator. The three breakaway groups discussed 1) evidence to policy, 2) tapping resources for HTA, and 3) increasing capacity to perform HTA assessment.

The executive director of Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP), Mr. Teodoro Padilla, closed the conference by acknowledging the different institutions and online and onsite participants who attended the event. He likewise congratulated the newly elected officers. The ISPOR Philippines board members for 2024-2026 are Dr. Jason Alacapa, Ms. Bernadette Joy Almirol, Mr. Richard Simon Binos, Dr. Madeleine de Rosas-Valera, Dr. John Paul Ceasar delos Trinos, Dr. Mac Ardy Gloria, and Dr. Carlo Irwin Panelo.