ZFF shares best practices for UHC
Features | by Almi Atienza

Two abstracts by Zuellig Family Foundation’s local health system (LHS) team were part of the poster presentation during the 25th University of the Philippines (UP) Manila National Institutes of Health Anniversary Conference held on February 27 and 28, 2023 at the UP Bonifacio Global City.
This year’s conference theme was “Transforming Health Systems Toward Universal Health Care (UHC) Through Research Partnerships.” It provided a venue to learn from the latest research and best practices and network with experts and colleagues.
Co-authored by Dr. Catherine Chung and Dr. Jenilyn Dabu, the two abstracts presented were: (1) “The role of regional UHC core teams in accelerating UHC in the provinces;” and (2) “Realizing Universal Health Care in the Barangays: The Dinalupihan Case Study.”
UHC core team training
Under the “Bayang Malusog” Regional Leadership Development Program, a capability development program co-designed with the Department of Health Field Implementation and Coordination Team of North Luzon, the leadership and technical competencies of the regional UHC core teams were enhanced to ensure quality facilitation of the UHC implementation in the provinces. After 10 months, all UHC sites in Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, and Cordillera Administrative regions achieved the national target for the preparatory level (above 70%) in the UHC LHS maturity standards set by the DOH.
Improving primary care
Under the Provincial Leadership and Governance Program, barangay officials and municipal health team leaders in Dinalupihan (Bataan) underwent capacity-building training for better primary care services. Their enhanced competencies resulted in improved health system monitoring that helped develop evidence-based decision-making and better primary care facilities in managing noncommunicable diseases.
Learn more about ZFF’s programs on improving local health systems: https://zuelligfoundation.org/programs/local-health-system/.
(Published February 28, 2023)