Patient organizations as the heartbeat of UHC

Strengthening health systems is crucial to achieving Universal Health Care (UHC). It ensures that all Filipinos, regardless of socioeconomic status or geographic location, can access essential health services without financial hardship. A resilient health system also enables the country to respond effectively to pandemics, disasters, and long-term health challenges. The government is actively strengthening the country's healthcare system to make UHC a reality. The P448-billion health budget for 2026 is the largest allocation under the Marcos administration, coming close to the estimated annual P450 billion necessary for full implementation of the UHC Law. The Department of Health (DoH) has emphasized that increased government spending, expanded PhilHealth benefit packages, and Zero Balance Billing in DoH hospitals are crucial to lowering out-of-pocket expenses, particularly for low-income families. But health systems strengthening cannot be achieved by government alone. It requires the meaningful participation of patients, communities, healthcare professionals, civil society, the private sector, academe, and other stakeholders. Patient organizations bring something particularly valuable to this partnership: lived experience. They understand where patients encounter barriers because their members experience these hurdles firsthand, from delayed diagnosis and fragmented referrals to difficulties accessing medicines, financial hardship, treatment adherence, rehabilitation, and long-term care. Their participation helps ensure that policies designed at the national level respond to what patients actually experience on the ground. This principle is increasingly recognized internationally. In May 2024, Member States at the 77th World Health Assembly adopted WHA77.2, a landmark resolution on social participation for UHC, health, and well-being. It recognizes the importance of regular and meaningful participation by individuals, communities, and civil society in health-related decision-making. Such participation also supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3, which seeks to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all, at all ages. Achieving this requires collaboration across sectors and communities, particularly in advancing UHC, preventing communicable and non-communicable diseases (NCDs), strengthening primary healthcare, and addressing health inequities. In the Philippines, an important development aligned with this growing emphasis on social participation is the recent formation of Alyansa Para sa Kalusugan ng Pilipino (AKAP), bringing together health advocacy groups, community organizations, healthcare practitioners, the academe, and patient-focused associations. The coalition believes that a stronger health system starts with empowered communities, informed citizens, responsive institutions, and sustained partnerships. Through a holistic framework focusing on prevention, health literacy, and sustainability, AKAP aims to advance practical, people-centered solutions across the continuum of care: from prevention and early awareness to access, treatment, rehabilitation, survivorship, and long-term support. Its founding members are the Blood Cancer Alliance of the Philippines, the Bridge Stroke Alliance, Diabetes Advocacy Support, Inc., Dialysis PH, Hemophilia Advocates Philippines, Kanser sa Adolescents and Young Adults, the Kidney Transplant Association of the Philippines, LungHAP, Lymphoma PH, MyeSPEAK Phils., Inc., the New Vois Association of the Philippines, the Obesity Philippines Association, Scoliosis Philippines, and Tibok ng Puso. The diversity of these organizations is significant. Their members live with different diseases and health conditions, yet many encounter similar challenges such as low public awareness, delayed or uneven access to diagnosis, gaps in patient education, financial and logistical barriers, and fragmented support throughout the patient journey. By coming together, these organizations can transform individual advocacies into a stronger collective voice. They can share insights, identify common gaps, align priorities, and bring patients' lived experiences more effectively into health policy discussions. AKAP plans to implement awareness campaigns that help Filipinos understand health risks, recognize warning signs, adopt healthier behaviors, and seek screening or early consultation. Its health literacy initiatives seek to make health information understandable, culturally relevant, and accessible through patient education, community-based learning, clear communication, and stronger capacity among frontline advocates. This role is particularly important in primary healthcare, the foundation of UHC. Patient organizations can help connect communities with the health system before illnesses become severe, encouraging prevention, early detection, timely consultation, treatment adherence, and continuity of care. They can also help reach populations that formal health institutions may find difficult to engage with. AKAP likewise seeks to promote sustainability through shared ownership, cross-sector partnerships, and alignment with national and local health priorities. It aims to serve as a platform for dialogue, partnership development, public education, research collaboration, and collective action, while ensuring that prevention, patient empowerment, and long-term sustainability remain visible in health discussions that can otherwise become focused primarily on treatment and crisis response. Patient organizations should therefore be seen not merely as beneficiaries of health programs or stakeholders to be consulted after policies have been developed. They can be advocates, educators, conveners, sources of real-world knowledge, and partners in designing and implementing better health policies. Ultimately, UHC cannot be measured only by budgets allocated, facilities built, benefit packages expanded, or medicines made available. Its true measure is whether people can obtain the care they need, when and where they need it. If UHC is ultimately about people, then people must have a meaningful voice in shaping it. Teodoro B. Padilla is the executive director of Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines, which represents the biopharmaceutical medicines and vaccines industry in the country. Its members are at the forefront of developing, investing and delivering innovative medicines, vaccines, and diagnostics for Filipinos to live healthier and more productive lives.