Challenges and Opportunities for Health Research in the

Philippines

Jaime C. Montoya, MD, MSc

UNESCO REPORT: AVE. FOR

DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

WHERE ARE WE?(Source: DOST Data)

(1) NATIONAL R&D EXPENDITURES

1% GDPspent by the publicand private sector

0.12% GDP(government spending is 36%; private sector

is 64%)

(2) SCIENTISTS & ENGINEERS ENGAGED IN R&D

380per millionpopulation

125per millionPopulation

Sector of PerformanceR&D Expenditures

(in million pesos)

  2002 2003 2005

All Sectors 5,769.80 5,909.70 6,326.74Government* 975.6 1,129.60 1,175.33

Higher Education* 762.4 657.4 1350.10

a. Public HEIs 640.0 455.0 1092.87

b. Private HEIs 122.4 202.4 257.23

Private Non-Profit* 121.7 104.6 96.21

Private Industry** 3,910.10 4,018.10 3,705.10

Sources: * DOST R&D Surveys; ** NSO-ASPBI

GERD as% of GDP

Total Scientists & Engineers engaged in R&D per million

population*

Singapore (2006) 2.39 5,713

Malaysia (2006) 0.60 504Thailand (2003) 0.26 292

Viet Nam (2002) 0.19 115

Philippines (2005) 0.12 125

Indonesia (2001) 0.05 199

* All data are in full time equivalent units except for the Philippines

Four agencies joined forces to form one integrated research system –

Philippine National Health Research System

PNHRS Act Bill

AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL HEALTH RESEARCH

SYSTEM, ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL HEALTH RESEARCH FUND AND

PROVIDING FOR ITS ADMINISTRATION AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

SCHOLARSHIP

THESIS/DISSERTATION GRANT

RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP GRANT

RESEARCH APPRENTICESHIP GRANT

SHORT TERM TRAINING

MASTERS DEGREE W/ THESIS GRANT

DOCTORATE DEGREE W/ DISSERTATION GRANT

RESEARCH ENHANCEMENT (SANDWICH PROGRAM ABROAD)

SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM under the DOST

ACCELERATED S&T HUMAN RESOURCEDEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (ASTHRDP)

PPh15,000/month -------- stipend

PPh7,500/academic year -------- book allowance

PPh50,000 thesis grant

actual tuition fees & other school feesgroup insurance traveling expenses (region-based)

MASTERS DEGREE

PPh 26,000/month -------- stipend

PPh7,500/academic year -------- book allowance

PPh100,000 dissertation grant

actual tuition fees & other school feesgroup insurance traveling expenses (region-based)

DOCTORATE DEGREE

RESEARCH GRANTS IN AID• Should cover research topics based on NUHRA• May be operational, biomedical or health systems research• No deadline for submission although preferably during first half of year• No fund limit ( but be realistic)• May involve equipment outlay particularly for institutional grants

For more information, visit:

www.pchrd.dost.gov.ph

Application forms downloadable May submit to: PCHRD-DOST 3F, Main Building Gen Santos Avenue Bicutan, Taguig City

Creation of the Philippine Coordinating Council for Research and Development (PCCRD)

Created by EO Chaired by the President with Cabinet

secretaries as members including heads of advisory councils in research and representatives from the private sector

Formulate strategies to help promote and develop research in the country

Serve as a consensus-building body on national R&D priorities to which government R&D budget allocation would be directed,

Institute measures to improve the monitoring and evaluation of R&D results and the performance of R&D institutions,

Review and recommend policies to encourage private R&D as well as international funding for R&D and increase national R&D funding to 0.5% of GDP.

ChallengesInstitutional arrangements for coordinating the R&D activities of departments/agencies and SUCs are done at the level of departments/agencies (who have R&D budget) themselves. They set their own priorities.

OpportunitiesPCCRD to conduct regular cross-department reviews of publicly funded R&D, e.g. year start and mid-year.

ChallengesInstitutional arrangements for coordinating the R&D activities of departments/agencies and SUCs are done at the level of departments/agencies (who have R&D budget) themselves. They set their own priorities.

OpportunitiesPCCRD to conduct regular cross-department reviews of publicly funded R&D, e.g. year start and mid-year.

ChallengesGovernment departments/agencies set their own priority R&D agenda within the purview of their specific mandates.

Opportunities›PCCRD to coordinate/unify priorities setting/funding into one National R&D Priorities Plan (just like IPP) plan to be adopted and officially issued as an E.O. by the President.›Presidential directive to create a study group under PCCRD to determine feasibility of establishing a R&D fund.

ChallengesLack of comprehensive database of all publicly funded R&D projects from which to base Monitoring & Evaluation system.

OpportunitiesPresidential directive to develop an accessible and shared database of all R&D projects funded by the government and to monitor these projects.

ChallengesThere are barriers constraining the importation of R&D equipment and materials.

OpportunitiesIssuance of a presidential directive to constitute a study group led by PCCRD private sector representative with members from DOST, DOE, BOC, and DTI to recommend improvements in R&D value chain.

ChallengesPotential contribution of foreign direct investments (FDI) to build the country’s research and innovation capacity is not tapped/maximized.

Opportunities›Presidential directive to DTI and DOST to do in-depth study on the use of FDI for financing R&D. ›Encourage/(Require) transnational companies (TNCs) to set up R&D facilities in the country that would employ foreign nationals and train local scientists/researchers. These TNCs could contribute to the R&D Fund. (Ex. Drugs and health products companies like Novartis; Agricultural companies like Bayer; Semiconductors companies like Texas Instruments).

Direct link between research and development

Research for health and development*

Human & Social Development

Economic Development

Health System

Health

Health Research

“Research for Health”

* Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers: An Opportunity for strengthening national health research systems, COHRED Special Learning Session, Forum 10, Cairo, 2006