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% GDP spent by the public and private sector 0.12% GDP (government spending is 36%; private sector is 64%) ‏ (2) SCIENTISTS & ENGINEERS ENGAGED IN R&D 380 per million population 125 per million Population

Sector of Performance R&D Expenditures (in million pesos)‏ All Sectors 5, , , Government*975.61, , Higher Education* a. Public HEIs b. Private HEIs Private Non-Profit* Private Industry**3, , , Sources: * DOST R&D Surveys; ** NSO-ASPBI

GERD as % of GDP Total Scientists & Engineers engaged in R&D per million population* Singapore (2006) ‏ 2.395,713 Malaysia (2006) ‏ Thailand (2003) ‏ Viet Nam (2002) ‏ Philippines (2005) ‏ Indonesia (2001) ‏ * 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 RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (ASTHRDP)‏

PPh15,000/month stipend PPh7,500/academic year book allowance PPh50,000 thesis grant actual tuition fees & other school fees group 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 fees group 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: 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.

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

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

Challenges Government 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.

Challenges Lack of comprehensive database of all publicly funded R&D projects from which to base Monitoring & Evaluation system. Opportunities Presidential directive to develop an accessible and shared database of all R&D projects funded by the government and to monitor these projects.

Challenges There are barriers constraining the importation of R&D equipment and materials. Opportunities Issuance 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.

Challenges Potential 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