QuestionsQuestions (Republic Act No. 10532)
RA No. 10532 is titled the “Philippine National Health Research System Act of 2013.” Its policy is to protect and promote the people’s right to health, instill health consciousness, and improve the quality of life of every Filipino through health research and development initiatives.
“Health” refers to a state of optimal physical, mental, and social well-being and the ability to function at the individual level.
These are the national and local public and private agencies/organizations, policymakers, the academe, medical and health societies, people’s organizations, and others concerned with and affected by health and development.
It is a set of national research priorities determined by stakeholders that addresses population health needs vis-à-vis the health sector’s goal for universal health care, and serves as a platform to advocate for local, national, and international support.
It is a framework anchored on principles of Essential National Health Research—specifically inclusiveness, participation, quality, equity, efficiency, and effectiveness—connecting and converging with wider health, economic, political, educational, and S&T systems.
Research covers five generic areas: (1) measuring the problem; (2) understanding cause(s); (3) elaborating solutions; (4) translating solutions/evidence into policy, practice, and products; and (5) evaluating the effectiveness of solutions.
It is institutionalized within the mandate of the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD), as the national coordinating body for health research, building on earlier DOST-DOH memorandums of understanding (2003 and 2007).
To improve health status, productivity, and quality of life by: (a) linking health research to health system needs; (b) ensuring investments yield the most benefit; (c) promoting good governance through efficient, effective, transparent, and ethical management; (d) promoting national and international partnerships; and (e) ensuring sustainability of resources for health research.
The PNHRS is composed of the Governing Council (GC), Steering Committee, Technical Working Committees (TWC), and the Secretariat. The relationships are to be described in the IRR.
It includes: Secretary of DOST (Chair), Secretary of DOH (Co-Chair), CHED Chair, UP Manila Chancellor, National Nutrition Council Executive Director, PCHRD Executive Director, and five private sector representatives.
It sets policies/directions; reviews and approves long-term plans/programs; evaluates and approves the National Unified Health Research Agenda and identifies priority foci; reviews/approves/disapproves research programs; and creates committees as needed.
The Secretariat is headed by the PCHRD Executive Director and provides technical/administrative support in research and development management, institution development, information/communication/utilization, and finance/administration. The Executive Director also exercises an oversight function over PNHRS implementation.
It is headed by the PCHRD Executive Director and includes directors/representatives from DOH-HPDPB, CHED-OPPRI, UP Manila-NIH, NEDA, PHREB, PHIC, NSO, PRC, DOTC-LTO, DENR-EMB, LGUs, and chairs of relevant PNHRS TWC. Functions include recommending policies to the GC, overseeing implementation/harmonization and allocation of PNHRS funds, coordinating harmonization among six TWC, and monitoring/reporting progress to the GC.
The GC creates TWC aligned with research themes based on country health needs and the six building blocks of the WHO to attain universal health care. The TWC develop and monitor strategic plans and work closely with stakeholders and the Secretariat.
PHREB ensures adherence to universal ethical principles for the protection of human research participants. It must, among others, formulate/update ethical guidelines, develop guidelines on ethics review committees, monitor institutional ethics review committee performance, promote functional ethics review committees, advise the PNHRS GC on ethical issues, initiate ethical discourses, and network with local/national/international organizations.
The PNHRS framework is mirrored in all regions via regional health research consortia whose setup varies by region’s culture and resources. Each regional system addresses health research agenda, human resource development in health research, conduct of researches, dissemination and utilization of results, resource mobilization, and leadership/management.
Regular monitoring and evaluation are done by the GC through the Secretariat to determine PNHRS accountabilities to contributing agencies. The specifics are to be provided in the IRR.
The DOST-PCHRD, DOH, CHED, and UPM-NIH must promulgate the IRR within sixty (60) days after effectivity. The Act takes effect fifteen (15) days after publication in any newspaper of general circulation.