Ateneo Rosita G Leong Primary Care Hub

01/06/2026

Join us on June 27 for the first session of the 𝗞𝗨𝗠𝗜𝗟𝗢𝗦 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀: 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, entitled “𝗟𝗔𝗬𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗙𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡: 𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗨𝗛𝗖 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝘀.”

In this session, we will be joined by Dr. Paolo Victor "Lopao" Medina as he introduces the Universal Health Care (UHC) Law, its goals, and the key reforms shaping primary care in the Philippines.

Dr. Lopao is a public health physician, community health leader, and medical educator specializing in community medicine and primary health care. He is an Assistant Professor at the UP College of Medicine, a former Municipal Health Officer, and a recognized advocate for health systems strengthening, community-based health programs, and universal health care in the Philippines.

Gain a deeper understanding of how these reforms are transforming healthcare delivery, engage in meaningful discussions on the future of primary care, and explore your role in advancing accessible, people-centered healthcare for all.

🔗 Register using the QR code below or through this link: https://bit.ly/KumilosLayingTheFoundation

29/05/2026

The Ateneo Rosita G Leong Primary Healthcare Hub in partnership with the Philippine Society of Public Health Physicians (PSPHP) brings you the Kumilos Series!

Kumilos is a hybrid learning and networking initiative that brings together public health professionals, primary care practitioners, students, and emerging leaders for expert-led discussions, insightful conversations, and collaborative action.

Over the next three years, Kumilos will explore key public health themes:
📍 Primary Care in Action
📍 Social Determinants of Health
📍 Career Planning in Public Health

Eager to learn more about Kumilos? Check out this post and step into a growing movement toward meaningful public health action.

Stay tuned for the webinar registration this June 2026!

18/05/2026

DaMDamin 2026 results are out! 🌿☀️

If you applied to join the program, please check your email for an update on your application and for further instructions. We're all excited to welcome you and can't wait to embark on this journey together!

To all our accepted participants, congratulations, and see you at Pre-deployment! 🎉🎉🎉

18/05/2026

𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗿𝗼𝗼𝘁𝘀, 𝘄𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘄. 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀, 𝘄𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱. 🌱

On March 14, 2026, hundreds of students, professionals, and advocates gathered at Escaler Hall, Ateneo de Manila University to claim their place in building universal health care.

Project LAAN’s Universal Healthcare Summit Summit 2026 brought together voices from 𝙥𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙘 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙩𝙝, 𝙥𝙤𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙮, 𝙡𝙖𝙬, 𝙩𝙚𝙘𝙝𝙣𝙤𝙡𝙤𝙜𝙮, 𝙚𝙙𝙪𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣, 𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙖𝙜𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙨 — proving that no single field can build a health system alone, but together, every discipline has something essential to contribute.

Through discussions, workshops, and conversations that crossed every boundary between fields, participants worked, collaborated, and left with a deeper sense of their own role in building a health system that works for every Filipino. 🇵🇭

This is what years of advocacy looks like. This is what it means to 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘄𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘄.

The roots run deep. The branches keep growing. 🌿

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘳, 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘯𝘦𝘳, 𝘤𝘰-𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘥 𝘶𝘱 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦.




Edited by: Kai Manuel
______________________
Presented by Project LAAN
Co-presented by Dr. Rosita G. Leong Primary Care Hub

In partnership with:
PhilHealth NCR and Rizal
Ateneo Resident Students Association (ARSA)
Philippine Science High School Student Council - Main Campus (PSHS-MC Student Council)

In recognition of Major Sponsors:
KitKat®
Bambike EcoTours
Anytime Fitness - Vista Katipunan

In cooperation with:
Philippine Society of Public Health Physicians (PSPHP)
EpiMetrics, Inc.

Extending our thanks to:
Jollibee

Special thanks to:
SOSE Sanggunian
Health Sciences Society of the Ateneo (HSS)
Ateneo Senior High School Samahan ng mga Iskolar na Naglilingkod at Gumagabay (ASHS SINAG)

Brought to you by:
Tugon Ateneo (TUGON)

09/05/2026

📘 New Research Spotlight!

How can we ensure that health data truly drives better health outcomes under the Universal Health Care (UHC) Law?

In their recent UP CIDS discussion paper, Using the Health Information System for Performance Measurement under the Universal Health Care Law, the Philippine Primary Care Study Group highlight that health information systems are more than technical tools—they are foundational to accountability, transparency, and evidence-based decision-making under UHC.

Key Takeways:
🔹 Health information systems shape what becomes visible, measurable, and actionable in health policy.
🔹 When health financing is distorted, performance data can obscure rather than reveal the true causes of underperformance.
🔹 Excessive documentation and fragmented reporting systems increase administrative burden and take healthcare workers away from patient care.
🔹 Performance measures should focus on quality and appropriateness of care, not simply on meeting volume targets.

Moving forward, strengthening UHC will require simplifying and integrating reporting systems, protecting health financing from political interference, and using performance measures that reward high-quality, patient-centered care rather than compliance alone.

At the RGL Primary Healthcare Hub, we believe that better data systems can support better decisions, stronger accountability, and ultimately, better health outcomes for all Filipinos.

Read more here: https://cids.up.edu.ph/.../using-health-information.../

🩺 NEW PUBLICATION: Bridging the Data Gap in Universal Health Care 📊💻

How do we ensure that the Universal Health Care (UHC) Law actually works for every Filipino? The answer lies in the data—but only if that data is accurate, transparent, and protected from political interference.

We are pleased to release the discussion paper "Using the Health Information System for Performance Measurement under the Universal Health Care Law". Authored by Antonio L. Dans, Leonila F. Dans, Rafael Marfori, and the Philippine Primary Care Study Group, this paper from our Program on Health Systems Development dives deep into the critical link between health financing and information integrity.

🔍 Key Highlights from the Paper:
🛑 The Challenge of Documentation: Current designs for PhilHealth’s Konsulta/YAKAP programs often result in heavy documentation burdens that pull healthcare workers away from their patients.
🏗️ Strategic Purchasing: The paper argues that PhilHealth’s role as the "dominant purchaser" requires fiscal integrity—when funds are diverted or withheld, performance data becomes "structural noise" rather than a diagnostic tool.
🤝 From Quotas to Quality: A shift is recommended from volume-based targets to three core reforms: simplifying the Health Information System (HIS), building LGU transparency through data integration, and rationalizing performance measures.
💡 Proposed Solutions: Shifting to a "Year 1 to Year 2" evolution of performance measures, including biometrics for registration and automated patient-level data transmission.

Universal Health Care is a right, not a favor. Ensuring our information systems remain robust and transparent is the first step in defending that right.

📖 Download the full discussion paper for FREE: https://cids.up.edu.ph/download/using-health-information-system-performance-measurement-under-universal-health-care-law/

21/04/2026

National data may suggest that healthcare access is improving, but a closer look reveals a different picture. Access to care in the Philippines is uneven, shaped by geography, income, and the distribution of health workers and facilities. Communities in remote and underserved areas continue to face limited services, longer travel times, and fewer opportunities to receive timely and complete care. These gaps persist not because solutions do not exist, but because systems are not designed around those who need them most.

Bridging these inequities requires strengthening primary care as the foundation of Universal Health Care. Care must be brought closer to communities, supported by a well-distributed health workforce, and designed to respond to local realities.

A truly universal system is one where access is not determined by a zip code, but guaranteed for every Filipino.

16/04/2026

Good news, everybody!

The application deadline for 𝗗𝗮𝗠𝗗𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 has been extended to 𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗹 𝟭𝟵 (𝗦𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆).

For more details about the application process, check the Info Session recording and FAQs below:

Info Session: https://bit.ly/2026ISRec
Frequently Asked Questions: https://bit.ly/2026ISFAQ

This is your last chance to be part of this 10-day journey through community medicine and public health.

Apply now! ✨
http://bit.ly/DaMDamin2026
http://bit.ly/DaMDamin2026
http://bit.ly/DaMDamin2026

13/04/2026

Friendly reminder: 2 days left until the end of Applications for DaMDamin 2026.
http://bit.ly/DaMDamin2026
http://bit.ly/DaMDamin2026
http://bit.ly/DaMDamin2026

Still curious about the program? Check the Info Session recording and FAQs below:

Info Session: https://bit.ly/2026ISRec
Frequently Asked Questions: https://bit.ly/2026ISFAQ

We’re excited to see your names on the list! 🤗

12/04/2026

A health system that leans too heavily on hospitals is a system missing its strongest foundation.

New evidence from the Philippines highlights persistent inequities in access to care—where who you are and where you live still shape whether you receive services. With inpatient claims rising, out-of-pocket costs remaining high, and preventable hospitalizations accounting for a significant share of health spending, the gaps in primary health care are becoming harder to ignore.

The Universal Health Care Act of 2019 offers a critical pathway forward—but realizing its promise requires stronger primary care, smarter health financing, and data-driven decision-making. Leveraging large-scale datasets like those from Philippine Health Insurance Corporation can help ensure resources are directed where they are needed most.

Strengthening primary care isn’t just about improving efficiency—it’s about advancing equity.

Read the full PIDS study here:
doi.org/10.62986/dp2025.63

11/04/2026

As primary care systems face growing strain, new technologies like AI are stepping in with the promise of transformation—but not without important questions.

The latest review from The Lancet highlights how AI can support both providers and patients, while also raising critical concerns around safety, equity, and real-world impact. From accessibility and continuity to provider experience and planetary health, the future of AI in primary care must be guided by quality, ethics, and human-centered design.

As we move forward, strengthening AI health literacy and grounding innovation in patient needs will be key to building a more sustainable and equitable primary care system.

Read more in The Lancet Primary Care: http://spkl.io/6184A22jr



Alt: Figure of AI in primary health care. AI=artificial intelligence. EHR=electronic health record. PHC=primary health care.

Primary care—a cornerstone of health-care delivery—is increasingly under strain.

The latest advancements in AI offer new opportunities to transform primary care. However, the quick deployment of AI ahead of robust real-world evaluation or regulation raises questions about unintended consequences on the quality of care.

How can these advancements support care providers and people with their health?

Read more in The Lancet Primary Care: http://spkl.io/6184A22jr

Alt: Figure of AI in primary health care. AI=artificial intelligence. EHR=electronic health record. PHC=primary health care.