UPCPH Dr. Stephen Zuellig Program for Health Leadership and Governance

16/08/2026

“Universal health care can be achieved when a Filipino’s chance of receiving timely, affordable and quality health care no longer depends on geography, income, privilege or luck.”

Read more about the 4th Dr. Stephen Zuellig Memorial Public Health Lecture here:

More than six years after the Universal Health Care Act became law, two Filipinos can enter the same health system and encounter very different realities.

13/08/2026

Over the years, the Dr. Stephen Zuellig Program for Health Leadership and Governance (DSZPHLG) of the UP Manila College of Public Health has worked with partners across the country to strengthen leadership, advance good governance, and support the delivery of equitable and responsive health services.

From capacity-building programs on leadership and governance, partnerships with local governments and health institutions, to providing platforms that bring together leaders and advocates for Universal Health Care, every milestone reflects a shared commitment to building a healthier Philippines.

But our work does not end here.

As we look toward the coming years, DSZPHLG remains committed to expanding partnerships, strengthening health leadership, developing local capacities, and supporting innovative approaches to achieve health equity and Universal Health Care.

This is our journey so far—and the future we are building together.

Stronger leaders. Better governance. Healthier communities.

Send a message to learn more

13/08/2026

Continuing the discussion from the 4th Dr. Stephen Zuellig Memorial Public Health Lecture, the second and final panel of distinguished reactors brought together critical perspectives from regional health governance, policy research, and health economics to advance Universal Health Care (UHC) nationwide. The panel featured Dr. Angeli Loren W. Caguioa, representing Regional Director Dr. Sulpicio Henry M. Legaspi Jr. of the DOH Center for Health Development – Northern Mindanao; Regional Director Dr. Lester M. Tan of the DOH Metro Manila CHD; Dr. Valerie Gilbert Ulep, Senior Research Fellow at the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS); and Dr. Leizel P. Lagrada-Rombaua, Coordinator of the Program for Health Equity and Associate Professor at the University of the Philippines Manila.

Drawing from ground-level implementation through Northern Mindanao’s PuroKalusugan initiative, Dr. Caguioa highlighted the transformative potential of primary care while emphasizing key operational hurdles: unlocking PhilHealth financing by removing bureaucratic barriers like rigid ID requirements for marginalized and IP communities, standardizing health worker compensation to address equity gaps, and fostering cross-border LGU collaboration so that no Filipino is denied care due to administrative boundaries.

Complementing these frontline insights, Dr. Tan reflected on the evolving governance landscape, noting that while foundational tools like the Local Health Systems Maturity Level have institutionalized reforms through local policies, structural fragmentation persists--even within highly urbanized cities where hospitals and health centers operate separately. He stressed the need to align DOH staffing with its growing budget and detailed how key financial mechanisms, such as the Special Health Fund and Zero Balance Billing (ZBB), drive financial protection for hospitalized Filipinos.

Expanding the focus to national strategy, Dr. Ulep turned the lens toward academia and research institutions, framing the UHC Act as a world-class blueprint whose implementation bottleneck is fundamentally institutional and technical rather than logistical. He emphasized that complex reforms--such as value-based purchasing and digital integration--require permanent "technical brain trusts" that work directly alongside agencies like PhilHealth in real time. Dr. Ulep urged national and regional universities to step up as active co-architects of policy, building local knowledge infrastructures to guide LGUs through sophisticated health system transitions as the Philippines advances into an upper-middle-income nation.

Finally, Dr. Lagrada grounded the discussion in the imperative of health equity, arguing that true UHC cannot be declared until its impact is felt by the most vulnerable households. Analyzing recent household data, she revealed that out-of-pocket health costs disproportionately hit the poorest 20% of families as a catastrophic "financial cliff," driven largely by outpatient drug costs rather than hospital bills. Dr. Lagrada called for completely free point-of-care services for the poor, rigorous validation of GIDA lists and unserved urban poor populations, and an "equity-efficiency matrix" to direct resources where they are needed most--stressing that data must clearly map inequality so that national budgets can truly reach the last mile.

Together, the insights shared by this final panel demonstrate that bridging the gap between Universal Health Care policy and lived reality requires continuous collaboration across all levels of governance. By pairing regional ex*****on and flexible local leadership with rigorous research and a steadfast focus on equity, the Philippines can ensure that health care coverage translates into meaningful, compassionate, and accessible care for every Filipino.

13/08/2026

Building on the strong foundation laid by Dr. Panelo’s keynote address, the 4th Dr. Stephen Zuellig Memorial Public Health Lecture brought together distinguished leaders from government, local health systems, research, and public health practice to foster a richer, deeper exchange on Universal Health Care (UHC) and health equity. Centering on local and frontline Leadership with a focus on LGUs and municipal health implementation, this first group featured local health champions including Hon. Jose Enrique M. Miraflores, Governor of the Province of Aklan; Hon. James S. Edduba, Governor of the Province of Kalinga; and Dr. Maria Hilda C. Bucu, Municipal Health Officer of Noveleta, Cavite, and President of AMHOP-Cavite. Their ground-level experience in governance and local health delivery highlights what it takes to make UHC a reality in our communities.

Opening the panel, Hon. Jose Enrique M. Miraflores stressed that UHC requires moving from isolated facilities to an integrated, province-wide health network that ensures a seamless patient journey. Drawing from Aklan’s experience as a pilot area, he highlighted their achievements in organizing district health systems, unifying all 17 municipalities via a provincial ordinance, and piloting a Provincial Health Information Exchange. To address challenges like political turnover and administrative fragmentation, he urged amending the Local Government Code to mandate unified provincial health governance and called for front-loading the Special Health Fund to enable proactive planning, timely procurement, and reliable health worker incentives.

Continuing the discussion, Hon. James S. Edduba framed Kalinga’s UHC journey around its native vision of holistic well-being, peace, and progress. He highlighted Kalinga’s milestone of institutionalizing a province-wide health system by ordinance and increasing PhilHealth YAKAP primary care enrollment to 70% to lower out-of-pocket costs. To bridge persistent equity gaps in remote upland barangays and resolve financial strains from delayed PhilHealth reimbursements, Governor Edduba advocated for front-loading the Special Health Fund, establishing digital primary care networks linked to regional Apex hospitals, and institutionalizing health leadership training for local chief executives to sustain political commitment.

Bringing the municipal frontliner’s perspective, Dr. Maria Hilda C. Bucu illustrated how UHC has evolved on the ground, transforming Noveleta’s former ₱30-per-capita annual medicine budget into comprehensive primary care with free diagnostic tests, imaging, and 21 essential drugs through PhilHealth's KONSULTA and YAKAP programs. This progress inspired local leadership to hire more healthcare staff and navigators. However, she emphasized that critical hurdles remain, including fragmented referral systems within Primary Care Provider Networks (PCPNs), severe workforce shortages, administrative delays in issuing guidelines for health worker incentives, and high costs for private IT claims software. She concluded that while UHC's legal framework is strong, its final success depends on local ex*****on that makes healthcare directly felt by every patient.

Together, these local health champions demonstrated that while national policy and financial frameworks set the vision, the true test of UHC lies in local ex*****on. Bridging the gap between policy and practice requires strong political will, unified provincial governance, and sustained support for the frontline health workforce. Ultimately, their collective insights reaffirm that transforming healthcare across the Philippines depends on building connected, resilient systems where every community--regardless of geography or socio-economic status--experiences accessible and equitable care.

13/08/2026

Dr. Carlo Irwin A. Panelo, Professor at the UP College of Medicine, served as the main speaker at the 4th Dr. Stephen Zuellig Memorial Public Health Lecture, presenting "From Coverage to Care: Reimagining Universal Health Care in the Philippines."

More than six years after the passage of the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act of 2019, the Philippines has made important strides toward transforming a fragmented health system into one that provides accessible, financially protective, and people-centered care for all Filipinos. Yet significant gaps remain between the promise of UHC and its full realization.

In his lecture, Dr. Carlo Panelo examined the progress of UHC through three closely linked goals: improving access to quality health services, strengthening financial protection, and increasing the efficiency of the health system within the country’s devolved governance structure.

The picture, he noted, is mixed. While the Philippines has achieved improvements in population health over the longer term, its progress continues to lag behind several neighboring countries. The health system must contend with the growing burden of noncommunicable diseases alongside persistent infectious disease risks. At the same time, high out-of-pocket health spending continues to place many Filipino households at risk of financial hardship.

Efforts to integrate the health system are underway, including the development of health care provider networks, health information exchange, and public-private partnerships. However, these initiatives have yet to reach their full potential, with implementation affected by challenges in areas such as fund pooling, network development, accreditation, and contracting.

Dr. Panelo underscored that the next phase of UHC must increasingly move from legislative intent to effective system ex*****on.

In the immediate to medium term, priorities include improving Department of Health budget ex*****on and supply chain management; accelerating key PhilHealth reforms and programs such as YAKAP, GAMOT, and diagnosis-related group (DRG)-based global budgeting; and strengthening the capacity of local governments to plan, finance, manage, and sustain integrated health service delivery. Greater alignment among national government agencies, local governments, health providers, and other stakeholders will be essential to prevent fragmented initiatives and build a coherent social contract for health.

Over the longer term, the country must answer three fundamental questions: What health services is every Filipino entitled to receive? Who is responsible for ensuring that these services are delivered? And how will these entitlements be sustainably financed?
Answering these questions will require closing supply-side gaps through strategic investments in health facilities and a stronger health workforce—including its production, deployment, and retention—while creating incentives that make quality services viable even in underserved communities. It will also require a clearer understanding of the true cost of UHC, adequate and sustainable domestic financing, and stronger cost-containment measures through strategic purchasing, effective referral systems, rational medicines policies, fraud and waste reduction, and better management of provider incentives.

Dr. Panelo concluded with an important reminder: the Philippines is no longer at the starting line of UHC, but neither is it close to the finish.

The country has established the legal architecture, launched major reforms and programs, and demonstrated promising innovations. Moving closer to the promise of universal health care will now depend on sustained political commitment and the recognition of health as a social contract—supported by stronger public financial management, empowered local health systems, a more strategic PhilHealth, and meaningful engagement with the private sector.
The challenge ahead is no longer simply to affirm the promise of UHC, but to make that promise work for every Filipino.

13/08/2026

A major highlight of the 4th Dr. Stephen Zuellig Memorial Public Health Lecture was the series of reflections from leaders in government, academia, and the Zuellig Family Foundation, united by a common message: achieving Universal Health Care (UHC) requires strong local leadership, sustained implementation, and collaboration across sectors.

Opening the event, Dr. Ernesto R. Gregorio, Jr., Coordinator of the Dr. Stephen Zuellig Program for Health Leadership and Governance, described how the program—established through the generosity of the Zuellig family—strengthens the leadership capacities of local chief executives, from provinces to barangays, to make health a governance priority. The program has since expanded to partner regions while documenting good practices and generating evidence on the effectiveness of leadership and governance interventions.

Dr. Fernando B. Garcia, Jr., Dean of the UP College of Public Health, emphasized that legislation is only the beginning. The true measure of UHC, he noted, is whether people experience meaningful improvements in their daily lives—whether a farmer in Kalinga can access care more easily, a senior citizen in Aklan can be admitted promptly, or fewer families are pushed into debt to pay for medicines.

The occasion was also graced by Mr. David Zuellig, Honorary Consul General and a direct descendant of Dr. Stephen Zuellig, who expressed appreciation for the opportunity to hear ground-level perspectives and engage with partners working across the health system.

Representing the Department of Health, Mr. Lindsley Jeremiah Villarante highlighted UHC milestones, including PuroKalusugan primary care outreach, VAT relief on essential medicines, and expanded Zero Balance Billing, while acknowledging persistent challenges such as high out-of-pocket spending and shortages in health facilities.

From the Zuellig Family Foundation, Chairman Dr. Manuel M. Dayrit reflected on Dr. Stephen Zuellig’s legacy of long-term vision. He stressed that sustainable health gains require balancing disease- and program-specific targets with strong local foundations in governance, financing, management, and accountability.

UP Manila Chancellor Dr. Michael L. Tee likewise underscored the need to address the country’s health workforce shortage through stronger collaboration among academia, government, and local leaders, supported by regional and data-driven workforce planning.

Closing the program, National Scientist and former UP Manila Chancellor Dr. Ernesto O. Domingo drew lessons from the history of UHC implementation worldwide, reminding participants that passing legislation is only the first step in a much longer process of implementation. He emphasized that UHC must ultimately make health inequities inconsequential and called for the institutionalization of health equity units within academic institutions.

Together, the messages reinforced a central lesson of the lecture: UHC will be measured not simply by laws, policies, or programs, but by whether strong leadership, effective local health systems, and sustained multisectoral action translate its promise into equitable health outcomes for every Filipino.

13/08/2026

The 4th Dr. Stephen Zuellig Memorial Public Health Lecture was successfully held on August 6, 2026, at the Admiral Hotel in Manila. Centered on the theme "Gains, Gaps, and the Future of Health Equity in the Philippines," this year's event offered invaluable perspectives from leading experts as stakeholders across sectors continue working toward a more equitable healthcare system for all Filipinos.

The prestigious gathering brought together esteemed figures from government, academia, and civil society. Notable attendees included National Scientist Dr. Ernesto O. Domingo, former Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Enrique Ona, and key leadership from the Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF), including David Zuellig, Dr. Hazel Zuellig, Mr. Daniel Zuellig, Prof. Ernesto Garilao, Dr. Manuel Dayrit, and Austere Panadero. UP Manila Chancellor Michael Tee and UP College of Public Health Dean Dr. Fernando B. Garcia, Jr., Dr. Ernesto R. Gregorio, Jr., Coordinator of the Dr Stephen Zuellig Program for Health Leadership and Governance, alongside key DOH officers, provincial health leaders, and members of the academic community, also joined to advance the shared vision of health equity across the nation.

The centerpiece of the event was the keynote address by Dr. Carlo Irwin A. Panelo, Professor at the UP College of Medicine, titled "From Coverage to Care: Reimagining Universal Health Care in the Philippines." Five years after the passage of the 2019 Universal Health Care (UHC) Act, Dr. Panelo reflected on the country's mixed progress, emphasizing that high out-of-pocket expenses and fragmented delivery systems continue to expose families to financial risk. He urged a decisive shift from legislative intent to on-the-ground ex*****on by optimizing the performance of DOH and PhilHealth, empowering local government health systems, and aggressively addressing facility and workforce shortages.

Ultimately, he underscored that long-term success relies on treating healthcare as an enduring social contract backed by sustainable financing, efficient purchasing, and strong cross-sector collaboration.

To translate the keynote's core themes into practical solutions, the event featured local health champions who shared frontline perspectives on implementing UHC reforms. Governors Jose Enrique M. Miraflores of Aklan and James S. Edduba of Kalinga underscored the impact of unifying municipal health systems into province-wide networks and scaling PhilHealth primary care enrollment. However, they noted that administrative delays in PhilHealth reimbursements and political turnover remain key hurdles, and they advocated for front-loading of Special Health Funds and amendments to the Local Government Code to enhance provincial governance and unified management. Municipal Health Officer Dr. Maria Hilda C. Bucu further illustrated how programs like YAKAP have expanded local medicine access in Noveleta, Cavite, while calling for urgent solutions to address health worker shortages and fragmented referral networks.

Complementing these local insights, the final panel brought together regional health leaders and academic experts to address systemic policy solutions. Dr. Angeli Loren W. Caguioa, Local Health Systems Development Cluster Head of DOH-Center for Health Development Northern Mindanao and DOH MMCHD Regional Director Dr. Lester M. Tan stressed the need to remove bureaucratic barriers--such as rigid ID requirements for indigenous communities--and eliminate service fragmentation even within urban centers. From a policy research standpoint, PIDS Senior Research Fellow Dr. Valerie Gilbert T. Ulep urged universities to act as active technical brain trusts for complex purchasing and digital reforms. He called for a reimagined role for academia in co-architecting health reforms, while Dr. Leizel P. Lagrada highlighted that out-of-pocket drug costs continue to push the poorest families into financial distress. Together, their collective insights reaffirmed that achieving true UHC requires connecting national policy with flexible local ex*****on, robust data, and an unwavering focus on the most vulnerable sector.

This year's milestone event builds on a rich legacy established on March 1, 2023, when the inaugural lecture launched the Program for Health Equity and the Dr. Stephen Zuellig Program for Health Leadership and Governance. Subsequent iterations have continually pushed public health boundaries--from the 2024 lecture featuring the Ramon Magsaysay Awardee Rural Doctors Movement of Thailand, to UP Manila Chancellor Dr. Michael Tee’s 2025 address on intersectoral leadership in the One Health Framework. Together, these annual lectures honor Dr. Stephen Zuellig’s enduring legacy of driving ethical, transformative, and equitable public health leadership across the Philippines.

10/08/2026

Join us for Mental Health in Focus: Research, Policy, and Practice, a learning session that brings together researchers and public health experts to discuss current evidence on mental health literacy, adverse childhood experiences, socioeconomic determinants of mental health, and workplace mental health promotion. The session will also feature expert reactors who will provide perspectives through the lenses of health equity and public policy.

📅 11 August 2026 (Tuesday)
🕤 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM
📍 CPH Press Room, 1st Floor, Annex II Building, UP College of Public Health

Students, faculty, researchers, health professionals, policymakers, and all those interested in advancing mental health are welcome to join the discussion.

We look forward to seeing you there!

10/08/2026

Our Champion from the North. Gov James Edduba.

04/08/2026

Six years after the passage of the Universal Health Care Act—where are we now, and where do we go from here? Be part of the conversation as Dr. Carlo Irwin Panelo delivers this year's lecture for the 4th Dr. Stephen Zuellig Public Health Lecture, "UHC at Six: Gains, Gaps, and the Future of Health Equity in the Philippines."

📅 06 August 2026 (Thursday)
🕐 1:00 PM
📺 Live on the UPCPH Dr. Stephen Zuellig Program for Health Leadership and Governance page

Tune in as leaders from government, academe, research, and local health systems come together to reflect on six years of Universal Health Care, discuss the challenges that remain, and explore the path toward a more equitable and resilient Philippine health system.

Following the keynote lecture, a distinguished panel of reactors will share their insights, experiences, and perspectives on advancing Universal Health Care and strengthening health leadership and governance:
Reactors
• Hon. Jose Enrique M. Miraflores, Governor, Province of Aklan, Fellow, RRR Fellowship Program for Health Leadership and Governance
• Hon. James Edduba, Governor, Province of Kalinga, RRR Fellowship Program for Health Leadership and Governance
• Dr. Maria Hilda C. Bucu, Municipal Health Officer, Noveleta, Cavite; President, AMHOP Cavite, MLGP Training Alumna
• Dr. Sulpicio Henry M. Legaspi Jr., Regional Director, DOH Center for Health Development Northern Mindanao
• Dr. Lester M. Tan, Regional Director, DOH Metro Manila Center for Health Development
• Dr. Valerie Gilbert Ulep, Senior Research Fellow, Philippine Institute for Development Studies
• Dr. Leizel P. Lagrada, Associate Professor and Coordinator, Program for Health Equity

Moderator
Dr. Anthony Rosendo Faraon, Zuellig Family Foundation

The lecture will also feature institutional messages from leaders representing the country's key health and academic institutions:

• Department of Health (DOH): Mr. Lindsley Jeremiah Villarante, Chief, Performance Monitoring and Strategy Management Division
• Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF): Dr. Manuel M. Dayrit, Chairman
• University of the Philippines Manila (UP Manila): Dr. Michael L. Tee, Chancellor

Be part of this important conversation as we reflect on six years of Universal Health Care and explore the leadership, governance, and partnerships needed to shape a healthier and more equitable future for every Filipino.

If you have any questions, kindly send them through the Dr. Stephen Zuellig Program for Health Leadership and Governance’s email at [email protected]