Health Beyond Borders: ASEAN
A continuation of the Understanding ASEAN series, Asia Society in partnership with St. Luke’s Medical Center and supported by #Reimagine Global Health, hosted a by-invite only luncheon entitled Health Beyond Borders: Healthcare Challenges in ASEAN and Issues Concerning Health Professionals last August 24, 2015 at the St. Luke’s Medical Center, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.
The luncheon brought together different health professionals, students, medical practitioners and members of medical associations in the Philippines to learn about the healthcare challenges and opportunities in the context of the upcoming ASEAN integration.
Dr. Ramon Lorenzo Luis R. Guinto, co-founder of #Reimagine Global Health, served as the event’s mediator. While special guest speaker and health policy expert Dr. Phua Kai Hong from the Lee Kuan Yew School of public Policy in Singapore was invited to share his expertise on the subject. Dr. Jose Y. Cueto from the Department of Medicine of the Mariano Marcos State University and Ms. Erica Devillo served as reactors to share the view of the Philippine context and the youth, respectively.
Key Takeaways:
• Dr. Phua Kai Hong began by sharing information on the diverse systems and transitioning status of health in South East Asia. He discussed the emergence of new infectious diseases due to rapid urbanization and migration, the increase in life expectancy over the past years, and the high occurrence of natural disasters that threaten health in the region due to its location.
Of the health systems in South East Asia, Dr. Kai Hong highlighted the dynamic mix of public and private delivery and financing, comparing the different healthcare systems in the region. He suggests countries should look at the best ways to provide healthcare and insurance to the public and study non-traditional means of financing. He highlighted that ASEAN integration is a question of how we pool our resources and expertise so that everyone can contribute as well as benefit.
To overcome future health policy problems, he emphasized the need for evidence-based policymaking and its communication, as well as building capacities and advocating action. He believes that the youth should champion this to overcome future problems in health policy.
• Dr. Jose Y. Cueto’s discussion focused on the issues faced by healthcare professionals in the ASEAN Economic Community. He noted that countries still have the right to regulate, and that domestic rules and regulations will still prevail for professionals including those in healthcare.
In terms of the ASEAN Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) for professional services, he shared with the audience that the health sector has no registry; in other words, its personnel cannot utilize the MRA mechanism or move and practice in other countries. However, ASEAN member states may actually recognize the education, requirements, experience or licenses granted in other ASEAN Members states through the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Services (AFAS), and may also be eligible to practice in another country if qualifications are recognized by both countries’ Professional Regulatory Council (PRA).
He explained that the MRA for healthcare practitioners in fact facilitates their mobility in ASEAN, provides opportunities for training, allows for the exchange of information and adoption of best practices within cooperating region.
• Erica Devillo from the Asian Medical Students’ Association (AMSA) shared the views and concerns of the youth and students, particularly their concerns on the local medical curriculum and the country’s lag in medical technology. With the context of the ASEAN integration, she shared of the existence of the Medical Student Exchange Program, which allows medical students to learn of the medical policies and environments of other Asian countries and helps them prepare for a career in health and medicine in the region. She voiced out that medical students must be given the opportunity to contribute, as early as now, to the profession which they will one day be a part of.
Written and reported by Nadine Gutierrez.
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