CONICET | Buscador de Institutos y Recursos Humanos

The Philippines is at a crucial moment in its brief history as an independent nation. It is a middle-income country and is facing a process of consolidating a more equitable economic and social development pattern that might sustain its young institutional and democratic organization. In this context, discussions and decisions on social protection are central. The government has put into motion major initiatives to increase the coverage of health insurance and modernize public sector institutions. The health status in the Philippines has improved but not as much as in other Southeast-Asian countries. The analysis of the country?s demographic and health aspects show that it is going through a demographic and epidemiological transition, characterized by a decrease in fertility, increase in life expectancy and a substantial change in risk factors. Rapid urbanization, high population density, and climate change have begun to influence the emergence and re-emergence of new infectious diseases.