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Investing in Health Access: A Public Expenditure Review of the Philippine HFEP


This public expenditure review assesses the Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP), a key government initiative aimed at addressing the perennial gaps in public health infrastructure in the Philippines. Since its inception in 2007, the HFEP has substantially increased capital investments in health facilities, including medical equipment and medical transport, contributing to improved service delivery. Despite the substantial increase in the HFEP budget, funding support may still need to be amplified given the enormous gap in public health facilities nationwide. Key challenges also remain in equitably distributing HFEP funds across local government beneficiaries, addressing project execution delays and procurement inefficiencies, and improving budget utilization. These will help improve the program’s overall impact of improving public access to adequate healthcare in the country. The review highlights the need for stronger alignment of HFEP projects with the National Allocation Framework (NAF) prioritizing low-capacity and high-gap areas, particularly in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs). It also recommends strengthening monitoring and evaluation systems, developing a robust and updated HFEP database system, complementing capital investments with service grants and workforce support, promoting economies of scale in procurement, and incentivizing LGU co-investment. These are critical reform measures in optimizing HFEP outcomes towards achieving meaningful improvements in healthcare access and equity across the country.


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