The Supreme Court decision on the Mandanas-Garcia petition regarding the internal revenue allocation given to local government units is a significant ruling in strengthening the concept of decentralized governance and delivery of services. While the ruling grants local government greater resources and financial support, the immediate implication is the full devolution of services defined in the Local Government Code, including health services. The urgent concern is how much the Mandanas Ruling will affect local health systems. This paper presents some existing and foreseeable issues surrounding the implementation of the Mandanas Ruling in relation to the current devolved healthcare system. In particular, challenges in implementing the ruling in relation to health devolution, the local health system process, and the Universal Health Care Act are discussed. Some concrete action points for addressing these issues are also posited for policy-makers and implementors to consider in order to ensure not just the smooth and efficient implementation of the ruling but also the continuity of care for Filipinos.

The Korean Transplant Act has been revised five times since 1999, and each revision has resulted in a slight donation rate increased; however, the organ shortage had not been solved. As a result, further revision of the Transplant Act is needed. The current focuses solely on efficiency for transplantation. Therefore, this study suggests a paradigm shift in the revision of the act through the virtuous cycle for activating donation; namely, from an efficiency-based transplant system to a donor-centered transplant system.
Government Regulation ; Transplantation

In recent years, various international organizations have raised awareness regarding psychosocial risks and work-related stress. European stakeholders have also taken action on these issues by producing important documents, such as position papers and government regulations, which are reviewed in this article. In particular, 4 European models that have been developed for the assessment and management of work-related stress are considered here. Although important advances have been made in the understanding of work-related stress, there are still gaps in the translation of this knowledge into effective practice at the enterprise level. There are additional problems regarding the methodology in the evaluation of work-related stress. The European models described in this article are based on holistic, global and participatory approaches, where the active role of and involvement of workers are always emphasized. The limitations of these models are in the lack of clarity on preventive intervention and, for two of them, the lack of instrument standardization for risk evaluation. The comparison among the European models to approach work-related stress, although with limitations and socio-cultural differences, offers the possibility for the development of a social dialogue that is important in defining the correct and practical methodology for work stress evaluation and prevention.
Government Regulation ; Risk Assessment

Considered as one of the deadliest tropical cyclones to Chave hit the country and the strongest typhoon recorded at landfall, Typhoon Yolanda (internationally known as Haiyan) swept across the Visayan region, leaving behind a devastation that mobilized national and international humanitarian efforts on a grand scale. In response to the growing global awareness for the need for disaster preparedness, the Philippine Nurses Association (PNA), through its Disaster Preparedness Committee, has been training members from different local chapters on emergency and disaster management for 1 the past four years . The training seminar aimed to capacitate the participants and, eventually through them, their respective chapter members in preparing for and managing disaster events in coordination with government agencies and international humanitarian relief efforts. The PNA Board of Governors has also approved its Emergency Response Plan and Policy outlining the communication and coordination mechanism in times of emergency and disaster. Networking and linkage with the Department of Health - Health Emergency and Management Staff has also been formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding making PNA a member of the Health cluster, Mental Health and Psychological Support Services (MHPSS) cluster and Water and Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) cluster. When super typhoon Yolanda made its landfall and left devastation behind its path across the country, the capacity for response of the local and national government has been truly tested. PNA for its small part has also been challenged to review its preparedness efforts in terms of capacity building, policy and advocacy, as well as networking and coordination.
Disasters ; Government Agencies

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the various factors contributory to maritime disaster preparedness in the Philippines, in the context of the sinking of the MV Dona Paz and formulate recommendations to address these factors.

METHOD: Review of the state of maritime preparedness in the pre-disaster setting and the post-disaster response following the sinking of the MV Dona Paz by the government and responsible agencies. A scrutiny of the state of preparedness of concerned agencies and subsequent response to the disaster was conducted with the objective of formulating recommendations which may lead to prevention and mitigate loss of lives.

RESULTS: Multiple factors accounted for the occurrence of this tragedy. These factors include an inherent risk due to the geography of shipping industry and its labor force. Economic conditions prevent both the industry and government agencies from upgrading vessels and communications equipment. Lack of enforcement of existing regulations allows vessels to sail overloaded and at times manned by less-than-qualified crew. Delayed response and deficient post-disaster medical response may have led to a disproportionately high mortality.

CONCLUSIONS: The systems inadequacies of the Philippine maritime disaster response mechanism are highlighted by the Dona Paz tragedy. Many of the factors contributing to the disproportionately high incidence of maritime disasters in the Philippines and the resulting loss of limb may be preventable. Recommendations on regulation and enforcement, disaster preparedness, search and rescue, and medical response are discussed.

This study aims to examine the performance of public municipal hospitals through the analysis of data envelopment analysis, efficiency, profitability, and publicness by using panel data during period from 2006 to 2010. The main findings of the study are as follows. First, as a result of efficiency analysis during the period from 2006 to 2010, it was revealed that the number of staff by each job category, labor cost ratio, the number of operating beds need to be decreased. Second, the performance data represented by the indicators of efficiency, profitability and publicness were complementary and showed a tendency of being increased or decreased in same direction. Third, from the result of panel analysis, the efficiency was mainly influenced by the structural factors, while the profitability was influenced by managerial factors, and the publicness by medical environment. In conclusion, in order to enhance the performance of public municipal hospitals in Korea, it is important to harmonize the effort for efficiency, financial and policy support by central and local government, and the continuous participation of community residents.
Hospitals, Municipal* ; Korea ; Local Government

Government Programs ; Laboratories ; Public Health

Medical test results are indispensable and important tools in diagnosis and treatment services. It is necessary to promote the homogenization of test results first, because homogenization is the basis for mutual recognition of test results. Mutual recognition of medical test results can help share resources among medical institutions, provide more reliable test results for early prevention, screening and treatment of diseases, and reduce repeated tests, thus improving people's medical experience. In recent years, with the deepening of medical system reform and the promotion of graded diagnosis and treatment, governments have continuously introduced policies of mutual recognition of test results around country. However, homogenization is a prerequisite for mutual recognition of test results, with the emergence of intelligent medicine in the era of internet big data, opportunities and challenges coexist in the development of homogeneity management. In the future, the homogeneity of medical test results will present a trend of digitalization, automation, informatization and intelligence.
Humans ; Big Data ; Government ; Internet

Medical test results are indispensable and important tools in diagnosis and treatment services. It is necessary to promote the homogenization of test results first, because homogenization is the basis for mutual recognition of test results. Mutual recognition of medical test results can help share resources among medical institutions, provide more reliable test results for early prevention, screening and treatment of diseases, and reduce repeated tests, thus improving people's medical experience. In recent years, with the deepening of medical system reform and the promotion of graded diagnosis and treatment, governments have continuously introduced policies of mutual recognition of test results around country. However, homogenization is a prerequisite for mutual recognition of test results, with the emergence of intelligent medicine in the era of internet big data, opportunities and challenges coexist in the development of homogeneity management. In the future, the homogeneity of medical test results will present a trend of digitalization, automation, informatization and intelligence.
Humans ; Big Data ; Government ; Internet

Lay public's concerns around health and health information are increasing. In response, governments and government agencies are establishing websites to address such concerns and improve health literacy by providing better access to validated health information. Since 2011, the Korean government has constructed the National Health Information Portal (NHIP) website run in collaboration with the Korean Academy of Medical Sciences (KAMS). This study therefore aimed to 1) examine consumer use of NHIP, with respect to the usage patterns, evaluation on health information provided, and perceived effectiveness of the site; and 2) identify factors that may impact perceived effectiveness of the site. An online survey was conducted with 164 NHIP users, recruited through a popup window on the main screen of the portal website from October to November 2015. The significant predicting factors supported by the data include the relevance of health information on the site, the usefulness of information in making health decisions, and the effective visualization of information. These factors can inform future efforts to design more effective health information websites, possibly based on metadata systems, to further advance the lay public's information seeking and health literacy.
Cooperative Behavior ; Government Agencies ; Health Literacy ; Internet