Digital Pulse - Ch 3 - Sec 3 - Philippine Health Association

Development Issues: Health, Rights, Gender

Programme Summary

The Philippine Health Social Science Association (PHSSA) is an NGO that works to promote the health of citizens of the Philippines by providing information and advocating ethical and gender-fair health care. PHSSA began as a small group of social scientists and health professionals based in Metro Manila. Now, PHSSA considers its autonomous local chapters to be the centres of action. Decision-making is consultative and participatory, involving both national and regional groups. The mission of the organisation is to develop health social science as an integrated domain of effective, accessible, and responsive health policy, programmes, and service. It is national in scope, with chapters in the major islands of the archipelago and membership from other NGOs, government agencies, research institutes, and the academe.

PHSSA is committed to the development of health social science as an integrated domain of effective, accessible and responsive health policy, programs, and service by:

• Developing approaches, concepts, and methods that sensitive to Filipino culture and responsive to critical issues such as domestic violence, child abuse, non-compliance with ethical principles in health research and service delivery;
• Enabling persons, groups, and communities in doing holistic and collaboration work in health;
• Encouraging partnership with communities and non-government organizations in the various facets and levels of health work;
• Integrating health social science in the education and training of health professional through curricular reforms;
• Promoting ethical and gender fair health care;
• Networking with local and foreign individuals, groups, and institutions for the realization of our vision.

Summary of ICT Initiatives

In all of its activities, PHSSA works to empower citizens through approaches that are sensitive to Filipino culture and responsive to issues such as domestic violence, child abuse, and non-compliance with ethical principles in health research and service delivery. Thus, a major component of its work is to enable holistic and collaborative work in these areas, in part by encouraging partnerships with communities and NGOs. The PHSSA site offers information and links to publications on these issues, as well as a discussion forum. This site is part of the long-term strategy of integrating health social science in the education and training of health professional through curricular reforms.

Specifically, the programme offers:

• Case studies analysing members' experiences in collaboration with social and health scientists and recommended ways of fostering collaborative and ethical research
• Scientific meetings to encourage discussion of issues and raise consciousness about health concerns
• Roundtable discussions in regional centres to formulate regional plans of action for intersectoral work in health
• Resource base on various fields in health social science work in the country and elsewhere in Asia
• Publication of research findings and discourses in health social science
• National Health Social Science Conferences

The PHSSA publishes regular bi-monthly newsletters as well as a Social Health journal that currently comes out every 3-4 months. All of these materials and many more publications are available through their website in either HTML or PDF format. The topics covered in the journal and other publications are broad and range from reviews of motor-vehicle deaths to advanced strategies for empowering women. The site also provides access to an extensive database of materials and publications relating to social medicine and health care.

Observations

The PHSSA strategy of acting as a linkage for the local chapters and allowing them to set the mandate for discussion and research is one of the organizations strengths and ensures that their services are responsive to the needs of the communities in which they are operating.

Partners: The Ford Foundation, The Rockefeller Foundation, National Academy for Science and Technology, Department of Health, Philippine Council for Health Research and Development.

Source:PHSSA website

For More Information Contact:

Philippine Health Social Science Association

National Program Office

Rm 318 Asian Social Institute Bldg.

1518 L Guinto cor JL Escoda Sts

Malate, Manila, Philippines

Tel.: +632 5216692/5239392

phssa@mydestiny.net