Presentation delivered by Albert Francis E. Domingo, MD, MSc at San Beda College Mendiola, during the 49th Annual National Convention of the Association of the Philippine Medical Colleges. Discusses ASEAN integration and the trade in health services, from the perspective of future physicians (i.e. medical students).

1. Insights and Opportunities for
the Philippine Medical Student
in the ASEAN Community
Albert Francis E. Domingo, MD, MSc
5 Feb 2016 | San Beda College Mendiola

2. Outline
1. Trade and Health
Changes in the market for health
services
Global interactions and local effects
2. ASEAN Economic Cooperation
Politics, economics, and culture
Regional Trade Agreements
3. Implications and Insights
What to expect
What to do

3. 1.
TRADE AND HEALTH
At the interface of two national interests

4. Changes in the market
for health services
From: GBD 2013 Risk Factors Collaborators (2015)

5. From: WHO (2015)

6. Framework Agreements for
Regional Trade Agreements
▷Market access and national
treatment
▷Investment
▷Integration of labour markets
▷Government procurement
▷Reciprocal recognition of foreign
licenses and qualifications

7. Trade in health-related
services
1. Cross-border supply
Telemedicine, e-Health
2. Consumption abroad
Foreign patients
3. Commercial presence
Foreign service provider (e.g. hospital)
4. Movement of natural persons
Health care professionals temporarily
work abroad

8. “Countries are allowed to make
legally binding commitments
pertaining to trade and investment
in health services and to formulate
such commitments in accordance
with domestic health policy
objectives.

9. 2.
ASEAN ECONOMIC
COOPERATION
Easier said that done, but it’s happening

10. From: www.mb.com.ph

11. From: asean101forjuan.wordpress.com

12. Recent Timeline
▷1995: ASEAN Framework
Agreement on Trade in Services
▷2012: Eight packages of
commitments, including some
coverage of health care
▷2015: Integration

13. Process
▷Liberalization commitments are
complemented by:
Mutual recognition agreements
Cooperative mechanisms
▷Is there real and concrete mutual
recognition to facilitate the
movements of patients and/or health
professionals?

16. 3.
IMPLICATIONS AND
INSIGHT
What to expect; what to do

17. “As the global movements of
goods, services, capital, people
and ideas grow, what will the
impact on health systems and
population health be?

18. Increased trade in services
▷Historically the focus of trade has
been on goods, not people
▷Technology (e.g. Internet) and
travel has allowed for cross-
border movement of patients and
health professionals

19. “Health policy-makers need to
pay attention to the respective
negotiation and implementation
processes with a view to
achieving health policy
objectives.

20. “Benefits are not automatic, and
liberalization needs to be
properly paced and sequenced
within the development of an
adequate regulatory, institutional
and policy framework.

21. From: gov.ph

22. “Services liberalization is
considered to be more easily
negotiated at the regional level, as
opposed to the multilateral level,
as RTAs often include countries
with geographic proximity, cultural
ties, and similar levels of economic
development.

23. Trade in health-related
services
1. Cross-border supply
Telemedicine, e-Health
2. Consumption abroad
Foreign patients
3. Commercial presence
Foreign service provider (e.g. hospital)
4. Movement of natural persons
Health care professionals temporarily
work abroad

24. Main Reference
WHO. (2015) Trade and Health: Towards building a National
Strategy. Geneva: World Health Organization.

25. Thanks!
Any questions?
You can find me at:
@AlbertDomingo
Facebook.com/aedomingo
AlbertDomingo.com

26. Credits
Special thanks to all the people who made
and released these awesome resources for
free:
▷ Presentation template by SlidesCarnival
▷ Photographs by Unsplash