Amid the country’s broader digital transformation drive, the Philippines is working to digitally connect health facilities nationwide, the World Bank Group (WBG) announced.

“The Philippines’ compact sets out system-wide reforms across infrastructure, service delivery, human resources, prevention, and financial protection with the aim to increase life expectancy and access to quality, affordable health services,” the WBG said in an announcement on Saturday, Dec. 6, about the country and 14 others’ national health compacts.

“The country is also modernizing its primary health care infrastructure, ensuring all health facilities are digitally connected,” the WBG added.

“Strong primary health systems do more than safeguard health—they support jobs and economic opportunity,” WBG President Ajay Banga said in a statement.

He added that “countries are stepping forward with clear priorities, and we are working alongside them to deliver practical solutions at scale. When efforts align behind what works, impact grows.”

The WBG highlighted that the Philippines is among the 15 countries that have introduced the national health compact, “outlining practical, five-year reforms that aim to expand primary health care, improve affordability, and support job-rich economic growth.”

The 14 other countries are Bangladesh, Egypt, Ethiopia, Fiji, Indonesia, Mexico, Morocco, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Syria, Tajikistan, Uganda, Uzbekistan, and Zambia.

The WBG noted that these 15 countries and their partners are making steady progress toward the goal of providing affordable, quality health services to 1.5 billion people by 2030.

“Since the goal was announced, the WBG and partners have helped countries reach 375 million people with quality, affordable care,” adding that work is now underway with roughly 45 countries to scale proven primary care approaches that strengthen health outcomes while generating employment across health workforces, local supply chains, and supporting industries.

The WBG stressed that “this progress comes as governments confront aging populations, rising chronic disease, and financial pressures.”

However, the WBG’s 2025 Global Monitoring Report, released on Saturday at the Tokyo Universal Health Coverage High-Level Forum, revealed that 4.6 billion people lack access to essential health services, and 2.1 billion people face financial hardship due to health expenses.

“These challenges underscore the need for long-term, coordinated reforms that help countries build more resilient and equitable health systems,” the WBG said.

The WBG noted that although the compacts are tailored to each country, “the focus will be on key reforms building digitally enabled primary care platforms using five proven solutions,” which include connecting and equipping facilities, redesigning care delivery with digital tools, designing service packages that balance curative and preventive care, expanding and upskilling the health workforce, and increasing financing through insurance programs.

(Ricardo M. Austria)