Partnership in the Philippines
The Philippine Department of Health and IHME have collaborated since 2018 to leverage GBD evidence to guide strategic investments, exchange knowledge on GBD through virtual and in-person workshops and trainings, and estimate the burden of disease for the Philippines for 82 provincial administrative units.
About the partnership
Established in 2018, the aim of Philippine Department of Health (DOH) / IHME partnership is to generate for the first time a reliable set of burden of disease estimates for every Philippine province, and to use those estimates to better understand the distribution of risk factors, guide clinical benefits packages, and inform ongoing health policies.
In addition to the collaboration with the DOH, IHME has partnered closely with the University of the Philippines Manila (UPM). Under a 2024 memorandum of understanding, UPM has been coordinating the development of the first Philippines Health Atlas and the subnational manuscript, translating GBD data into actionable insights for provincial health planning. This partnership ensures that local expertise and context are central to interpreting and using GBD results, supporting evidence-based decision-making across the country.
Philippine Health Atlas (coming soon!)
In November 2025, the launch of the Philippine Health Atlas brought together leaders from the DOH, UPM, and IHME to celebrate a new era in evidence-based health planning. DOH leadership stressed the importance of subnational data for national health planning in 2026, while UPM recognized IHME’s scientific guidance in the tripartite collaboration.
In his keynote address, Secretary of Health Hon. Teodoro Herbosa described the Atlas as transformative, supporting Universal Health Care with equity and guiding targeted interventions. Watch the video
Panelists shared practical uses:
- PhilHealth will use the Atlas to prioritize benefit packages and investments in underserved regions.
- Dinagat Islands Province Governor Hon. Nilo Demerey Jr. plans to integrate the Atlas into local planning and resource allocation.
- Advocacy organizations and WHO highlighted the Atlas’s role in mapping health inequities, supporting multisectoral collaboration, and tailoring services to local needs.
With posters, dashboards, and translation efforts underway, the Atlas stands poised to strengthen data-driven decision-making and accelerate progress toward universal health care in the Philippines.
Philippines country profile
Country profiles provide an overview of findings from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD), including forecasts for population size, life expectancy, causes of death, and more. They are generated using over 80,000 data sources to produce the most scientifically rigorous estimates possible.
Philippines provincial profiles
Explore GBD 2023 findings for all 82 Philippine provinces.
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