On January 30, the Philippines reported its first coronavirus case. Fast forward 38 days and the government declared a state of emergency on March 9. Soon afterwards, ThinkWell’s Philippines team dove headfirst into tackling the challenges as the pandemic swept through the country. Scaling-up testing capacity In January and February, the country had a single […]

Five months into the coronavirus crisis, the pandemic has permeated nearly all corners of the globe. Everywhere, Covid-19’s impact is exposing gaps in health systems’ capacity to ensure that people can access high-quality, affordable care. In low and middle-income countries (LMICs) with limited healthcare capacity, crowded living conditions, and inadequate access to sanitation resources, people […]

Note: This is an update of a post that was published on the 15th of May. This update reflects newly published guidance from WHO on the implementation of campaigns in the context of COVID-19. Many immunization campaigns have been suspended to prevent increased COVID-19 transmission, but some campaigns will nevertheless need to go ahead, with […]

In these last few months, two dangerous illnesses have taken center stage in our lives. The first sickness, COVID-19, has radically changed the way we live. The second, an ever-present disease, has stepped back into the spotlight – the sickness of racism. Most of us who have entered the field of global public health have […]

This post was originally published in BMJ Global Health Four months since the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the Philippines, the number of cases has risen into the thousands. Testing capacity has expanded rapidly, but testing continues to limit the Philippines response. The Philippines has adopted a “whole of government, whole of society” approach to address […]

“The coronavirus spreads like wildfire, and thanks to us, it’s spreading now to other regions [of Indonesia]. Social distancing acts like the fire extinguisher, but it must be readily implemented in affected areas. It is the responsibility of regional government to provide the fire extinguisher for places in need. Question is: is government financially ready […]

Recognizing the critical yet untapped potential of the private sector in ensuring the health of Filipinos, the ThinkWell Philippines team helped to facilitate a session in the Private Sector in Public Health (PSPH) Monthly Series. The Series convenes stakeholders from the private sector to converse about pressing health system issues, explore innovative solutions, and influence […]

In Indonesia, private midwives face barriers to joining JKN, the country’s single-payer health insurance scheme. But there are solutions to breaking down the barriers. Check out ThinkWell’s video on those challenges and strategies to address the problems. Video by Analyst Meera Chakravarthy 

This piece originally appeared on Health Systems Governance Collaborative. As country governments execute their COVID-19 response, the World Health Organization and other stakeholders have stressed the importance of engaging the private sector.  One critical part of that is purchasing health services from private providers, the case for which is strongest in places where private health facilities account for […]