Philippines

The Philippines country profile provides an overview of the community health system in the Philippines according to the most up-to-date policies available. It particularly focuses on the country’s community health providers, the structures that support them, and the services they deliver across many health areas – with a spotlight on family planning. The profile is targeted towards policymakers, program implementers, donors, researchers, and others interested in the country’s community health system.

The table below captures key information from the full, downloadable country profile. The complete CHS Catalog data set is also available for download, including information for the Philippines.

Community Health Quick Stats

Main Community Health Policy / Strategy | Last Updated

Many policies guide community health in the Philippines. The four listed below are examples. Please see the Key Policies and Strategies section for a more complete list.

  • The Aquino Health Agenda: Achieving Universal Health Care for All Filipinos | 2010
  • Health Care for All Filipinos Putting Health in the Hands of the People | 2003
  • Partnership for Community Health Development Field Guide, Modules 1-4 | Information not available in policy
  • Policy on Primary Health Care for Community Health Development | 1996
Number of Community Health Provider Cadres

4 main cadres

  • Barangay health workers (BHWs)
  • Barangay nutrition scholars (BNSs)
  • Barangay service point officers1 (BSPOs)
  • Community health team (CHT) members
Recommended Number of Community Health Providers

Information not available in policy
Estimated Number of Community Health Providers
  • 216,841 BHWs
  • 19,527 BNSs
  • 11,058 BSPOs
  • 223,399 CHT members (47,550 teams)
Recommended Ratio of Community Health Providers to Beneficiaries
  • No ratio provided; number of BHWs may not exceed 1% of the population
  • 1 BNS: 1 barangay
  • Information not available in policy
  • 1 CHT: 50–100 households
Community-Level Data Collection Yes
Levels of Management of Community-Level Service Delivery

National, regional, district, municipal/city, barangay
Key Community Health Program(s)

BHW, BNS, BSPO, and CHT Programs, other national health-focused programs (e.g., immunization, malaria, micronutrient supplementation, TB)

1 Also sometimes referred to as barangay supply point officers.

Key Policies and Strategies

Department of Health, Community Health Service, Republic of the Philippines. 1996. Policy on Primary Health Care for Community Health Development. Manila: Department of Health, Republic of the Philippines.

Department of Health, Office of the Secretary, Republic of the Philippines. 2005. Administrative Order No. 2005-0014: National Policies on Infant and Young Child Feeding. Manila: Department of Health, Republic of the Philippines.

———. 2009. Department Memorandum 2009-0302: Reiteration of Department of Health Support for the Continuing Development of Barangay Health Workers (BHWs). Manila: Department of Health, Republic of the Philippines (accessed August 2016).

———. 2010. Administrative Order 2010-0036: The Aquino Health Agenda: Achieving Universal Health Care for All Filipinos. Manila: Department of Health, Republic of the Philippines (accessed August 2016).

———. 2011. Department Memorandum 2011-0286: Guidelines on the Mobilization of Community Health Teams. Manila: Department of Health, Republic of the Philippines.

Department of Health, Republic of the Philippines. 1999. Administrative Order No. 29, 1999: Guidelines on the Utilization of Regional Primary Health Care (PHC) Funds as approved in the General Appropriation Act (GAA), Republic Act No. 8745 of Calendar Year 1999. Manila: Department of Health, Republic of the Philippines.

———. 2003. Putting Health in the Hands of the People: Modules 1–5. Manila: Department of Health, Republic of the Philippines.

———. 2011a. Manual of Procedure: Malaria Operations. Manila: Department of Health, Republic of the Philippines.

———. 2011b. Micronutrient Supplementation: Manual of Operations. Manila: Department of Health, Republic of the Philippines.

———. 2011c. The MNCHN Manual of Operations. Manila: Department of Health, Republic of the Philippines.

———. 2012. Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 10354 (The Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012). Manila: Department of Health, Republic of the Philippines (accessed August 2016).

———. 2014a. Guide for Community Health Teams (2014 Edition). Manila: Department of Health, Republic of the Philippines.

———. 2014b. Management and Supervision of CHT Operation. Manila: Department of Health, Republic of the Philippines.

———. 2014c. National Tuberculosis Control Program Manual of Procedures (5th Edition). Manila: Department of Health, Republic of the Philippines (accessed August 2016).

———. 2014d. The Philippine Clinical Standards Manual on Family Planning (2014 Edition). Manila: Department of Health.

———. 2015a. Barangay Health Workers’ Reference Manual: Towards Effective Service Provision and Improved Health Outcomes. Manila: Department of Health, Republic of the Philippines.

———. 2015b. Strengthening Routine Immunization: Simple Guide for Reaching Every Purok for Health Centers. Manila: Department of Health, Republic of the Philippines (accessed August 2016).

———. n.d.a. Administrative Order 2010-0036: Field Guide: Partnership for Community Health Development Modules 1–4. Manila: Department of Health, Republic of the Philippines.

———. n.d.b. All for Health and Health for All: Accreditation of Government and Non-Government (GO-NGO) Training Program for Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) and Community Health Workers (CHWs). Manila: Department of Health, Republic of the Philippines.

———. n.d.c. Manual of Operations: National Immunization Program, Republic of the Philippines.

———. n.d.d. Training Program for Community Health Team (CHT) Members, Republic of the Philippines.

Department of the Interior and Local Government, Republic of the Philippines. 2010. Memorandum 2010-147: Termination / Retention of Barangay Health Workers (BHWs), Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS), and Barangay Day Care Workers (BCDWs). Manila: Department of the Interior and Local Government, Republic of the Philippines (accessed August 2016).

House of Representatives, Republic of the Philippines. 2013. House Bill No. 2918: Magna Carta of Barangay Nutrition Scholars. Quezon City: House of Representatives, Republic of the Philippines.

Ministry of Health, Office of the Minister, Republic of the Philippines. 1980. Administrative Order No. 105- A s., 1980. Manila: Ministry of Health, Republic of the Philippines.

National Nutrition Council, Government of the Philippines. “Barangay Nutrition Scholar (BNS) Program.” (Accessed May 2016).

Philippine National Drug Formulary. 2008. Essential Medicines List – Volume I, 7th Edition. Manila: The National Formulary Committee, National Drug Policy: Pharmaceutical Management Unit 50, Department of Health, Republic of the Philippines (accessed August 2016).

Republic of the Philippines. 1991. Local Government Code of 1991. Manila: Republic of the Philippines (accessed August 2016).

———. 1995. Republic Act No. 7883: Barangay Health Workers’ Benefit and Incentives Act of 1995. Manila: Republic of the Philippine (accessed August 2016).