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Bridging the Gap in Treating Obesity in the Philippines.
A joint commitment to Obesity Care Equity — Bridging the Gap in Treating Obesity in the Philippines. Held last September 6 at Makati Life Medical Center, this event gathered healthcare professionals, including members of the Philippine Association of Metabolic Surgery, dedicated to advancing equal access and awareness in obesity treatment and obesity prevention, particularly focusing on innovative surgical care for obesity.
Transforming Lives Through Health
Joint Commitment to Obesity Care Equity
We recognize obesity as a complex, chronic and relapsing disease with significant health, social and economic consequences.
Despite growing evidence, access to comprehensive obesity care remains limited, inconsistent and inequitable. In response to this urgent challenge, and in solidarity with the principles of evidence-based medicine, patient-centered care, and universal health coverage, we hereby pledge our commitment to the following:
1. Acknowledge Obesity as a Chronic Disease.
• We will advocate for the formal recognition of obesity as a chronic, treatable condition within our respective policies, programs, and clinical guidelines.
2. Advance access to comprehensive treatment
• We will support the integration of prevention, medical nutrition therapy, behavioral interventions, pharmacotherapy and metabolic and bariatric surgery into care pathways for people living with obesity.
3. We commit to exploring and supporting sustainable financing mechanisms that remove financial barriers to effective obesity care
• We commit to exploring and supporting sustainable financing mechanisms that remove financial barriers to effective obesity care.
4. Support capacity building across the healthcare system
• We will invest in education and training that empower healthcare providers to manage obesity across primary, secondary and tertiary levels of care.
5. Ensure collaboration and accountability
• We will participate in multi-sectoral collaboration and support the establishment of monitoring frameworks to track progress and hold ourselves accountable to this pledge.
Miguel C. Mendoza, MD, FPCS, FACS, FPSGS, FPALES
President of the Philippine Association of Metabolic Surgery, dedicated to advancing surgical care for obesity and promoting effective obesity prevention strategies.