ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
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UNIT 3: HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT
Health
What is health?
 The state of being free from illness or injury.
 A person’s mental or physical condition.
 Health can be defined as physical, mental, and
social well-being, and as a resource for living a full
life. It refers not only to the absence of disease, but
the ability to recover and bounce back from illness
and other problems. Physical is about the body.
Mental is about how people think and feel.
Factors of Good Health
1. Genetics – Genetics is the study of heredity.
Heredity is a biological process where a parent
passes certain genes onto their children or
offspring.
Family history is often one of the strongest risk
factors for common disease complexes such as
cancer, cardiovascular disease (CVD), diabetes,
autoimmune disorders, and psychiatric illnesses. A
person inherits a complete set of genes from each
parent, as well as a vast array of cultural and
socioeconomic experiences from his/her family.
Family history is thought to be a good predictor of
an individual’s disease risk because family
members most closely represent the unique
genomic and environmental interactions that an
individual experiences.
Eat a healthy diet. Eat more fruits and
vegetables. Limit sugar, fat, and alcohol.
Exercise regularly. Every little bit helps.
Start slow and try to work up to at least 30
minutes of exercise 5 days a week.
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about quitting. Also try to avoid second hand smoke.
See your doctor. Get any medical treatment you need. Get
an annual check-up.
Get a family history. Ask your family members about
their health histories.
2. Environment – The sum total of all surroundings
of a living organism, including natural forces and
other living things, which provide conditions for
development and growth as well as of danger and
damage.
Humans interact with the environment
constantly. These interactions affect quality of life,
years of healthy life lived, and health disparities.
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines
environment, as it relates to health, as “all the
physical, chemical, and biological factors external
to a person, and all the related behaviors.”
Environmental health consists of preventing or
controlling disease, injury, and disability related to
the interactions between people and their
environment.
I. Outdoor air quality
Poor air quality is linked to
premature death, cancer, and
long-term damage to
respiratory and cardiovascular systems. Progress
has been made to reduce unhealthy air
emissions, decreasing air pollution is an
important step in creating a healthy
environment.
 II. Surface and ground
water quality
Surface and ground water
quality concerns apply to both
drinking water and recreational
waters. Contamination by
infectious agents or chemicals can cause mild to
severe illness. Protecting water sources and
minimizing exposure to contaminated water sources
are important parts of environmental health.
III. Toxic substances and
hazardous wastes
The health effects of toxic
substances and hazardous wastes are
not yet fully understood. Research to
better understand how these
exposures may impact health is ongoing.
Meanwhile, efforts to reduce exposures continue.
Reducing exposure to toxic substances and
hazardous wastes is fundamental to environmental
health.
IV. Homes and communities
People spend most of their time
at home, work, or school. Some of
these environments may expose
people to:
 Indoor air pollution
 Inadequate heating and sanitation
 Structural problems
 Electrical and fire hazards
 Lead-based paint hazards
These hazards can impact health and safety.
Maintaining healthy homes and communities is essential
to environmental health.
V. Infrastructure and
surveillance
Preventing exposure to
environmental hazards relies on
many partners, including state and
local health departments. Personnel,
surveillance systems, and education are important
resources for investigating and responding to
disease, monitoring for hazards, and educating the
public. Additional methods and greater capacity to
measure and respond to environmental hazards are
needed.
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VI. Global Environment Health
Water quality is an important global challenge.
Diseases can be reduced by improving water quality and
sanitation and increasing access to adequate water and
sanitation facilities
3. Relationships – a connection between two people
or things.
Throughout your life, the number and strength of
your relationships affect your mental and physical
wellbeing. The benefits of social connections and
good mental health are numerous. Proven links
include lower rates of anxiety and depression,
higher self-esteem, greater empathy, and more
trusting and cooperative relationships. Strong,
healthy relationships can also help to strengthen
your immune system, help you recover from
disease, and may even lengthen your life.
I. INTIMATE
With people who love and
care for you, such as family
and friends.
II. RELATIONAL
With people who you see regularly
and share an interest with, such as
workmates or those who serve your
morning coffee.
III. COLLECTIVE
With people who share a group
membership or an affiliation with
you, such as people who vote like
you do, or people who have the
same faith.
4. Education – process of facilitating learning, or the
acquisition of knowledge, skills, values, beliefs,
and habits.
Education and health are the two most important
characteristics of human capital. Their economic
 value lies in the effects they have on productivity:
both education and health make individuals more
productive. Education and health have a
considerable impact on individual well-being, as
well. The wealth of nations is to a large extent
determined by the educational attainment and the
health status of its population.

ATTENDANCE

I. Education can create

opportunities for better health.

CONCENTRATION

LEARNING DISABILITIES

III. Conditions throughout people’s lives can affect

both education & health
II. Poor health can put education
at risk The relationship between education
and health is never a simple one. Poor
The relationship between education health not only results from lower
and health is never a simple one. Poor educational attainment, it can also cause
health not only results from lower educational setbacks and interfere with
educational attainment, it can also cause educational schooling.
setbacks and interfere with schooling.

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SOCIAL POLICIES
Decisions about jobs, the
economy, and education
reform
INDIVIDUAL/FAMILY CHARACTERISTICS
Characteristics of individuals
and families are important in the
relationship between education
and health. Race, gender, age,
disability and other personal
characteristics often affect educational opportunities
and success in school. Discrimination and racism have
multiple links to education and health. Racial
segregation reduces educational and job opportunities
and is associated with worse health outcomes.
Roles of Health in Economic Development
1. Healthier population is essential to the development
of a strong economy.
2. Healthier populations are better workers &
contributors to economic growth.
3. Healthier children learn better in schools.
4. Health and education are investments made in the
same individual.
5. Greater health capital may raise the return on
investment in education.
6. Health reduces production losses due to illness.
Poverty and Health
What links poverty and health?
 Poverty is both a cause and a consequence of poor
health.
 Poverty increases the chances of poor health.
 Poor health, in turn, traps communities in poverty.
 Infectious and neglected tropical diseases kill and
weaken millions of the poorest and most vulnerable
people each year.
 The economic and political structures which sustain
poverty and discrimination need to be transformed
in order for poverty and poor health to be tackled.
 Marginalised groups and vulnerable individuals are
often worst affected, deprived of the information,
money or access to health services that would help
them prevent and treat disease.
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 Very poor and vulnerable people may have to make
harsh choices – knowingly putting their health at
risk because they cannot see their children go
hungry, for example.
 The cultural and social barriers faced by
marginalised groups – including indigenous
communities – can mean they use health services
less, with serious consequences for their health.
This perpetuates their disproportionate levels of
poverty.
 The cost of doctors’ fees, a course of drugs and
transport to reach a health centre can be
devastating, both for an individual and their
relatives who need to care for them or help them
reach and pay for treatment. In the worst cases, the
burden of illness may mean that families sell their
property, take children out of school to earn a living
or even start begging.
 The burden of caring is often taken on by a female
relative, who may have to give up her education as
a result, or take on waged work to help meet the
household’s costs. Missing out on education has
long-term implications for a woman’s opportunities
later in life and for her own health.
 Overcrowded and poor living conditions can
contribute to the spread of airborne diseases such as
tuberculosis and respiratory infections such as
pneumonia. Reliance on open fires or traditional
stoves can lead to deadly indoor air pollution. A
lack of food, clean water and sanitation can also be
fatal.
“The biggest enemy of health in the developing world is
poverty.” – Kofi Annan
Approximately 1.2 billion people in the world live in
extreme poverty (less than P50.00 per day). Poverty
creates ill-health because it forces people to live in
environments that make them sick, without decent
shelter, clean water or adequate sanitation.
Philippine Statistics on Poverty
PH poverty projected to be at 18.7% in 2021: WB
Poverty incidence in the Philippines is expected
to fall below 20 percent in 2020 and further decline until
2021, a year before President Rodrigo Duterte's term
ends, according to the projections made by the World
Bank (WB).
 In its latest Macro Poverty Outlook for East Asia The Marcos Jr. administration, according to
and the Pacific Report, the World Bank expects the Diokno, is also planning to elevate the Philippines to the
poverty rate in the Philippines at 20.8 percent by the end upper-middle-class income status.
of 2019, down from the estimated 24.5 percent in 2016.
“We want to achieve what is called the upper
The World Bank had estimated the Philippines' middle-income status so that means that we are shooting
poverty incidence at 23.1 percent in 2017 and 21.9 for a $4,046 per capita income for Filipinos by the end of
percent in 2018. In its latest report, the World Bank saw the President’s term,” he said.
the poverty rate in the Philippines further declining to
Health as Investment
19.8 percent in 2020 and 18.7 percent in 2021.
i. RA 11223 – Universal Health Care
Plans of Philippine Government Against Poverty
Automatically enrolls all Filipino citizens in the
Moving forward, the World Bank said that
National Health Insurance Program and prescribes
fostering high-quality job creation and boosting human
complementary reforms in the health system. This gives
capital investment would enhance the impact of
citizens access to the full continuum of health services
economic growth on poverty reduction and shared
they need, while protecting them from enduring financial
prosperity.
hardship as a result.
To increase the growth impact on poverty and
In the Philippines, around 55% of health spending is
inequality, targeted investments and supportive business
out-of-pocket, creating situations where families are
regulations are needed in industries and sectors that
pushed into poverty by paying for life-saving and health-
generate high-quality jobs, it said.
preserving services. Not only is this a heartbreaking
Human capital investments in education and situation, it is bad for development. If people are forced
health must be fortified, including training and skills to choose between paying for health and paying for
development, which will be needed for workers to stay education and basic necessities, their chances of
competitive in a fast-changing global work environment, becoming productive members of society are severely
it added. compromised.
“Finally, improving social-protection programs, It is commendable that through the UHC Act, the
including the 4Ps, will support the incomes of poor Philippines has chosen to invest in improving access to
households and help build their resilience against adverse health for those in need, so out-of-pocket spending will
shocks,” the World Bank said. become lower. Still, work has to be done to ensure
everyone across the country has access to the health
Plans of BBM Admin Against Poverty
services they need, where and when they need them.
The new administration is aiming to reduce the Why? Because we are not yet investing in the most
country’s poverty rate to nine percent by the end of efficient ways of providing care.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s term in 2028.
ii. RA 11509 – Doktor Para sa Bayan Act
“We’re not only concerned with growth per se.
It provides for medical scholarship and return service
We’re also concerned with reducing poverty, so our
or MSRS program for poor but deserving Filipino
target is that by the end of President Marcos’ term,
students in state universities and colleges and in private
poverty incidence will be down to single-digit—nine
higher education institutions from regions where there
percent,” Diokno said during a Palace briefing.
are no SUCs offering a medicine course.
“I remember right, it started at around 25 percent
Duterte approved on Dec. 23, 2020 the Republic Act
during [former President Rodrigo] Duterte’s first year in
11509, also known as Doktor Para sa Bayan Act.
office but we were almost down to around 18 to 17
percent then the pandemic hit us. So there’s a slight
According to the law, qualified applicants from
backsliding but our target under this framework is that
towns which do not have government physicians should
the poverty rate will be down to nine percent by 2028,”
be prioritized in the allocation of scholarship slots to
he added. make sure that at least one doctor would serve in each
municipality. The mandatory return service upon
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integration into the medical service system will be for at
least six years for those under the four-year program, and
seven years for those who have availed of the five-year
program.
iii. RA 10932 – Anti-Hospital Deposit Law
Increasing the Penalties for the Refusal of Hospitals
and Medical Clinics to Administer Appropriate Initial
Medical Treatment and Support in Emergency or Serious
Case.
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Thursday, August
3, signed into law, increasing the penalties for the refusal
of hospitals and clinics to administer appropriate initial
medical treatment in emergency or serious cases.
Republic Act No. 10932, otherwise known as the
Anti-Hospital Deposit Law provides that “in emergency
or serious cases, it shall be unlawful for any hospital or
medical clinic to request, solicit, demand or accept any
deposit or any other form of advance payment as
prerequisite for administering basic emergency care, for
confinement or medical treatment, or to refuse to
administer medical treatment and support to any patient.”
Under this new law, any official, medical practitioner or
employee of the hospital or medical clinic who violates
the provisions of this Act shall be punished by
imprisonment of not less than six (6) months and one (1)
day but not more than two (2) years and four (4) months,
or a fine of not less than P100,000.00 but not more than
P300,000.00 or both.
Higher penalties of imprisonment of four (4) to six
(6) years, or a fine of not less than P500,000.00 but not
more than one million pesos, or both, are imposed upon
directors or officers of hospitals or clinics responsible for
the formulation and implementation of policies or
instructions violative of this Act. Three (3) repeated
violations, added RA 10932, shall result in the revocation
of the health facility’s license to operate by the
Department of Health (DOH).
Why invest now?
We are seeing rapid changes here in the
Philippines. The economy is growing, but improvements
to health and well-being have been uneven, with women
and children missing out most. Climate change is causing
more extreme weather events, compromising food and
water security and increasing the risk of disease
outbreaks.
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Filipinos’ expectations about what health
services can offer are also changing, due to greater
availability of information and advances in technology.
At the same time, the country is struggling to
deal with shifting patterns of disease as a result of
population ageing and unhealthy environments and
lifestyles. Today, around 6 out of every 10 Filipinos are
dying because of noncommunicable diseases such as
diabetes, cancer, chronic respiratory disease, and
cardiovascular disease, while more than 3 million
Filipinos are living with mental health conditions. The
country is still also addressing infectious killers,
malnutrition and other maternal and child health
problems.
This is an opportunity for the government and
the private sector, including health care providers of all
kinds, to take action and help redesign the way we live
our lives, and access services we need to thrive and
prosper. The UHC Act is replete with provisions that can
be implemented to strengthen primary health care as the
Philippines’ foundation for UHC.
Why now? Because with these challenges ahead,
we cannot afford to wait.
We know that investing in UHC is a best buy for
the Philippines as it will result to people becoming
healthier and more productive citizens. Health for all
must be by all – national leaders, local governments,
private sector, civil society, health workers. We must all
commit to strengthening primary health care as a
foundation for UHC.
SUMMARY
 Health is not only the absence of illness, but also
the capacity of developing a person’s potential
throughout his/her life. In this sense, health is an
asset with intrinsic value (being healthy is a
source of well-being) and instrumental value.
 In instrumental terms, health causes economic
growth because it reduces production losses
caused by illness in workers, increases adult
productivity through improved nutrition, increases
school attendance and improves learning,
maximizes the use of resources that were totally
or partially unavailable due to illness, and frees up
resources that would otherwise have to be allotted
to treating illnesses.
  Health is one of the main determinants of poverty.
 When the members of a family are healthy, the
father and mother have the opportunity to look for
and keep jobs, and they can generate wealth, feed
and protect their children, and send them to
school. Healthy, well-fed children have better
school performance and this will have a positive
impact on income in the future. In addition, if the
parents are sure that their children are highly
likely to live to be adults, they will usually have
fewer children and can thus invest more in the
health and education of each one.
 Investing in health includes expenditures on all
those activities whose primary objective is to
reestablish, maintain, improve and protect health
in a country or state during a definite period of
time. Investment occurs both within a health
system and outside it. Outside the health system,
the most important investments include nutrition,
infrastructure for sanitation and potable water,
and housing.
 Within the health system, the most relevant
investment activities include: health promotion
and disease prevention; treatment of pathologies
and reduction of premature deaths; providing care
for people with chronic diseases, deficiencies,
disabilities, or health-related handicaps; chronic
illness care; the provision and administration of
public health care; provision and management of
public health care; taking steps to develop health
programs, health insurance and other mechanisms
of financing, and the administration of the health
system.

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