I 24 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) The ~ncem to improve people·s health is universal because there is a strong corre. lat1on between health and development. Poor health is n consequence and cause of poveny and underdeve lopment. Poverty also breeds despair and turmoil. To address these problems, the United Nations spearhe aded the formulation of t J,e l\ll DGs,~ith the corresponding targe Ls. These goals are: (1) eradicate extreme poverty and hunger: (2} achieve universal primary educ-'ltion; (3) promote gender equality and empower women; (4) reduce chil<l mortality; (5) improve m;iternal healrh; (6) combat Hl V /AJ DS, malaria and ot J1er diseases; (7) ensure envfronmcnta J sustainability; and, (8) develop a global partnership for development. Medium-Term Philippine Development Pion (MTPDP) Chapter 12 of the MPdium-Terai Philippine Development Plan 2004-2010 spells out the priority strategies to meet the basic needs of the poor_ The following health priorities were identified: (1) reduc. 1:ion of the cost of medicines; (2) expansio n of health insurance partic. :ularl_v for indigents through premium subsidy; (3). strengthening national and local health systems through the implementation of the Health Sector Reform...\genda: (4) improq;ment ofhealt J1 care management system; Cs) improvement ofhea Jtb and productivity through Rand D; and, (6) establishment of drugtreatrn ent and rehahilltation centers and the expansio n of existing ones. Specifically for public health. the plan provides for tbe strengthening of health promotion a Jld disease prevention and control programs: (1) achieve and maintain fufl, fmmunized d1ild,en cm·erage to 95%: (2) achieve and mairttain sputum positive TB~= dmec. 1cion rate of,0% and cure rate of 8. 5%; (3) widen the choice and reach of family planning ser,;ces and increase the prevalence rctte of men and women/couples practicing responsible parenthood using either modern, natural or artificial methods to 60¾ by 2010; (4) contai:n HIV/.. \. 1D5 prevalence to 1% or less for groups at high risk for Hf\. infection: (. :;J reduce malaria morbidity rate by 50% from 48 cases per 10-0. 000 populatirm in 2002 to 24 cases per 100,000 population by the year 2010; (6) jmplernent micmnutrient fortifieation of foods; and, (7) heighte n advocacy for the pr CJ'. ision o; adolescen t health services including sexualit y educatio n and counseling. Health Sector Reform Agenda (HSRA) Tov:ards the end of the twentieth cenb J ry, the DOH has come up with the HSRA 1999-2004 that included the fo!Jo,..ing refonns: (1) pr O\ide fiscal autonom y to government hospitals: (2) secure funding for priority puh Hc health programs; (3) promote the d E"\·elopmem of local health systems and ensure its effective performance; (4) strengthen thie capacities of health ri::gulatory agencies; and (. 5) expand the coverage of the ~ationp;J Health Insurance Program. FOURmula ONE for Health (F1) The FOL. Rmula OXE ·.,·hich is the implementation framewo rk of the HSRA, has three goals: O':'Uer health outcomes, more responsive health systems and equitable health care financing. The elements of the strategy are: hea Jtb financing, health regulation, health sen ice deli Yery and good governance. Accord. in" to the Secretan of Hca Jth F1 is th<: guiding philosophy and strategic approach of the DOH (Foreword: NOH 2005:8). 