NATIONAL UNIFIED HEALTH RESEARCH AGENDA (NUHRA) 2023-2028

THEMES AND SUBTHEMES

Disease Management

This theme involves the study and implementation of strategies to manage diseases, particularly
chronic and communicable diseases. It includes the burden of disease studies and prevention, early
detection, treatment, and management strategies to reduce disease burden and improve patient
outcomes. Its sub-themes include:

• Non-communicable diseases (chronic diseases, lifestyle-related diseases)

• Communicable diseases (emerging and re-emerging diseases, infectious diseases,
antimicrobial resistance)
• Diseases of rapid urbanization and industrialization

Halal in Health

This theme focuses on the application of Halal principles in the context of health and healthcare. It
includes areas such as Halal medical pharmaceuticals, Halal food and nutrition, Halal medical
practices, and Halal health services. Its sub-themes include:

• Development and production of Halal pharmaceuticals

• Halal food and nutrition (integration and mainstreaming of Halal in the food and beverage
industry)

Health Security, Emergency, and Disaster Risk Management

This theme involves the study and implementation of strategies to prepare for, respond to, and
recover from health emergencies and disasters. It includes areas such as disaster risk reduction,
climate change adaptation, and emergency response. This also includes a focus on crises that may
originate in the interface between humans, animals, and the environments in which they interact. Its
sub-themes include:

• Disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation of health systems

• Environmental health and sanitation
• One Health (human health, animal health, environmental health, and plant health)

Health Technology and Innovation

This theme focuses on the development and application of innovative solutions to health
challenges, including the discovery and development of new drugs, diagnostic tools, and treatment
approaches. It also includes areas such as biotechnology and precision medicine. Its sub-themes
include:

• Drug discovery
• Natural therapeutic products and ethnobotanical research
• Traditional, complementary, and integrative healthcare
• Biotechnology and biomedical devices
• Precision medicine
• Digital and artificial intelligence interventions for health
• Health product regulation and assessment
Health of Vulnerable Populations

This theme focuses on the health needs and challenges of populations that are particularly vulnerable
due to factors such as socioeconomic status, geographical location, gender, race, ethnicity, age, or
disability. It aims to address health disparities and promote health equity. Its sub-themes include:

• Health of indigenous cultural communities

• Health equity and inclusion
• Transgender health
• Geriatric health

Health Promotion

This theme focuses on empowering individuals and communities to manage their health through
education, health literacy, and innovative strategies. It involves creating health-supportive
environments and organizing societal actions for health promotion and protection. Its sub-themes
include:

• Health promotion, communication, and education

• Health literacy
• Healthy governance
• Healthy settings
• Innovative approaches in health promotion and education

Health Systems Strengthening Towards UHC

This theme focuses on improving the efficiency, effectiveness, and responsiveness of health systems
to ensure equitable access to quality healthcare services for all individuals. It encompasses areas
such as health governance, service delivery, financing, human resources, and information systems, all
aimed at achieving the provisions of the Universal Health Care Act of 2019. Its sub-themes include:

• Health governance and policies

• Health service delivery (primary care, health care provider networks)
• Health financing
• Health human resources
• Health information systems (local and healthcare provider network integration)
• Improving access to medicines, including enhancements in quality and affordability
• Evaluation of health systems and programs

Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health

This theme focuses on the health and well-being of mothers, children, and adolescents. It includes
areas such as neonatal health, child health, and adolescent health, with a focus on reducing mortality
and morbidity and promoting healthy development. Its sub-themes include:

• Maternal, child, and neonatal health

• Maternal morbidity and mortality
• Prenatal care
• Immunization

Mental Health

This theme focuses on the promotion, prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of mental health
conditions. It includes areas such as mental health promotion, mental health of children and
adolescents, and mental health and substance abuse. Its sub-themes include:
 • Mental health of children, adolescents, and students
• Mental health in the workplace
• Mental health promotion
• Mental health and substance abuse
• Emerging interventions for mental health across the life stages

Nutrition and Food Safety

This theme focuses on ensuring that all individuals have access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food
to maintain a healthy and active life. It also includes food security, which encompasses eradicating
hunger, addressing malnutrition, and promoting sustainability. Its sub-themes include:

• Food security, product development, and emerging technologies

• Nutrition and food safety
• Addressing all forms of malnutrition across life stages
• Multisectoral nutrition interventions

Sexual and Reproductive Health

This theme covers aspects related to sexual health and reproductive rights, including family planning,
sexually transmitted infections, gender-based violence, and sexual health education. It aims to ensure
that all individuals can have a satisfying and safe sex life, the capability to reproduce, and the freedom
to decide if, when, and how often to do so. Its sub-themes include:

• Adolescent sexuality and reproductive health

• Reproductive health and rights
• Sexual health and education
• Gender-based violence
 10. One Health
a. The impact of antimicrobial stewardship program implementation in a level 1
government hospital
b. Zoonotic diseases
c. Antimicrobial resistance research in relation to agriculture
d. Development of diagnostic kits

REGION XI: DAVAO REGION

1. Universal health care

a. Financial policies
b. Strengthening health workforce and wellbeing
c. Ensuring health service delivery at all levels of care
d. Research on universal health care (UHC) implementation
2. Health information systems
a. Transition from paper-based systems to electronic medical records (EMR)
b. Health information systems (HIS) integration
c. Application of block chain technology
d. Use of health information systems (HIS) data for monitoring and evaluation
3. Technological innovations in health
a. Telemedicine
b. Space medicine research applications
c. Artificial intelligence (Al) & robotics
d. Data analytics and modeling for decision support systems
e. Biotechnology (e.g. vaccine development)
4. Gender-based violence
a. Rising incidence of sexual abuse especially in children
5. Disaster risk reduction and management
a. Best practices (Phenomenological Studies, Qualitative Studies)
b. Update disaster maps
c. Disaster level of preparedness
6. Surveillance of emerging and re-emerging diseases
a. Zoonotic diseases profiling
b. Genomic biosurveillance
7. Non-communicable diseases
a. Sampung halamang gamot for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) endorse by the
Department of Health (DOH)
8. Health promotion and education
a. Smoking cessation programs
b. Health literacy on communicable diseases and non-communicable diseases (NCDs)
9. Mental health
a. Early diagnosis and prevention
b. Persisting effects and unmet mental health needs due to COVID-19
10. Monitoring and evaluation of health programs
a. Use of health analytics to inform program implementation, especially programs for
indigenous peoples, geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas, displaced
communities, healthcare providers
b. Use of health analytics to assess impact of Mandanas-Garcia ruling on health
programs
c. Ensuring the use of HIS data for monitoring and evaluation