Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41622185›Full record

ArticleBMC health services research2026

Healthcare system readiness to manage viral hepatitis in Viet Nam and the Philippines: results of a brief health facility assessment.

Martin Louis Fernandez, Hoang Nguyen, Dang Nguyen, Bethany Holt, Duong Doan, Manu Gaspar, Geohari Hamoy, Jhaki Mendoza, Timothy Bill Mercado, Daniel Joy Cabauatan and 21 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC health services research, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. From Integrated Care to Learning Systems.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

31 authors.

Martin Louis Fernandez *National Institutes for Health, University of the Philippines, Manila, Philippines. mmfernandez6@up.edu.ph.
Hoang Nguyen *The Partnership for Health Advancement in Viet Nam (HAIVN), Hanoi, Viet Nam.
Dang NguyenHarvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA.
Bethany HoltProgram in Global Primary Health Care, Office for Research Initiatives and Global Programs, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Duong DoanCollege of Health Sciences, VinUniversity, Hanoi, Viet Nam.
Manu GasparNational Institutes for Health, University of the Philippines, Manila, Philippines.
Geohari HamoyNational Institutes for Health, University of the Philippines, Manila, Philippines.
Jhaki MendozaNational Institutes for Health, University of the Philippines, Manila, Philippines.
Timothy Bill MercadoNational Institutes for Health, University of the Philippines, Manila, Philippines.
Daniel Joy CabauatanNational Institutes for Health, University of the Philippines, Manila, Philippines.
Huyen NguyenThe Partnership for Health Advancement in Viet Nam (HAIVN), Hanoi, Viet Nam.
My DangThe Partnership for Health Advancement in Viet Nam (HAIVN), Hanoi, Viet Nam.
Vy NguyenProgram in Global Primary Health Care, Office for Research Initiatives and Global Programs, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Janus OngNational Institutes for Health, University of the Philippines, Manila, Philippines.
Joseph Michael ManlutacDepartment of Health, Central Luzon, Pampanga, Philippines.
Yen NguyenAction to the Community Development Institute, Hanoi, Viet Nam.
Hoa NguyenMenzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Tasmania, Australia.
Dung VuThai Binh University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Thai Binh, Viet Nam.
Jan Philip FlorendoSchool of Health Sciences, University of the Philippines Manila, Tarlac, Philippines.
Danica DelimaSchool of Health Sciences, University of the Philippines Manila, Tarlac, Philippines.
Mary Cris RombaoaSchool of Health Sciences, University of the Philippines Manila, Tarlac, Philippines.
Jose Mateo Dela CruzSchool of Health Sciences, University of the Philippines Manila, Tarlac, Philippines.
Rosanna BuccahanProvincial Health Office, Province of Bataan, Bataan, Philippines.
Hjordis Marushka CelisProvincial Health Office, Province of Bulacan, Bulacan, Philippines.
Jeanette LazatinProvincial Health Office, Province of Tarlac, Tarlac, Philippines.
Pham Nam ThaiThai Binh Department of Health, Thai Binh, Viet Nam.
Pham Xuan TruongThai Binh Department of Health, Thai Binh, Viet Nam.
Tran Khanh ThuThai Binh Department of Health, Thai Binh, Viet Nam.
Thuy PhamThe Partnership for Health Advancement in Viet Nam (HAIVN), Hanoi, Viet Nam.
David DuongProgram in Global Primary Health Care, Office for Research Initiatives and Global Programs, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Todd PollackThe Partnership for Health Advancement in Viet Nam (HAIVN), Hanoi, Viet Nam.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundChronic hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV) pose significant public health challenges in Viet Nam and the Philippines. Both countries have initiated national strategies aimed at decentralizing hepatitis care to primary healthcare facilities, but the availability and readiness of these facilities to manage hepatitis remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the availability and readiness of primary care facilities in Viet Nam and the Philippines to provide comprehensive hepatitis services and to identify key gaps in care delivery.

methodsA mixed-methods approach was used, combining health facility surveys and focus group discussions (FGDs) with healthcare workers to assess service availability and identify barriers and enablers of hepatitis care. Data were collected from 18 health facilities and 36 healthcare workers through 6 FGDs across both countries.

resultsThe study identified critical gaps in hepatitis service availability, healthcare worker training, diagnostic capacities, and community engagement at the primary care level. While provincial level facilities were well-equipped, most primary care facilities lacked essential resources such as viral load testing, medications, and adequately trained healthcare workers. A key barrier was the lack of social health insurance coverage or reimbursement for hepatitis services at the primary care level in both countries.

conclusionGaps identified may require coordinated action from both national and subnational stakeholders. Expanding social health insurance coverage to include hepatitis services at the primary care level, improving healthcare worker training and support, and ensuring the availability of diagnostics and antivirals at the primary care level are essential steps to meet the 2030 hepatitis elimination targets in Viet Nam and the Philippines.

Indexed as

Health Services AccessibilityPrimary Health CareFocus GroupsHumansPhilippinesVietnamHealthcare readinessHealth facility assessmentPhilippinesPrimary healthcareViet NamViral hepatitis

Identifiers

PMID41622185
PMCPMC12954926

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.