Email liwanaghj@nus.edu.sg

Dr Harvy Joy Liwanag is a global health systems specialist whose research interrogates questions relevant to strengthening health systems in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). At national and local levels, he has studied issues of health governance and health workforce development. His publications on the opportunities and limitations of decentralizing the health system in the Philippines have been cited as a reference for understanding the impact of decentralization in other LMICs. As a strong believer in the role of research in addressing public health challenges, he collaborates closely with government agencies, academic institutions, and civil society organizations in Asia, such as in the Philippines, Malaysia, Nepal, and Indonesia. He has worked with the Department (Ministry) of Health (DOH) in the Philippines to develop the country’s national health workforce master plan for 2020-2040 and to initiate the Philippine Network for Health Policy and Systems Research (PN4HPSR) in 2024. At the global level, he interrogates questions about the need to transform global health in ways that help advance conceptual clarity and improve practice. For example, his analysis of accountability and reflexivity in global health have been used in discussions to promote equity and shift power in the global health system.

• NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health

• Health systems
• Global health
• Knowledge translation
• Evidence mapping
• Qualitative methods

• Analyzing health systems

• PhD in Epidemiology, University of Basel, Switzerland
• Doctor of Medicine and Master of Business Administration (MD, MBA dual degree), Ateneo de Manila University, Philippines
• Bachelor of Science in Biology, Ateneo de Manila University, Philippines

• 2024, Balik Scientist Achievement Award from the Department of Science and Technology of the Philippines for his exceptional contributions to advancing research-to-policy translation to accelerate Universal Health Care in the Philippines.
• 2025, Scholastican Excellence Award in Professional Practice from St. Scholastica’s Academy, Pampanga, Philippines, as a distinguished alumnus of the school in celebration of its 100-year anniversary.

• 2025 onwards, Senior Research Fellow, NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health
• 2022-2025, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Switzerland
• 2024, Visiting Scholar, Nossal Institute for Global Health, University of Melbourne, Australia
• 2020-2022, Postdoctoral Fellow, United Nations University International Institute for Global Health, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
• 2019-2020, Balik Scientist, Department (Ministry) of Health, Manila, Philippines
• 2015-2019, PhD Scholar, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
• 2014-2015, Public Health Leadership Fellow, Ateneo de Manila University School of Medicine and Public Health, Metro Manila, Philippines
• 2012-2014, Research Associate, National Institutes of Health, University of the Philippines, Manila, Philippines
• 2011-2012, Medical Intern, The Medical City General Hospital, Metro Manila, Philippines
• 2007-2011, Medical Student, Ateneo de Manila University School of Medicine and Public Health, Metro Manila, Philippines
• 2007, Executive Assistant, Health Futures Foundation, Metro Manila, Philippines
• 2006-2007, Science Teacher, Ateneo de Manila High School, Metro Manila, Philippines

• 2023-2024, Principal Investigator, Forum for Advancing Better Health Policy and System Research Institutions (FAB-HPSRIs)

• 2024, Learning Partner, Results for Development (R4D) and United States Agency for International Development (USAID)

2024

• Liwanag HJ, Famaloan FRA, Reyes KA, Tamayo RL, Villamater LD, Cabañero-Gasgonia RL, Frahsa AF, Asuncion PJ. A conceptual framework from the Philippines to analyse organizational capacities for health policy and systems research. Health Policy Plann. 2024 July 9;39(8):czae062. https://doi.org/10.1093/heapol/czae062
• Buse K, Liwanag HJ, Koay A, Kedia S, Kiwuwa-Muyingo S, Yoon SY, Hawkes . Strengthening systems of accountability for women’s leadership in the health sector. BMJ. 2024 July 17;386:e078960. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj-2023-078960

2023

• Liwanag HJ, James O, Frahsa A. A review and analysis of accountability in global health funding, research collaborations, and training: Towards conceptual clarity and better practice. BMJ Glob Health. 2023 Dec 6;8:e012906. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2023-012906
• Liwanag HJ, Orth Z, Agrawal R, Hebbar P, Agarwal M, Frahsa A, James O, Meyer S, Rao A. Transforming health systems towards holistic outcomes in the G20 and beyond. T20 India Policy Brief. 2023 June. https://t20ind.org/research/transforming-health-systems-towards-holistic-outcomes/
• Punzalan JK, Guingona M, Punzalan MG, Cristobal F, Frahsa A, Liwanag HJ. The integration of primary care and public health in medical students’ training based on social accountability and community-engaged medical education. Int J Public Health. 2023 Jan 26;68:1605359.
  https://doi.org/10.3389/ijph.2023.1605359

2022

• Liwanag HJ, Uy J, Politico MR, Padilla MJ, Arzobal MC, Manuel K, Cagouia AL, Tolentino P, Frahsa A, Ronquillo K. Co-creation in health workforce planning to shape the future of the health care system in the Philippines. Glob Health Sci Pr. 2022 Dec 21;10(6):e2200176. https://doi.org/10.9745/GHSP-D-22-00176

2021

• Liwanag HJ, Rhule E. Dialogical reflexivity towards collective action to transform global health. BMJ Glob Health. 2021 Aug 20;6:e006825. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2021-006825

2020

• Liwanag HJ, Wyss K. Who should decide for local health services? A mixed methods study of preferences for decision-making in the decentralized Philippine health system. BMC Health Serv Res. 2020 April 15;20(305). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-020-05174-w

2019

• Liwanag HJ, Wyss K. Optimising decentralisation for the health sector by exploring the synergy of decision space, capacity and accountability: Insights from the Philippines. Health Res Policy Syst. 2019 Jan 10;17(1):4. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12961-018-0402-1

2018

• Liwanag HJ, Wyss K. What conditions enable decentralization to improve the health system? Qualitative analysis of perspectives on decision space after 25 years of devolution in the Philippines. PLoS One. 2018 Nov 5;13(11):e0206809. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0206809
• Becker SL*, Liwanag HJ*, Snyder JS* [*joint 1st authors], Akogun O, Belizario V, Freeman M, Gyorkos TW, Imtiaz R, Keiser J, Krolewiecki A, Levecke B, Mwandawiro C, Pullan RL, Addiss DG, Utzinger J. Toward the 2020 goal of soil-transmitted helminthiasis control and elimination. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2018 Aug 14;12(8):e0006606. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0006606

2017

• Liwanag HJ, Wyss K. Assessing decentralisation is a challenging but necessary task if it should continue as a reform strategy: Reflections from the systematic review by Sumah, Baatiemia, and Abimbola. Health Policy. 2017 Apr;121(4):468-70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthpol.2017.01.009
• Liwanag HJ, Uy J, Bataller R, Gatchalian J, De La Calzada B, Uy JA, Dayrit M. Soil-transmitted helminthiasis and schistosomiasis in children of poor families in Leyte, Philippines: Lessons for disease prevention and control. J Trop Pediatr. 2017 Oct 1;63(5):335-45. https://doi.org/10.1093/tropej/fmw078

2015

• Belizario V, Liwanag HJ, Naig JR, Chua PL, Madamba M, Dahildahil R. Parasitological and nutritional status of school-age and preschool-age children in four villages in Southern Leyte, Philippines: Lessons for monitoring the outcome of Community-Led Total Sanitation. Acta Trop. 2015 Jan;141(PtA):16-24. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actatropica.2014.09.008

2014

• Belizario V, Chua PL, Liwanag HJ, Naig JR, Erfe JM. Soil-transmitted helminthiases in secondary school students in selected sites in two provinces in the Philippines: Policy implications. J Trop Pediatr. 2014 Aug 1;60(4):303-7. https://doi.org/10.1093/tropej/fmu018