In her Inspirational Message at the Second Philippine National Health Research System (PNHRS) Week celebration and National Assembly on August 14, 2008 at the Pan Pacific Hotel's Grand Ballroom in Manila, Pampanga 4th District Representative Dr. Ana York Bondoc expressed her support for the PNHRS Bill.
An Outstanding Young Researcher herself, Congresswoman Bondoc said that the major problem of health research in the country is the lack of attention from the government. “Health budget is not given primary importance,” says Rep. Bondoc.
However, Rep. Bondoc assured that she will give her 100% in promoting the Health Research Bill to her fellow lawmakers in Congress. She challenged the health research community to translate research outputs into concrete goals or achievements. “I assure you ladies and gentlemen, and fellow researchers, that our politicians and policymakers will be more than willing to support this as long as we could show them how to translate these researches into concrete goals,” she stated.
Another problem she addressed and will work on is the nurturing of young researchers to enter the field. “Aside from funding, we should nurture a proper atmosphere of support for our health researchers, not only practicing doctors but even our masters and PhD holders.”
Rep. Anna York Bondoc is the recipient of the 1999 American College of Chest Physicians Outstanding Young Researcher Award. Aside from being a legislator at the House of Congress, Rep. Bondoc is also a practicing physician at the St. Luke’s Medical Center and Cardinal Santos Medical Center. She is a diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine.