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MANILA,  Jan. 23 (PIA) – The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has launched a communication campaign aimed to create a unified information delivery service that would improve the services of its attached agencies.

Dubbed as “DOST InfoSerbilis,” the project would employ strategies such as an interactive information kiosk at every agency; an online one-stop portal; the development of print materials such as a general guidebook, directories, brochures, and maps; and video tutorials, among others.  It was launched at the Philippine Science Heritage Center auditorium in Bicutan, Taguig City recently.

“Someday, each DOST agency will have an information kiosk containing information on all basic DOST services. At the same time, an online one-stop portal will be available where services offered by all DOST agencies will be searchable.  Plus, guidebooks, directories, brochures, and maps will be available as well,” Information Resources and Analysis Division Chief Alan V. Taule said.

“With all these tools, DOST information officers and the rest of the workforce will be more responsive and accurate when responding to inquiries about DOST services whether or not the inquiry is about their own agency’s products and services,” Taule said. 

“The quick response is expected to lead to a higher level of client satisfaction and trust for DOST,” he added.

The project was conceptualized by a group of Master of Science Development Communication students from the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) comprised of DOST information officers on scholarship under the DOST-Human Resource Development Program. 

The team is composed of Salvador R. Serrano (team leader, FNRI), Haziel May C. Natorilla (STII); Ullyann C. Garcia (PCHRD; Charyl C. Apuyan (NAST); Mary Charlotte O. Fresco, George Robert E. Valencia III, and Ma. Estrella B. Valle (NRCP); and Ana Ciaren H. Itulid (PCHRD).

“I am certain that many, if not all, DOST agencies have their own respective initiatives to highlight the importance of science to the Filipino public. So I feel that the time is right for us to harmonize and converge these efforts into a comprehensive package,” Taule said.

“We need knowledge workers,” he added. “The important thing here is knowledge at the moment of value. So we must be organizationally able to deliver such services,” he added. (DOST/RJB/JCP/PIA-NCR)

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The Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD) will sign a memorandum of understanding with the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) this month to further strengthen tuberculosis (TB) research in the country.

The DOST-PCHR is also eyeing for the possible establishment of the Regional Prospective Observational Research in Tuberculosis (RePORT) Consortium here.

The RePORT Consortium is an initiative to streamline TB research globally by providing a platform for standardized data management.

Countries such as India, Brazil, and Indonesia have already established this initiative.

According to Peter Kim, deputy director, National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, US NIH, the RePORT Consortium establishes a formal platform for multicultural research partnerships where researchers perform same data collection and analysis methods to easily validate TB research data.

A tool for data harmonization is vital in linking researchers facilitate merging and compatibility of TB data.

DOST has also signified its full support in TB mitigation through research. “Research collaborations like RePORT would enable local researchers to upgrade their research capacities and contribute to the fight against tuberculosis,” said DOST Undersecretary Rowena Cristina Guevara.

For his part, PCHRD Director Jaime Montoya also said the Council will always be in coordination with partners in health to continuously provide research opportunities to prevent and control the prevalence of TB and other diseases.

Meanwhile, a business meeting was attended by the PCHRD and US NIH last month to discuss the research opportunities once the RePORT Consortium is established in the Philippines.

Stakeholders from the academe, hospitals, national government agencies, TB research societies also participated in the discussion.(PNA)

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ILIPINOS are not just good in singing, dancing, acting, boxing, and representing the country in international sports and contests. Aside from being talented, creative, and strong, Filipinos are also known for being smart and innovative people.

As the national coordinating body for health research, the Department of Science and Technology- Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD) has continued supporting local programs on health and health research that provide and strengthen healthcare delivery and the healthcare industry of the country.

Five local technologies and innovations on health, supported by DOST-PCHRD, that will make you proud to be a Filipino.

1. Axis Knee System: Developed by Orthopaedic International Inc., the Axis Knee System is the first and only knee system designed in the Asean region which allows access to knee replacement as it is 40-50% cheaper than imported brands. Its innovative instrumentation and surgical technique also allows more surgeons to perform knee surgery without the need to undergo one-year fellowship program.

2. RxBox: A device which captures medical signals through built-in sensors, stores data in an electronic medical record (EMR), and transmits health information via internet. Jointly developed by the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman and Manila, the device reduces unnecessary travels and hospitalizations as it enables diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of patients from geographically isolated and depressed areas of the country.

3. eHATID Developed by Ateneo De Manila University, the eHealth TABLET for Informed Decision Making of LGUs (eHATID LGU) is an android application that provides real time health information and a facility for direct communication between local chief executives and rural health units (RHUs). Works even without internet connection, eHATID provides decision-making support to local government units (LGUs) in creating sound and evidence-based health policies and programs.

4. Biotek-M: A confirmatory test for dengue diagnosis, is as accurate as the currently available Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) technology yet less costly as it is locally developed. Developed by the UP Manila National Institutes of Health, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, the kit saves resources for both hospital and patients as it allows less admission for dengue-suspected cases.

5. OL Trap: A simple but effective vector control method to lower the population of dengue Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, thus reducing dengue cases and controlling dengue transmission. Developed by DOST-Industrial Technology Development Institute (ITDI), OL Trap works by trapping the eggs and larvae of A. aegypti in their laying site with active organic solution and killing them in the process before hatching and going to adult stage.

DOST represents the wide scientific and technological advances the Philippines has made; the main managing agency responsible for science and technology (S&T) with consulting agencies for Forestry, Agriculture and Aquaculture, Metal Industry, Nuclear Research, Food and Nutrition, Health, Meteorological and the Volcalonogy and Seismology in the Philippines, and the various fields of the Life Sciences. 

This government office is responsible for the coordination and funding of different researches by Filipino scientists and inventors, which can potentially help the progress of science and technology in the Philippines. There are different agencies under DOST which cater to specialized fields: Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), and the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research Development (PCAARRD). 

Fortunato Tanseco de la Peña, PhD., is the Secretary of Science and Technology under the current administration of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. Dr. De la Pena is a Filipino engineer, professor and civil servant. The Secretary of Science and Technology is appointed by the president with no fixed term.

For more information on PCHRD-supported technologies, visit www.pchrd.dost.gov.ph. 

Source: http://www.malaya.com.ph/business-news/opinion/dost-pchrd-health
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The Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD) will sign a memorandum of understanding with the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) this month to further strengthen tuberculosis (TB) research in the country.

The DOST-PCHR is also eyeing for the possible establishment of the Regional Prospective Observational Research in Tuberculosis (RePORT) Consortium here.

The RePORT Consortium is an initiative to streamline TB research globally by providing a platform for standardized data management.

Countries such as India, Brazil, and Indonesia have already established this initiative.

According to Peter Kim, deputy director, National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, US NIH, the RePORT Consortium establishes a formal platform for multicultural research partnerships where researchers perform same data collection and analysis methods to easily validate TB research data.

A tool for data harmonization is vital in linking researchers facilitate merging and compatibility of TB data.

DOST has also signified its full support in TB mitigation through research. “Research collaborations like RePORT would enable local researchers to upgrade their research capacities and contribute to the fight against tuberculosis,” said DOST Undersecretary Rowena Cristina Guevara.

For his part, PCHRD Director Jaime Montoya also said the Council will always be in coordination with partners in health to continuously provide research opportunities to prevent and control the prevalence of TB and other diseases.

Meanwhile, a business meeting was attended by the PCHRD and US NIH last month to discuss the research opportunities once the RePORT Consortium is established in the Philippines.

Stakeholders from the academe, hospitals, national government agencies, TB research societies also participated in the discussion.(PNA)

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Information and communications technology is transforming healthcare through collaboration technologies, e-health records and through manifestations of the Internet-of-Things (IoT).

On 16th January, the Department of Science and Technology- Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD) revealed five local technological innovations on health it is supporting. In addition to cost-effective technologies and methods for knee replacement, dengue diagnosis confirmation and dengue transmission control, the list included two products which leverage ICT for strengthening healthcare delivery.

One of them is a device called RxBox, which captures medical signals through built-in sensors. It stores the collected data in an electronic medical record (EMR), and transmits the health information via internet. Thereby, it  faciliates teleconsultations within the National Telehealth Service Program.

RxBox is being gradually rolled out across the country, with demonstrations held in different parts throughout 2016. 

Its components include a blood pressure monitor, a pulse oximeter (for measuring level of oxygen in blood indicating lung and cardiovascular problems), an eletrocardiogram, a fetal heart monitor, a maternal tocometer and a temperature sensor.

The device, jointly developed by the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman and Manila, reduces the need for travel and hospitalizations, as it enables remote diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of patients living in geographically isolated regions and disadvantaged communities across the country. Philippines is an archipelago of over 7500 islands. Such innovations can help in countering the geographical challenge of extending medical care to all parts of the country. 

The press release also talked about an Android application, called the eHealth TABLET for Informed Decision Making of LGUs (eHATID LGU). Developed by Ateneo De Manila University, it provides real time health information through reports and visualisations and enables direct communication between local chief executives and rural health units (RHUs). It utilises a cloud based system for centralised management of data.

With connectivity continuing to be a challenge, the application can work even without an internet connection. Supported by eHATID, local government units (LGUs) can create sound and evidence-based health policies and programs.

Source: http://www.opengovasia.com/articles/7327-philippine-council-for-health-research-and-development-talks-about-remote-diagnosis-monitoring-and-treatment

  1. Philippine gov’t supports 5 health technologies for nationwide rollout
  2. DOST allocates P10.4M for RxBox project
  3. DOST-PCHRD calls for applicants, nominations for AROHRA
  4. Telehealth medical devices to be released Q1 of 2017