PASAY CITY, Metro Manila- It’s every student’s dream to graduate college. But for some such as the scholars of the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD), undergraduate degree is not enough, they should finish their MD-PhD as well!

Four scholars, first batch of the MD-PhD Molecular Medicine Program, participated the hooding ceremony for their doctoral degree during the 109^th Commencement Exercises of the University of the Philippines (UP) Manila on 22 June 2018 at the Philippine International Convention Center.

Among the scholars who successfully surpassed the eight-year coursework of the program are Dr. Ruby Anne King, Dr. Monica Fresthel Climacosa, Dr. Bobbie Marie Santos, and Dr. Jonnel Poblete.

The MD-PhD in Molecular Medicine Program is a joint initiative of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), through PCHRD, and UP Manila, through the College of Medicine, to train aspiring physician-scientists for careers dedicated to the advancement of health through biomedical research.

Being the first and only program in the country that offers dual MD-PhD course, the MD-PhD Molecular Medicine Program prepares scholars to assume key leadership roles within the academic community and mentor physician-scientists in training.

PCHRD Executive Director Jaime Montoya also awarded the “Most Outstanding MD-PhD Dissertation Award” to Dr. Monica Fresthel Climacosa, during the UP College of Medicine Graduation.

Congratulations to the proud parents!

In Zumarraga town in Samar, an Inter-island Health Referral System - Strengthening through one facility, one health service boat project was adopted to address access barriers to women in need of facility-based deliveries. Dr. Katerina Nono-Abiertas, founder of the One Health Service boat, explains that the set-up enables patients to access health centers by having boats ferry them to maternity units.

Initially, they started with one boat that had to cater 25 barangays in Zumarraga. At present, four low-cost, fuel-efficient, and cost effective service boats were added to the fleet after donations came in from other doctors.

According to the Asian Development Bank, there are 114 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births in the Philippines in 2017. Through facility and service improvements and promotion of facility-based deliveries, an increase in facility-based births results in fewer women dying at home and better postpartum care. But for geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDA), reaching the said facilities prove to be a significant hurdle.

Dr. Nono-Abiertas shared that by training health personnel, engaging the mayor and barangay health workers, developing an ordinance, and creating a hotline to contact the center, they were able to develop a system that not only provided access to GIDAs, but they also managed to change the delivery of health services and enhanced the health workers’ motivation.

The innovation is in the financial model which was developed to create sustainability by upgrading and expanding maternal health facilities to become accredited by PhilHealth, which in turn, will enable the facility to receive reimbursements to fund the operation and maintenance of the sea ambulances. Through this set-up, facility-based deliveries rose from 20% to 90%, created employment for men as boat operators, and improved the health workers’ morale and motivation.

Dr. Nono-Abiertas emphasized in her presentation the need to care for health workers, saying “If we really want people-centered health systems, people should not come first, health workers should come first,” and that by ensuring the people working on the ground are cared for, effective patient care will follow.

Lastly, she added the importance of first-hand field experience and empathizing with the community, inviting other researchers and stakeholders to visit the field and find time to work with the communities.

The One Health Boat project is one of the top five models of social innovations in the country recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Social Innovation in Health Initiative (SIHI). Dr. Nono-Abiertas was invited to be part of the panel discussion on Research on Social Innovations in Health during PCHRD’s 36th anniversary celebration on March 16 at the Philippine International Convention Center.

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Written by Reuben Andrew R. Razal
Created: 10 April 2018 

BAGUIO CITY- The 12^th Philippine National Health Research System (PNHRS) Week is set to stage in the Summer Capital of the Philippines!

The health research community will celebrate the annual event on 6-9 August 2018 at CAP-John Hay Trade and Cultural Center, Baguio City.

The Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD), in collaboration with the Cordillera Regional Health Research Development Consortium (CRHRDC), will organize this year’s conference.

Highlighting the theme “Research and Innovation for Equity in Health,” PNHRS 2018 will discuss the current situation, challenges, and advancements to improve health and equity through reinforced health research and innovation in the regions and local communities.

Plenary and parallel sessions of the main conference will cover topics including governance and equity in health, translating research to public health programs, and strengthening research offices of higher education institutes (HEIs) and research and development institutions (RDIs).

Satellite events will also include sessions and workshops such as the “14^th National Medical Writing Workshop & 7^th Writeshop for Young Researchers,” the “Technical Evaluation of DRR-CCA Proposals,” the “Communication Campaigns: Designing Effective Collaterals,” the “Enhancing the Quality of Monitoring Data from Consortia,” and the “Consultation on the Conduct of Clinical Investigation of Medical Devices.”

PNHRS Week is a gathering of different stakeholders in health research and development to contribute research-based solutions to health problems. For the program, please visit www.healthresearch.ph.

PROGRAM UPDATE- Dr. Bernadette Ramirez, World Health Organization’s (WHO) Scientist, will deliver the keynote address for the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development’s (PCHRD) 36^th anniversary celebration on 16 March 2018 at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC).

Dr. Bernadette Ramirez joined the WHO-Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR) in June 2007 with over 20 years academic and research experience in health product innovation, drug discovery, vaccines, and the development of diagnostics for infectious tropical diseases.

She provides support and coordinates projects that studies population health vulnerabilities, vector-borne diseases, and ways to increase population resilience against the climate change impact in Africa.

Joining Dr. Ramirez as guest speakers are Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Fortunato de la Peña, Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque, and UP Manila Professor Mary Ann Lansang.

The 36^th anniversary celebration will highlight social innovations in health. Part of the program is the recognition of good practices in social innovation in health including the winners of the 2017 Search for PHL Social Innovation in Health Initiative (SIHI) Solutions.

A panel discussion follows which will discuss opportunities and appropriate frameworks on social innovation in health research.  Panelists include University of the Philippines (UP) Manila Professor Noel Juban, UP School of Economics Professor Aleli Kraft, Ateneo De Manila University Institute of Philippine Culture Research Associate Dennis Batangan, and One Health Boat Project Founder Katerina Nono-Abiertas.

Awarding of newly accredited Research Ethics Committees (RECs) and winners of the “Visualize Health Research: Visual Abstract Contest” will also be conducted.

PCHRD is the national coordinating and monitoring body for health research. For more details, visit www.pchrd.dost.gov.ph. Don’t forget to like us on Facebook (/dostpchrd) and follow us on Twitter (@DOST_PCHRD)!