Innovative and effective resource sharing mechanisms to promote and sustain health research in the Philippines - is what the key actors and stakeholders of the Philippine National Health Research System (PNHRS) shared and discussed on 11 August 2010 during the last day of the PNHRS Week.

Stakeholders agreed to act as one through swift, aggressive and essential approaches in order to achieve better health for all. Hence, better linkage and focus on the National Unified Health Research Agenda and pushing forward the enactment of the PNHRS bill, at the local level, were emphasized.

As the regions are at the helm of the PNHRS, they too aptly shared good practices in resource sharing, such as converging and soliciting commitment of various institutions from different sectors and disciplines, engaging in collaborative health researches, mentoring of young researchers, and providing of counterpart fund, staff support, time as well as sharing of facilities/infrastructure, expertise, materials and information.

Winners of the Outstanding Health Research Award were also recognized, among which include the Institute of Human Genetics of the National Institutes of Health in UP Manila, Dr. Bayani Blas of Dona Remedios T. Romualdez Medical Foundation in Region 8, and Dr. Enrique Ona of the National Kidney and Transplant Institute for their work on new born screening, control and prevention of schistosomiasis, and kidney transplantation, respectively.

Research results from young researchers were also pushed to the limelight as the poster exhibit in this year's event focused on "Local Solutions for Local Health Problems".

With the theme "Convergence in Divergence: Resource Sharing for More Mileage in Health Research", the two-day 4th PNHRS Week celebration ended with the participants and stakeholders going back to their respective institutions with better ideas and more zest to get their acts together in moving forward the PNHRS.

The two-day celebration of the Philippine National Health Research System (PNHRS) Week kicked off on a high note on 10 August 2010 as close to 400 participants from the different parts of the country gathered together to bring to the fore challenges and opportunities surrounding the PNHRS today.

Five sessions were held simultaneously on the following topics: (1) Sustaining Quality Health Research through Ethical Review; (2) Health Research Agenda / Technology Transfer Act of 2009 and University Readiness; (3) Writing Your Research in Peer-Reviewed Journals; (4) Presentation of Regional Research Projects; and (5) Research Repository Now: Easing access to research and expertise.

Among the next steps that the participants agreed on to further make the PNHRS more responsive to the current health research environment include organizing a national forum for health research ethics, coming up with the 2011 revised edition of the National Ethical Guidelines on Health Research, engaging in a comprehensive evaluation of the  National Unified Health Research Agenda, raising awareness on the Philippine Technology Transfer Act of 2009, and maximizing usability of HERDIN as a research repository tool.

The event also served as a platform to showcase some of the completed studies in the regions as well as to enhance researchers' know-how in writing and publishing research results.

This year's PNHRS Week, the fourth annual national meeting of the System's various stakeholders since 2007, has its focus on the theme "Convergence in  Divergence: Resource Sharing for More Mileage in Health Research".

On August 10-11, 2010, the 4th Philippine National Health Research System (PNHRS) Week celebration will be held at the Crowne Plaza, Ortigas cor ADB Road, Ortigas Center, Pasig City with the theme, "Convergence in Divergence. Resource Sharing for More Mileage in Health Research."

The first day will feature capacity building sessions for the health research community, namely: 1) Research Agenda and Technology Transfer Act of 2009; 2) National Forum on Ethics Review Committee; 3) Inter-regional Research Presentation; 4) Research Repository Now: Easing Access to Research and Expertise and; 5) Writing Your Research in Peer-reviewed Journals.

Another highlight of the celebration will be the Young Researchers' Poster Exhibit Contest with the theme "Local Solutions for Local Health Problems."

Expected to grace the plenary sessions on August 11 were Secretary Mario Montejo of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Secretary Enrique Ona of the Department of Health (DOH), Chair Patricia Licuanan of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and Chancellor Ramon Arcadio of the University of the Philippines Manila.

Awarding of the Outstanding Health Research (OHRA) and Poster Exhibit Contest Winners will take place August 11.

For further information, please contact Ms. Ullyann Carticiano (PNHRS Secretariat) at 837-7534 to 37.

Participants from different regions of the country lauded the Second Philippine National Health Researh System (PNHRS) Week and National Assembly held at the Pan Pacific Hotel in Manila last August 13-14, 2008.