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: Rachel Ann Doreen D. Nadal; Events; 12 November 2012; Hits: 5774

“Create a research culture to leverage investments in health” – Sen. Angara

“To boost the quality of our health care system, we must, first, ensure sufficient funding for it and then, create a research culture to leverage those investments,” stressed Senator Edgardo Angara in his message, delivered by Dr. Carmencita Padilla of the University of the Philippines Manila (UP Manila), during the 6^th Philippine National Health Research System (PNHRS) Week at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza, Pasay City.

When it comes to health care investment, Senator Angara stated that the country’s financing on basic social services from education to health care is weak compared to other Southeast Asian countries.

Total health expenditure in the Philippines as percentage of gross domestic product (GDP) is at 3.7 percent in 2011. This percentage seemed low in comparison to other developing countries such as Cambodia with 5.7 percent, Thailand with 4.1 percent and Vietnam with 7.2 percent investment of their GDP.

On government’s health investment per capita, the Philippines posted a 22% increase while Vietnam made a 235% increase. “In general, the burden of health care cost is still largely carried by the people. In our case, the government and the private expenditure shares are 35% and 65%. It is harder to isolate however, how much of the total health funding actually goes to health R&D as there are limited data available,” reported Senator Angara.

To increase the country’s allocation for health, Senator Angara recommended using four innovative financing sources for health care from the World Health Organization (WHO). These include new and right tax, voluntary contributions from businesses and consumers, taxation of repatriated pharmaceutical industry office, and government funds for health research and development.

Senator Angara also stressed the importance of enacting Senate Bill 2029 or the Philippine National Health Research System (PNHRS) Act as policy support in creating a favorable research environment in the country. “This bill will support quality basic and advance research that will contribute toward better health policy and program for the country through the establishment of the PNHR Fund. It will also help cultivate a research culture among our S&T professionals, a huge concern for everyone here,” said Senator Angara.

Looking ahead, Senator Angara emphasized, “We have much to do for the Filipino research relevant, strategic, responsive and timely. I have every confidence that PNHRS will continue being one of our strongest partners in promoting research and development for the greater well-being of our people.”

: Rachel Ann Doreen D. Nadal; Events; 12 November 2012; Hits: 10555

Collaboration, funding mechanisms, capacity building and publishing, next steps for Philippine health research

“We need to mobilize more resources, and resources is not just money you put into the system but finding people around us who can do the work and who can do it better than we can do it ourselves. So part of the task is coordinate with these people, work in parallel, work simultaneously so we can move faster,” says Dr. Cecilia S. Acuin in her synthesis of the proceedings of the 6th Philippine National Health Research System (PNHRS) Week at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza, Pasay City.

To improve research systems in the country in order to impact on the health of Filipinos, Dr. Acuin proposed that the PNHRS take the following steps: 1) harness technologies in building collaboration; 2) employ full-time, capacitated, and justly compensated research managers to produce desirable outcomes; 3) simplify the funding processes or grant mechanisms and; 4) publish researches to help policymakers define their research agenda.

Dr. Acuin explained that using technologies such as cell phones, computers and video conferencing is a much cheaper means to communicate when doing research and results can be acquired much faster. “Working with somebody in distant area doesn’t need to be expensive to harness technologies,” said Dr. Acuin.

In terms of research management, Dr. Acuin said coordination is becoming more crucial especially when working in a network. She emphasized, “We need full-time, capacitated, and justly compensated research managers, in that way we can work faster. We can produce better quality research.”

Dr. Acuin shared the difficulty of Filipino researchers in getting funding approval for their research. She urged the PNHRS core agencies to simplify funding processes and reduce bureaucracy.

Dr. Acuin also highlighted the importance of publishing research. “The reason to publish is to market your capacity and to be able to show the world that you are capable of doing these kinds of research. That way, you build a track record among people who are thinking of doing similar research in your area and there will be a way to contact you for further work,” stressed Dr. Acuin.

“I would be very glad to hear outcomes and success stories of our research systems and our consortia. I would also like to hear what happens to the systems that we are collaborating in PNHRS,” were Dr. Acuin’s parting words.

: Ana Ciaren P. Hipolito; Events; 20 July 2012; Hits: 5485

PCHRD to hold 2nd National Medical Writing and Peer Review Workshop in Davao City

Following the success of the 1^st National Medical Writing and Peer Review Workshop held in Cebu City last 19-20 January, 2012, the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (PCHRD-DOST), in collaboration with the Philippine Association of Medical Journal Editors (PAMJE) and Asia Pacific Association of Medical Journal Editors (APAME), will hold the 2nd National Medical Writing and Peer Review Workshop on July 26-27, 2012 at the Marco Polo Hotel, Davao City.

: Richmond Q. Acosta; Events; 17 July 2012; Hits: 4707

6th PNHRS Week Celebration highlights partnership in health research

Health research stakeholders will gather again for the 6^th Philippine National Health Research System (PNHRS) Week celebration on August 8 - 10, 2012 to be held at the Hotel Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila. With the theme, “Sustaining Research Partnerships for Better Health,” the event emphasizes the healthy cooperation of research stakeholders to generate new knowledge and innovations in support of the country’s Kalusugang Pangkalahatan agenda.

: Events; 14 June 2012; Hits: 7037

Fourth International M-Libraries Conference 2012

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"From margin to mainstream: mobile technologies transforming lives and libraries."

Mobile technology has transformed so many aspects of our lives: how we work, how we communicate, how we study and how we play. This conference will explore and share work carried out in libraries around the world to deliver services and resources to users via a growing plethora of mobile and hand-held devices.

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