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UPCOMING EVENTS:

1. What: PNHRS Research Agenda Committee Meeting

   When: April 4, 2014, 9am-12nn

   Where: Conti’s Bakeshop and Restaurant, Greenbelt II, Experanza Street, Makati City.

   Agenda: 1. Preparation of the PNHRS Strategic Planning & Other Matters.

2. What: 3^rd PNHRS Steering Committee Meeting

   When: April 10, 2014, 8AM

   Where: Room 1012, PhilHealth Main Office, City State Center, 709 Shaw Blvd, Pasig City.

3. What: 14^th Forum on Ethics Research Committees of Asia Pacific FERNCAP

   When: November 23-26, 2014

   Where: Taal Vista, Tagaytay.

   Theme: Embedding Ethics in the National Health Research System.

Last March 7, 2014, the Philippine Council for Health Research & Development (PCHRD) held the 2^nd PNHRS Steering Committee Meeting at Racks Restaurant, El Pueblo De Real, Ortigas and there were 25 participants from different institution/agencies attended the meeting.

Dr. Maria Lourdes K. Otayza, Medical Center Chief II of Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital & Medical Center and the present Chair of Region 1 Health Research & Development Consortium was invited to be part of the said gathering and was chosen tentatively as one of the Chair of the Research Agenda as sub-committee of the Philippine National Health Research System (PNHRS).

One of the agenda was the preparation of the PNHRS Strategic Planning which will focus to assess the system and identify its future directions/activities. The actual planning will be undertaken in May.

It was also discussed about the upcoming PNHRS Week Celebration which will be on August 12-14, 2014 to be held in Cebu City. After the success of the 7^th PNHRS hosted by Region 1, the 8^th PNHRS Week Celebration will soon be hosted by Region 7. Supposedly this big event will take place in Manila however, taking into consideration on the Global Forum on Health Research, in which the Philippines won the bid to be the host, led by the DOST and DOH which is scheduled next year and PICC will be the finest venue. In their initial meeting, the consortium adopted the theme on “Health Research & Development and Health Emergency Management”.

One of the important inputs for the Research Agenda is the importance of doing a road show to listen to the health needs of various stakeholders which can be translated into research agenda and to go and reach out to different offices and groups in the country.

The RxBox program is designed to provide better access to life-saving health care service in isolated and disadvantaged communities nationwide. It is one among the Department of Science and Technology’s (DOST) efforts for a “Smarter Philippines”.

In 2007, RxBox played a very important role in the development of the National Telehealth Service Program (NTSP), currently one of the Department of Health’s (DOH) efforts towards Universal Health Care.

The RxBox program consists of a biomedical device and builds capacities of frontline health workers on telemedicine, the use of electronic medical records and the RxBox telemedicine device.

The RxBox supports the country’s race towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on improving maternal and neonatal health services. It supports also the campaign to control Non Communicable Diseases, major causes of death and diseases in the country.

WHAT RxBox Does?

• Blood Pressure Monitor – measures the patient’s blood pressure and detect heart and blood vessels problems, especially hypertension, a disease which can also worsen other chronic lifestyle disease conditions.
• Pulse Oxymeter – assesses the level of oxygen in the patient’s blood and can help detect lung and heart problems, the leading causes of death of Filipinos.
• Electrocardiogram (ECG) – monitors the heart’s movement to pump blood throughout the body. This is helpful for those with acute and chronic heart problems, including pregnant mothers with heart disease.
• Fetal Heart Monitor – measures the baby’s heart rate while in the womb. It can help detect the baby’s difficulty at critical times of the pregnancy and delivery.
• Maternal Tacometer – assesses the strength of contraction of the mother’s uterus especially during delivery. It can detect problems that can lead to distress to both the mother and her baby.
• Improves documentation of patient information using its CHITS-electronic medical record.
• Through telemedicine, as part of the National Telehealth Service program, links the remote primary care health workers with clinical specialists in hospitals for better patient care.
• Reduces unnecessary travels and hospitalizations of patients.
• Improves the health referral system in their area through telemedicine CHITS-Community health Information and Tracking System.

• Lack of medicines and other life-saving technology.

• Maldistribution of health workers.

• Geographic isolation.

• Commercialized medicine: expensive and out of reach of the poor Filipino.

SOLUTION: Maximize established benefits of Information & Communications Technology in Health Care             

-maximizes use of health technology, enables communication and connects patients and health providers. 

Leading the cutting of the ribbon ceremony were Dr. Jaime C. Montoya, Executive Director of Philippine Council for Health Research & Development (PCHRD), Dr.Maria Lourdes K. Otayza,Chair of Region 1 Health Research & Development Consortium (R1HRDC), Dr. Jose B. Orosa III, Chair of R1HRDC-Research & Development Commi- ttee, Dr. Vicente Y. Belizario, Jr., Executive Director of the National Institute of Health(NIH), and Dr. Amelia Guevara, Undersecretaryfor Research and Development, Department of Science & Technology (RD-DOST).

Around 500 participants from the 17 regional health research organizations arrived on Wednesday morning at Plaza Del Norte Hotel & Convention Center in Barangay Balacad, Laoag City and attended the 7^th Philippine National Health Research System (PNHRS) Week Celebration.

Hosted by the Region 1 Health Research and Development Consortium (R1HRDC), the theme of the event was: “People at the Center of Health and Health Research”.

The event served as a platform for various stakeholders to come-up with health solutions by way of research and discussion.

R1HRDC Chair, Dr. Maria Lourdes K. Otayza, said that, “the celebration paves way to the different stakeholders in health to interact and share information and experiences in providing a research-based solutions to health problems.”

“Let us take this opportunity to come together and learn from each other as we pursue a common goal of making a difference in the lives of our people” she added.

The PNHRS's core agencies namely the Department of Health (DOH), Philippine Council for Health Research & Development – Department of Science & Technology (PCHRD-DOST), Commission on Higher Education (CHED-1), and National Institutes of Health (NIH) – University of the Philippines Manila joined the said event.

Each region from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao were well-represented by health research organizations and various students from the different medical and nursing schools.

7th PNHRS COMPETITION

The conference staged a three-day activity from August 7-9, 2013 which includes fora for the health specialist, students and professionals research presentation competitions and poster exhibits organized by the consortia.

The competition were classified into two, these were the poster-making exhibit and oral presentation.

Participants were from the category of students, professionals and consortia from the 14 participating regions whose research papers were pre-judged by the evaluation/ review panel.

From a total of 28 papers from each category of students and professionals, there were ten qualifiers for the oral presentation and ten for the poster exhibit, all for student category.

In professional category, six were admitted for the oral presentation and eight for the poster exhibit.

For the consortia category, the poster-making contest was undertaken in line with this year’s theme “People at the Center of Health and Health Research” showcasing their activities.

Meanwhile, the DOST-PCHRD GRUPPO MEDICA conferred award for outstanding undergraduate thesis in herbal medicine to wit: (1) Neutrotonic Effect of the Alkaloid Extract Capsule of Kangkong (Ipomoea aquatica Forsk) on the Treatment of Alzheimer ’s Disease (San Pedro College, Davao City); (2) Antiangiogenic Activity and Toxicity of Crescentia cujete Linn. (Calabash) (Notre Dame of Dadiangas University, General Santos City); (3) Antibacterial, Toxicological and Mutagenic Evaluation of Formulated Ointment of Knobweed (Hyptis capitata Jacq, Lamiaceae) Leaf Extract Against Methicilin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (University of Immaculate Conception, Davao City)

TECHNO-BAZAAR SHOWCASED ILOCANO PRODUCTS

Technology-driven products through the assistance of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) were showcased during the Philippine National Health Research System (PNHRS) Week on August 7-9.

The DOST organized a techno-bazaar for Small and Medium Entrepreneurs (SMEs) which are beneficiaries of their assistance program to introduce Ilocano products among visiting regions here.

Jonathan Viernes, Provincial Director of the DOST in Ilocos Norte said, “the products were assisted by the DOST to improve its packaging by the use of technological equipment mainly to boost its marketability.”

Among the native Ilocano products seen at the fair were the mouth-watering ‘bagnet and longganisa’, chichacorn, banana chips, rice coffee, and the famous ‘inabel’ cloth of Ilocos.

“This might also generate employment because the SMEs will get to hire additional workers for their booth” Viernes added.

The DOST, together with the Department of Health (DOH) has established the PNHRS on 2003 and have been working for a bill that will institutionalize the PNHRS as well as the establishment of a subsidy funding for its projects.

The DOST and DOH established the PNHRS through a Memorandum of Understanding signed on March 2003.

The celebration of PNHRS Week every second week of August is pursuant to Presidential Proclamation 1309 in 2007.

OUTSTANDING HEALTH RESEARCH AWARD (OHRA) FOR 2014

The Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Health Research & Development (DOST-PCHRD) in collaboration with the Department of Health (DOH) is pleased to announce the availability of the Outstanding Health Research Award (OHRA) for the year 2014.

The Award gives recognition to a research program or project that has demonstrated the link between research and practice through the utilization of research findings in the health delivery system.

Any health research program or project may be considered for the Award. Nominations will be done by any institution; members of the consortium; scientific; technological and professional societies or associations; research institutes; universities and colleges; and individuals. Self-nomination is not allowed.

Two awards will be given: one for the biomedical research category and another one for the health services research category. A cash prize of Php500, 000 and a trophy await the winner for each category.

All members of  Region1 Health Research and Development Consortium (R1HRDC) are requested to submit nominations to the R1HRDC secretariat, Ms. Christina Llaguno of Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital & Medical Center (077--3133792) on or before March 28, 2014 and it will be reviewed and short-listed by the consortium. Short-listed entries will be submitted to the Philippine Council for Health Research & Development (PCHRD) on or before April 4, 2014.

A copy of the 2014 OHRA Guidelines, Nomination Form and list of Regional Consortium Secretariats can be downloaded at the "downloads" option.