Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chairperson J. Prospero E. De Vera III, DPA highlighted the importance of health research and innovation in advancing health care quality and health outcomes, citing notable advancements in the global and national levels that made profound changes in human society during the 3rd Western Visayas Health Research Conference held at Diversion 21 Hotel last November 7, 2018.
“Health researches here (Western Visayas) more efficiently support the goals of health in Region VI and in the whole country” said Chairperson De Vera III in his keynote speech.
He further added “Research and innovation are necessary to improve the health system so that it can attain its goal of promoting, restoring or maintaining the health of the people”.
Meanwhile, Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Region VI Regional Director and Western Visayas Health Research and Development Consortium (WVHRDC) Co-chair, also expressed his strong intent to pursue and continually improve health research and innovation through science and technology in Western Visayas.
“Despite the challenges, we need to continue health research. We are doing research because we need to improve the health of Filipinos.” said Engr. Rowen R. Gelonga, DOST VI Regional Director during the 2nd day of the same event.
Director Gelonga also emphasized that there is a need to make medicine more affordable and make health services available in the region through health research and innovation.
The conference included plenaries and research forums on health research and innovation including some other activities such as Graduate Research Competition, Undergraduate Research Competition, and Research Forum Synthesis, Graduate Research Oral Presentation Competition, Undergraduate Oral Presentation Competition, Poster Presentation Competition and Press Conference.
The Western Visayas Health Research and Development Consortium (WVHRDC), formerly RHRDC VI, was formally converted into a consortium last November 19,2010. The primary objective of the WVHRDC is to strengthen the system of collaboration in Region VI in order to develop and enhance the capacity of institutions within the region engaged and interested in health research, as a strategy to improve the health conditions of its people. The WVHRDC is also expected to establish mechanisms to strengthen health research capabilities, encourage resource sharing between institutions, and promote the dissemination and utilization of health research results in the region.
Identified priority areas of Regional Unified Health Research Agenda (RUHRA), which promotes investment in health research in the country include: Infectious Diseases, Child and Adolescent Health, Non-communicable Disease, Maternal and Child Health, Substance Abuse, Expanded Program on Immunization, Food and Nutrition, Drug Discovery and Development, Geriatric Health, Traditional and Alternative Medicine, Mental Health, Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction, Special Groups, Pharmacoeconomics, Health Governance, Health Research and Utilization, Health Technologies, Human Resources, Healthcare Policy and Regulation, Environmental Health and Sanitation, Health Service Delivery and Referral System, Medical Devices, Occupational Safety and Health Hazards, Health Financing, ICT Applications in Health and Accidents and Injuries.
The two-day health conference was organized by Region VI offices of Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Health (DOH), and DOST- Philippine Council for Health Rewsearch and Devcelopment (PCHRD). (DOST6/JRAGabiota)
