RxBox live demonstration during Juan, Konek! program.

“Through the eHealth and RxBox, diagnosis can be possible even without personal visit to the doctors,” said Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Mario Montejo during the digital empowerment program Juan, Konek! Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Tungo sa Sama-samang Pag-unlad on 8 May 2015 at Pulilan Central Elementary School, Bulacan.

Organized by DOST-ICT Office, Juan, Konek! aims to encourage every citizen to connect to the internet and access online government information and services including eHealth and RxBox.

The World Health Organization explained that eHealth is a “cost-effective and secure use of information and communication technologies in support of health and health-related fields, including health-care services, health surveillance, health literature, and health education.”

In 2004, WHO crafted an action framework to be used for the eHealth initiatives of their member states such as formulation of cost-effective eHealth strategies, forging partnerships for the improvement of eHealth content, and establishing global health observatory.

In the country, the website eHealth Philippines was formed by the DOST Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD), Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) and ADMU Institute of Philippine Culture (IPC) to create an internet-linked community that allows interaction on health issues and access to research databases.

The RxBox, on the other hand, is a multi-component program and ICT innovation designed to provide further access to life-saving health services in isolated and disadvantaged communities.

During the event, a live demonstration was held explaining how the innovation is capable of capturing medical signals through built-in sensors, storing data in an electronic medical record, and transmitting health information via internet.

For further information on eHealth Philippines and RxBox, please visit http://www.ehealth.ph/ and https://rxbox.chits.ph/ respectively. You can also visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbddxbzCSVE to watch what has transpired during the Juan, Konek! program. ■