SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga- The RxBox, a Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD)-supported technology, was featured during the “RDC-SCED Forum on DOST Technologies” organized by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Region III on 12 April 2016 at NEDA III Conference Center, DM Government Center, Maimpis, San Fernando, Pampanga.

Ceremonial deployment of RxBox during “RDC-SCED Forum on DOST Technologies” 

The “RxBox,” a multi-component device developed by researchers from University of the Philippines (UP) and National Telehealth Center (NTC), provides better access to healthcare services in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas by allowing consultation between health workers in remote communities and medical experts in urban areas.

On her presentation, Dr. Portia Grace Marcelo, NTC Director, emphasized that RxBox is a suite of intervention for universal health care.

“It [RxBox] is about eHealth or the use of ICT in health. It is about country-side development or inclusive growth. It is about the geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas of the rural and urban poor. It is about addressing national pressing concerns,” she explained.

Dr. Marcelo added that they are currently looking into commercialization and stimulation of more innovations through RxBox.

“This is how we want the Philippines to go. We want to encourage more researches so we can develop something locally and use it really locally,” she said.

She also cited that RxBox was already used 48,000 times in the span of two years. Likewise, the latest version was also used by fifty hospitals in the span of only three months.

Dr. Kristine Mae Magtubo, RxBox Program Manager, also shared her experience with a mother who refused to go to a hospital because she cannot afford the expenses. She emphasized that RxBox is the answer to the helplessness of underprivileged people in accessing healthcare services.

“Yung RxBox yung sagot sa helplessness na yun. There was something I can do for the mother. I can include my diagnosis of her. Kung kailangan ko ng tulong, pwede ko siya irefer to a clinical specialist sa Philippine General Hospital (PGH). Actually, I can report whatever it is na ginawa ko sa kanya dahil may electronic medical record,” she explained.

Other technologies presented during the Forum were “Carrageenan Plant Growth Promoter” by Dr. Gil Magsino of University of the Philippines Los Baños National Crop Protection Center, “Tactical Operative Amphibious Drive (TOAD) Vehicle by Dr. Tirso Ronquillo of Batangas State University and “Diwata: PH Microsatellite” by PHL-MICROSAT Team.

Ceremonial deployment of RxBox telehealth devices was also held during the Forum.

The “RDC-SCED Forum on DOST Technologies” is part of the two-day Science Nation Tour Central Luzon from 12-13 April 2016.