The Department of Science and Technology nears the completion of the RxBox 1000 Project which aims to deploy 1,000 RXBox units to select healthcare facilities in the country. To date, 957 units have been delivered to all DOST Regional Offices and the Philippine General Hospital, of which 616 units were deployed to its target users. 

Originally approved in 2015, the project entitled, “Roll-out of 1,000 RxBox Telehealth Devices in Selected Healthcare Facilities in the Philippines” is led by the DOST Region IV-A with support from the DOST-Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD). The project aimed to provide RxBox units to Rural Health Units (RHUs) in identified Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDAs). In response to the pandemic, the project has been repurposed in 2020 to deploy the RxBox units to selected COVID-19 referral centers and other healthcare facilities which will meet the selection criteria.

To celebrate this milestone, the DOST-attached agencies and its partners held the RxBox 1000 Summit on 2 March 2023 at the Metrocentre Hotel, Tagbilaran, Bohol which was attended by project representatives from the various DOST Regional Offices, DOST-PCHRD, University of the Philippines Manila National Telehealth Center (NTHC), UP Diliman Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Department of Health (DOH) Knowledge Management and Information Technology Service (KMITS), Ionics EMS Inc., and RxBox device’s end-users and technical panels.

Developed by Filipino researchers from UP Manila and UP Diliman with support from DOST-PCHRD, RxBox is a biomedical device capable of measuring a patient’s vital signs, such as temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen saturation, uterine contractions, and electrocardiogram readings. With its user-friendly interface and high-resolution display, patients can easily monitor their health and share this information with their healthcare provider, enabling prompt medical interventions and reducing the need for in-person visits.

Through the RxBox Detection and Communication (RxDETEC) mobile application installed in each device, logs of attached medical sensors and patient-related statistics, such as age range, sex, and case type can be stored and transmitted into the mobile application.

The RxBox 1000 Project also aims to orient and train personnel from COVID-19 selected healthcare facilities and corresponding regional or provincial DOST offices and monitor the usage of devices by health workers, including referral and other telehealth activities.

“Through the RxBox multi-stakeholder project, we have immensely contributed to saving lives especially during the height of the pandemic. This project will continue to transform healthcare and people’s lives as long as we continue to work as one. This is a testament to what we can accomplish together as one-guided by our vision to bring Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) closer to our communities,” says DOST Secretary Solidum.

The recently concluded summit was also attended by DOST key officials including DOST Secretary Renato Solidum, Jr.; Dr. Leah J. Buendia, DOST  Undersecretary for Research and Development; Engr. Sancho A. Mabborang, DOST Undersecretary for Regional Operations; Dr. Jaime Montoya, Executive Director of the DOST-PCHRD; and various DOST Regional Directors including the host region’s RD, Engr. Jesus F. Zamora Jr. of DOST VII. Also present are the speakers who discussed their perspectives, user’s experiences, and learnings through the seven years of the RxBox 1000 Project.