A two-day workshop for Applied Ethics in Research was held on June 18-19, 2014 at the Playa Tropical, Currimao, Ilocos Norte. The twenty-three participants, who attended the workshop, are mostly Medical Practitioners and members of the Ethics Review Committee from R1Medical Center, ITRMC, MMSU, MMMH, UNP, DMMMSU including the representatives of their partner agencies like the CHR, POPCOM, DOH, NNC, DOST, and PCHRD.

The workshop consisted of a Pre-Test; 9 Lectures; 5 Small Group Works (SGW) which varied from Discussions, Self-Discernment and Role Play; Plenary Sessions in the form of Previews, Presentations and Critiques; Individual Reading and Assignment; a Post Test Evaluation; and Daily and Final Workshop Evaluation.

The workshop started at 2:00 PM with the administration of a pre-test on Research Cognitive Valuation. This was immediately followed by a short introduction on the workshop goals and quick run through of the program schedule.

Dr. Rosario Angeles T. Alora and Dr. Evangeline O. Santos, who are both from the Research Ethics Board of UP Manila, were the Main Resource Speakers/Facilitators of the said Workshop.

During the first day of the workshop, Dr. Alora gave Lectures 1, 2 and 6 which pertained to Introduction to Ethics in Research, Ethical Research, and Valuing the Person as Equal to Others: Justice, respectively.

Dr. Santos, on the other hand, delivered Lectures 3, 4 and 5 anent Valuing the Person as an End: Beneficence, Non-Maleficence, and Valuing the Person as one with Dignity: Autonomy.

On the second day, Dr. Alora discussed Lecture 7 relative to Ensuring Ethical Research Controls, while Dr. Santos delved on Lectures 8 and 9 about the The Institutional Ethics Review Committee and The Ethical Researcher, respectively.

Shortly thereafter, each of the participants shared their personal limitations/hindrances as well as their plan of action/recommendations on how they can improve as a researcher or member of the committee.

The workshop was conducted to provide an avenue for the aforesaid participants to dialogue and guide regarding the moral dimensions of research; to help the participants evaluate ethical research, specifically to sensitize them on the basic concepts, to apply the concepts to avoid, recognize and correct issues; to describe the different controls for Ethics in Research focusing on the Phil Health Research Ethics Board, Institutional Research Ethics Committee and the Researcher; and to motivate the participants to do and advocate quality ethical research. 

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. 

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R1HRDC SALUTES FORMER CHAIR REGIONAL DIRECTOR LEONARDO N. QUITOS, JR. ELECTS DR. MA. LOURDES K. OTAYZA AS NEW HEAD

The members of the Region 1 Health Research and Development Consortium (R1HRDC) recognized the sterling leadership of former consortium’s chair, Dir. Leonardo N. Quitos,  Jr., of the National Economic and Development Authority – Cordillera Administrative  Region (NEDA-CAR) in a Turn Over Ceremony of Region 1 Health Research and  Development Consortium (R1HRDC) Chairmanship and CY 2011 Performance Assessment  and CY 2012 Work Planning Workshop held last 19 January 2012, at the Nueva Segovia  Consortium of Cooperatives (NSCC) Plaza, Caoayan, Ilocos Sur. 

Dir. Quitos was formerly the NEDA 1 Regional Director before he was reassigned to NEDA-CAR last November 28, 2011. Serving as the longest chairperson of the consortium for eleven years, he had contributed in the growth and development of the R1HRDC by revitalizing its operation in 2000, crafting its operations manual (first RHRDC to develop among the RHRDCs across the country), pushed for the trainings of pool of health researchers in the region, chaired the Search Committee for Northern Luzon for the Best in Health Mentor Award of the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD) for several years and among others. The officials of the consortium together with the representatives from the Philippine Council for Health Research and development conferred the plaque of recognition to Dir. Quitos.

Dir. Quitos although now reassigned at the NEDA Cordillera Administrative Region had still opened his service to the consortium especially in facilitating the conduct of team building activities for the R1HRDC.

Meanwhile, Dr. Ma. Lourdes K. Otayza of the Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center (MMMH&MC) of Batac City, Ilocos Norte was installed as the new chair of the consortium via unanimous decision. She will be assisted by her co-chairperson, Dr. Leo B. Solis of the Virgen Milagrosa University Foundation (VMUF) of San Carlos Pangasinan. 

The R1HRDC is the region’s steering body for health and health-related research and concerns. It serves as the regional arm of the Philippine National Health Research System (PNHRS) and it is mandated to strengthen the system of health research collaboration in the region to develop, enhance and capacitate institutions to engage in health research to help improve the health conditions of the people. To know more about the consortium you may contact the office of Dr. Ma. Lourdes K. Otayza at telephone number 077-792-3133/3144.