BAGUIO CITY – Some eight hundred researchers will converge in the city to celebrate the Philippine National Health Research System (PNHRS) Week on August 6-10, 2018.
In 2007, former President and own House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo declared every second week of August as the Philippine National Health Research System Week by virtue of Proclamation 1309.
Subsequently, PNHRS annually conducts the PNHRS Week celebration in the different regions in the country wherein there will be parallel and plenary sessions, regular forums and focus group discussions to promote a smoother exchange of health research and related information among concerned stakeholders.
The theme of this year’s celebration of PNHRS Week is “Research and Innovation for Equity in Health” wherein all the activities lined up for the week-long celebration will be held at the CAP John Hay Trade and Cultural Center as organized by the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD) in collaboration with the Cordillera Regional Health Research Development Consortium (CRHRDC).
University of the Philippines College Baguio (UPCB) Chancellor and CRHRDC chairperson Dr. Raymundo Rovillos said that the conference will serve as a platform for participants to discuss the current situation, challenges, and advancements related to improving health and equity through reinforced health research and innovation in the regions and local communities around the country.
Earlier, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Department of Health (DOH) initiated the creation of a coordinated system for health research to contribute to the goals of an improved quality of life of Filipinos.
The coordinated system of convergence strategy was the PNHRS which formally started upon the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between then DOST Secretary Estrella F. Alabastro and DOH Secretary Manuel M. Dayrit on September 17, 2003.
In 2007, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and UP Manila joined as core agencies of the PNHRS by virtue of an agreement between DOST Secretary Alabastro, CHED Chairperson Carlito Puno, UPM Chancellor Ramon Alcadio and DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III.
On May 7, 2013, former President Benigno S. Aquino, Jr. signed Republic Act (RA) 10532 or the Philippine National Health Research System Act of 2013 which provides the institutionalization of the PNHRS.
To date, the DOST, through the PCHRD, the DOH, through the Health Policy and Planning Bureau, the CHED and UP Manila-National Institute of Health formed the PNHRS implementing agencies with PCHRD as the lead Secretariat.
Anchored on the principles of the essential national health research on inclusiveness, participation, quality, equity, and effectiveness, the PNHRS is an integrated national framework for health research in the country which is a convergence strategy that aims to promote cooperation and integration of all health research efforts and stakeholders all over the country to ensure that research contributes to evidence-informed health policies and actions.
By Dexter A. See
