PHILIPPINES – The Department of Health (DOH) and Smart
Communications have teamed up to use a range of mobile solutions to help
Filipinos get equitable and accessible health care.
DOH Assistant Secretary Gerardo
Bayugo cited the need to innovate its communication in the digital age to
provide equal and accessible health care for all.
“We are confident that wireless
technologies and other innovations enable us to respond immediately to the
health concerns of Filipinos,” he said.
Highlighting the initiatives,
which were presented during the DOH’s 114th anniversary celebration, is the
Infoboard that can broadcast health updates via SMS.
“(Infoboard) technology enable(s)
institutions such as the DOH to broadcast health news, updates, health
campaigns via subscribed text broadcasts and speedy reporting for citizen
concerns, questions, surveys or disease monitoring to Filipinos, straight to
the Smart mobile phones of subscribed individual members, anytime and
anywhere,” Smart said.
Smart wireless community
solutions manager Louie de Guzman said this technology was mainly developed for
disaster mitigation and prevention and schools.
However, he said the InfoBoard
has several other uses and has been implemented in sports, gated communities,
and real estate.
“Now, government agencies such as
the DOH can take advantage of the Infoboard to efficiently broadcast timely,
relevant, and accurate health care-related information such as advisories on
dengue prevention month, vaccination reminders and health seminars,” he said.
Another wireless service is the
mobile health (mHealth) program that will enhance efficiency and clinics and
health centers.
On the other hand, Philippine
Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT), Smart’s parent company, inaugurated its
first contact center service with hotline number 165-DOH (165-364) that will
merge all phone calls on inquiries on health care concerns and issues.
“This hotline covers all mobile
and landline calls from anywhere in the country,” Smart said.
Smart noted it is so far the only
wireless services provider in the Philippines that has significantly invested
in mHealth services.
In June 2011, it launched its
flagship mHealth program called Secured Health Information Network and Exchange
(SHINE), a web and mobile based system for health facilities and practitioners.
SHINE allows for electronic
medical records, inter-facility referrals, text message reminders and report
generation.
“These services are especially
relevant now as they are rolling out a lot of programs that will require faster
communications and information dissemination. We want to enable people and
communities to reach their potential of universal healthcare access for all,”
said Darwin Flores, Smart’s senior manager for community partnerships.
Source: GMA News
No comments:
Post a Comment