Care beyond borders. This practically sums up what RxBox 1000 Project is all about. A multi-component e-health program designed to provide better access to life-saving health care services in isolated and disadvantaged communities nationwide, RxBox is today’s innovative solution to break the geographical barriers that hinder people’s needs to avail quality healthcare services.
A total of 28 RxBox devices will soon be deployed to the rural health units and community hospitals of 22 cities and municipalities in the province of Negros Oriental.
“On behalf of the people in Negros Oriental, I express my thanks and appreciation to DOST, UP Manila National Telehealth Center and Department of Health for putting Negros Oriental in their list of project beneficiaries for this RxBox Project,” said Gov. Roel Degamo during the RxBox 1000 Program launching and ceremonial turnover ceremonies held Feb. 17 at the Negros Oriental Convention Center.
“This project is not simply the roll out of RxBox devices, it is launching a new technology on healthcare. We are happy that our partners have actively supported this initiative by being with us here today,” added Science & Technology Negros Island Region Director Rowen Gelonga.
Five local chief executives and 12 representatives, 16 city and municipal health officers, seven representatives from the academe, national government agency key personnel, including DOH NIR Regional Director Emilia Monicimpo, Provincial Health Officer Henrissa Calumpang and Arturo Ongkeko of UP-NTHC participated in the event.
The tele-medicine device is capable of capturing medical signals through built-in medical sensors: blood pressure monitor, pulse oximeter, electrocardiogram, fetal heart rate monitor, maternal tocometer and temperature sensor.
The RxBox stores data in an electronic medical record (Community Health Information Tracking System), and transmits health information via Internet to a clinical specialists at the Philippine General Hospital in Manila for expert advice. It also catalyzes improvement in the local referral system by facilitating tele-consultations (audio-video conferences) within the National Telehealth Service Program.
Hands-on demonstration of the RxBox system was also conducted by Kristine Dela Cruz, regional training coordinator for DOST VI and NIR of the UP Manila-National Telehealth Center.
The RxBox deployment is under the project entitled “Roll-out of 1000 RxBox Telehealth Devices in Selected Rural Health Centers in the Philippines.” A product of a research program, the RxBox project aims to develop a locally-manufactured, medical-grade telemedicine device and demonstrate its usefulness in target rural health units and local health centers in geographically-isolated and -disadvantaged areas (GIDA) nationwide. (PSTC NegOr)
