Press Release
May 24, 2009

TO COMBAT A H1N1 VIRUS: ANGARA CALLS FOR INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF RP'S NATIONAL HEALTH RESEARCH SYSTEM

Sen. Edgardo J. Angara today underscored the need for institutionalizing the Philippine National Health Care System bill, as the Department of Health (DOH) confirmed the second case of A H1N1 virus (swine flu) infection in the country.

As a pandemic or a worldwide epidemic of a disease, A H1N1 virus, a type of influenza pandemic proves to be a threat to the health of millions of people because of the susceptibility of the human population. The World Health Organization recognizes the difficulty of controlling the virus from spreading due to the modern type of transport in the globe. Urbanization and the condition of frequent and uncontrollable assemblage of people heighten the proliferation and growth of the infection.

Contingency planning may be difficult for this kind of problem but "the creation of a Philippine National Research Fund (PNHRF) will help produce new knowledge -about diseases- through research, develop a national and global network of researchers, research organizations and other members of the health research community and secure sustainable financing for research and development eventually contributing to finding solutions for combating these kinds of epidemics," said Angara who is the main author of the PhilHealth Law.

He added, "The establishment of the Philippine National Health Research System seeks to build capabilities for health research and development activities and encourage individuals to pursue research as a career; ensure public access to the information and other outputs generated by the health research system and encourage the utilization of research results in the form of products, technologies, programs and services."

Additionally, it will inculcate internationally and culturally accepted ethical standards and principles especially in researches involving human subjects and participants.

The World Health Organization continuously advises different countries of the world to give imperative steps in investing in pandemic preparedness and develop strategies and take immediate action to prevent the disease from spreading.

In this respect, Angara emphasized that as one of the basic human rights, promotion of optimum health insurance for every Filipino should be prioritized through the creation of health research and development (R &D) activities.

Core agencies that will be involved in this policy are the Department of Health, the Department of Science and Technology- Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD), University of the Philippines Manila - National Institutes of Health (UPM-NIH) and the Commission on Higher Education.

"Ensuring that health research is linked to the health system needs assures that the expected quality health status of Filipinos from the government will be provided," he added.

The DOH, today, confirmed that a second Filipino was infected with the A H1N1 influenza virus. According to reports, the second case is a 50-year old female Balikbayan who arrived from the United States on May 20. DOH officials also stated that the second case is on her way to recovery and is no longer exhibiting the signs of the flu.

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