The Department of Science and Technology IX in close coordination with UP Manila – National Telehealth Center, will deploy some 58 units of Telehealth Devices, popularly known as “RxBox”, to selected Rural Health Units (RHUs) including Municipal Health Offices (MHOs) and City Health Offices (CHOs) in Zamboanga Peninsula region.   

This project is one of the initiatives of DOST under the “Smarter Philippines” program, as well as the Department’s contribution to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) on improving maternal and neonatal health services.

Earlier this February, DOST Regional Coordinators convened for the first time at Green Leaf Hotel, General Santos City to tackle the nationwide Roll-out of 1,000 units of RxBox, Telehealth Devices in the country.  Furthermore, the project planning and implementation were also discussed during the said meeting.

The project beneficiaries were assessed and validated according to the following criteria : 1) Presence of Medical Officer; 2) Training of RHUs staff in Basic Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (BEMONC); 3) Availability of PHILHEALTH Package; 4) Power Supply; 5) With Computers; and 6) Mobile Communication Provider.

Since 2014, a total of 143 units of RxBox were deployed in the entire country.  Of the 143,    three (3) units were deployed in Zamboanga del Norte, specifically at RHUs of Leon Postigo, Polanco and Tampilisan.  With the additional fifty-eight (58) sites in Region IX, the DOST IX envisions to improve the health care services in ZamPen.

The RxBox is a multi-component device (BP Monitor, Pulse Oxymeter, ECG, Fetal Heart Rate monitor, Maternal Tocometer, and Temperature sensor) designed to provide better access to life-saving health care service in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA) in the country.

The manufacturing and testing of the device is handled by the UP Manila-NTHC.  After testing, the deployment of device will follow in all regions.  (Mark B. Madarang, DOST IX PRESS RELEASE)