ZAMBOANGA CITY, Aug 12 (PIA) – Secretary of Health Dr. Francisco Duque highlighted the importance of research and development in improving the health care system in the country at the 14th celebration of the Philippine National Health Research System Week. 

“With our continuous innovations, we can clearly achieve a better universal health care,” he said.

Sec. Duque added that as the country faces the battle of the pandemic, they continue to increase efforts in achieving the health goals and objectives and to advance Philippine healthcare despite the challenges.

Guest speaker Dr. Carmencita Padilla, chancellor of the University of the Philippines commended the efforts in making the PNHRS week possible through the virtual celebration and that this celebration will bring them closer to our dream in achieving the implementation on Universal Health Care and to become a better Philippines.

“Research is the core of the Universal Health Care Implementation,” she added.

Meanwhile, Department of Science and Technology (DOST) highlighted the continuous efforts of the department on research and development to also support the response of the country to COVID-19 pandemic.

“We focus on the role of research and development for people to access better healthcare system,” DOST Sec. Fortunato de la Pena said.

During the week-long celebration of the 14th PNHRS, one of the highlights is the main conference sessions on Health Research and Development in the New Normal: Moving Towards Universal Health Care held virtually and streamed live via DOST IX Facebook page from August 12-13, 2021. (RVC/EDT/MLE/PIA9-Zamboanga City)