DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, Jan. 27 (PIA) -- The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Negros Oriental turned over RX Box Telemedicine devices to five far-flung community hospitals in the province.

Luz Sikatuna Community Primary Hospital, Pacuan Community Primary Hospital, Nabilog Community Primary Hospital, Inapoy Community Hospital, and Dawis Community Primary Hospital each received one unit of RXBox from DOST which they can use to improve the delivery of health services in their respective communities.

The RXBoxes are capable of collecting data on blood pressure and temperature.

It also has an oxymeter that can determine oxygen saturation.

Aside from this, it can also be used as an ECG and maternal tocometer to check the status of contraction in the uterus for birthing mothers.

DOST Provincial Director Atty. Gilbert R. Arbon reaffirmed the agency’s support in providing quality health care to remote areas in the province through science and technology interventions.

“Our goal is simple: to help make health services more accessible to people in far-flung areas, especially pregnant women, children, and the elderly. Through telemedicine we can do that,” Arbon said.

DOST Negros Oriental Public Information Officer Designate Engr. Reinhold Jek Abing added that RXboxes can also store data in an electronic medical record and are capable to transmit health information to clinical experts at the Philippine General Hospital for better interpretation.

The recipient hospitals are located in Geographically and Economically Disadvantaged Areas (GEDAs) in the province where availing medical and health services and its high cost pose a big challenge for residents there.

In Brgy. Inapoy, Mabinay, for example, it would take three hours for a patient to reach Dumaguete City if riding in a private vehicle, and longer if they take public transport.

A patient would also have to pay P200 for a habal-habal ride from Brgy. Inapoy to Mabinay proper and another P170 as fare for a bus ride from Mabinay to Dumaguete City.

This is on top of the medical expenses such as consultation fees and the long queues patients have to endure when seeking medical attention.

“Thanks to medical sensors in the box, RxBox can reduce the total cost of healthcare by enabling healthcare workers to diagnose, monitor, and treat patients within rural healthcare facilities,” Abing said.

Representatives from the said hospitals said the devices helped a lot in providing medical care to people in the hinterlands.

“Since we've received the RxBox, it has already helped us to a great extent. Being in one of the geographically and economically disadvantaged areas, the RxBox has provided us with more than enough data for our patients. We are able to promptly diagnose life-threatening cases and do the necessary and immediate interventions, thereby saving more lives in far-flung areas,” said Dr.  Wildredo Mata, Jr. of Luz-Sikatuna Community Provincial Hospital in Guihulngan City.

“Before the RxBox was given to us, ECG and CTG machines are not readily available in our facility. Now it has helped us diagnose diseases and conditions more quickly, and proper management is made without delay. Adding to that, it also keeps records of vital signs and previous ECG and CTG readings that we can review in case the patient comes back,” said Dr. Laguerder of Dawis Community Primary Hospital in Bayawan City.

DOST has already distributed 24 RxBoxes throughout the province.

Fifteen were given to rural health centers, four to urban health centers, and four to community primary hospitals. (RAL/PIA7 Negros Oriental with reports from DOST Negros Oriental)