KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato-Health research in the Philippines should move away from one-size-fits-all solutions and account for the distinct cultural, geographic and socioeconomic realities of communities, particularly those in rural and geographically isolated areas, according to a regional science director.
Regional Director Engr. Sammy P. Malawan, of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) XII and chairman of the Health Research and Development Consortium XII (HRDC-12), said research should generate evidence that explains why health problems persist, why access to care remains unequal, and which interventions work best for specific communities.
‘Sometimes, we already know the problem, but we do not yet have enough evidence for the best solution. Sometimes, there is technology, but it has not reached the people who need it. And sometimes, there is already a solution but it is not sensitive to the culture, economic status, location or community affordability,’ Malawan said partly in Filipino during the opening of the 19th Philippine National Health Research System (PNHRS) Week in this city on August 11.
Hosted by HRDC XII from August 11 to 13, the 19th PNHRS Week carried the theme ‘HealthConverge: Transforming Health Research, Connecting Cultures.’
He pointed to the country’s 2024 mortality figures to illustrate the scale of the health burden.
Ischemic heart disease remained the leading cause of death, claiming 134,078 lives, or 19.1 percent of all recorded deaths. Neoplasms, or cancer, accounted for 77,433 deaths, while cerebrovascular diseases caused another 68,736.
Malawan said these figures should also be viewed through the realities faced by communities, including families dealing with lost income, patients struggling with medical expenses and residents in remote areas who travel long distances to access specialized care.
‘The health challenges of South Cotabato may not look exactly the same as those in Metro Manila. The needs of an indigenous community may differ from those of an urban population,’ he emphasized.
This, he said, highlights the need for researchers to consider local conditions, Indigenous knowledge and the experiences of health workers and other stakeholders when identifying problems and developing interventions.
‘National system becomes meaningful only when it listens to what is happening on the ground,’ Malawan said, adding that research should begin by asking communities what they actually need.
Science, technology and innovation, he added, can help translate these needs and research findings into interventions that are practical and accessible.
‘Science helps us understand. Technology gives us the tools. Innovation brings solutions closer to the people,’ he said.
Malawan urged researchers to ‘pursue research that is bold enough to ask difficult questions, humble enough to listen, rigorous enough to produce credible evidence, and practical enough to create change.’
Meanwhile, Science Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr. said the region’s vibrant cultural heritage highlights the importance of health research that reflects the lived realities and needs of local communities.
‘Our diversity is not divisive. It is one of our greatest strengths in advanced science and technology. It is through these convergences that we transform diversity into discovery and ideas into breakthroughs,’ Solidum said in a recorded keynote message.
‘Meaningful innovations thrive when diverse minds work toward a shared purpose,’ he added.
Solidum also emphasized the role of the National Unified Health Research Agenda in guiding health research and development priorities based on the country’s health needs.
He said the Philippine Health Research Ethics Board helps uphold ethical standards in research involving human participants, while the Regional Health Research and Development Consortia strengthen research capacity at the regional and institutional levels.
He said the PNHRS implementing agencies, through their respective mandates and expertise, work together to align research priorities, build institutional capacity and ensure that scientific evidence is translated into policies and programs.
The DOST, through the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development, works with the Department of Health, Commission on Higher Education and the University of the Philippines Manila-National Institutes of Health in advancing a more coordinated and responsive health research system.
‘Let us make HealthConverge more than just a theme. Let it guide the way we work across disciplines, sectors, and cultures. Let us remain committed to advancing a health research system that is inclusive, collaborative, and responsive to the needs of the Filipino people,’ Solidum said.
The event brought together researchers, health professionals, policymakers and other stakeholders through discussions, partnership-building activities and research competitions, with a focus on strengthening collaboration and promoting locally responsive health research.
The next PNHRS Week will be held in Calabarzon.