Global Health Markets

An Innovation Forum  for Global Health Markets was held at  De La Salle University last February 21, 2012  co-sponsored by AFI and ACCESS Health International with the College of Computer Studies (CCS), De La Salle University (DLSU).

Dr. Sherwin Ona, Director for Research and Advance Studies Office, CCS,  who gave the opening remarks cited that among the many initiatives that the University had already undertaken, ICT for Health and Disaster Risk Management are  top priorities.   He welcomed the forum as an opportunity to look into areas that need focus such as  maternal care considering the   average of 11 casualties per day  in Metro Manila alone due to maternal problems/cases.   Dr. Elmer Soriano, Country Director for ACCESS Health International-Philippines emphasized  the objective of the Forum  which was for participants  to be able to  share  strategies  to convert university researches into commercially viable business plans and help solve the increasing problems and systems gaps on health care/services. More significantly, he challenged the students and faculty members to align their skills, talents, time and effort to help solve health problems.

William A. Haseltine,  Founder of ACCESS Health International, a not for profit organization focused on facilitating access to high quality and affordable healthcare worldwide,  challenged and inspired the students with the questions:  “how do you convert your researches into commercially viable businesses so that you could earn money, and, how do you take your ideas into viable businesses?

He emphasized  the need to have a goal and good use of  talents, skills and resources to improve human health. To be able to  excel in a particular area, students  must  look for mentors who are tough, mean,  competitive and who can teach them to excel and convince people.

W. Haseltine mentioned that the  partnership with Ayala Foundation’s  Technology Business Incubator  targets  university-based  researchers, start-ups, and technology firms to develop commercially viable health solutions to pressing health problems. The biggest sector in the US  economy is health and it is considered a  huge economic driver that  offers wide opportunities for technology development.

Myla Rose Reyes, Managing Director of Total Transcription Solutions, Inc and former President of the Healthcare Information Management Outsourcing Association of the Phils. (HIMOAP) gave a talk on “Trends and Innovation Opportunities in Healthcare Information Management”.  Two primary  principles are:   safety of patients is a priority, and,   reduction on medical errors to save on operational costs.  Strategies of successful health  innovation models are: to customize patients’ needs,  use technology to reinvent health services, train the workforce on technology application, and, standardize operating procedures for a more efficient service delivery.

The Innovation Forum ended with participants being apprised on  health as a viable business,  getting healthcare to remote areas;  and the market size. On how  the University can assist  and support students to pursue researches towards entrepreneurial ventures, W. Haseltine advises creating affiliations with both junior and senior faculty members, having worked as a biophysicist, professor, inventor and entrepreneur. He worked with HarvardMedicalSchool and Harvard School of Public Health and founded seven biotech companies. He is holder and co-holder of over 50 patents.