Makati deploying tech innovations to boost health services vaccination rollout

Mayor Abigail Binay presented how the City of Makati provides better healthcare services and COVID-19 vaccination rollout through digital technology solutions. Mayor Binay showed this during the virtual forum of the Stratbase Albert Del Rosario Institute (ADRi) held recently with health stakeholders from the public and private sector.

In opening remarks, Stratbase ADRi President, Prof. Victor Andres “Dindo” Manhit said, “The coronavirus pandemic has exposed the vulnerabilities and intricacies of governance and healthcare system in the country.

Manhit said, “Our battle against COVID-19 becomes more challenging because of particular systemic and perennial problems pertaining to the unimproved healthcare facilities and workforce, a dependent labor force, and the lack of financial resources.” “Globally, newly developed vaccines, accurate testing kits, regulatory compliant innovative treatments, contact tracing apps, e-health services, and AI-powered public health management systems and technologies, are the primary weapons utilized to combat the pandemic,” said Manhit.

Mayor Binay announced in the forum that Makati is laying the groundwork to become the country’s first smart city. Makati has also engaged in Public-Private Partnership (PPP) with Globe Go-Wifi and Converge ICT Solutions to provide a free internet connection to ‘Makatizens’ under the Makati Public Wi-Fi Project. She said, “The free Wi-Fi project aims to accelerate the enhancement of the city’s internet connectivity to hasten the delivery of services and improve government processes,” said Binay.

“Aside from cash assistance for Makatizens and business owners affected by the global health crisis, the portal allows Makatizens, non-resident workers, and businesses to register under the free vaccination program whether for flu, pneumonia, or COVID-19,” Binay said.

Mayor Binay reported that the city had vaccinated over 50,000 people with zero reported adverse effects after vaccination. However, she raised the hesitance of constituents because of several misconceptions circulating in the media.

In response, Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association of the Philippines president, Dr. Beaver Tamesis, said: “We need the media to be a partner to drive home again and correct this misperception, which is also partly the fault of the manufacturers of some of these Chinese vaccines because they did not disclose their information properly and timely.” “We need to get it out there that the main purpose of vaccination is to prevent disease, and at this point, they all deliver, that’s fantastic results,” Dr. Tamesis said.

In a statement during the forum, a coalition of health advocates under Universal Health Care Watch (UHC Watch) said, “As infections continue to spread plus the absence of universal healthcare coverage, access to reliable and affordable medical and health services is a daily challenge faced by a vast majority of Filipinos.” UHC Watch pointed out that “The digitalization of the Philippine health system will replace old, slow and leakage prone manual processes with fast, accurate, efficient, and transparent, digitally-powered operations.” The group said, “The resulting operational and cost efficiency will save financial resources that can then be channeled to further expanding accessibility of medicines and treatments for the bulk of the population who cannot afford out-of-pocket expenses for their medical needs, even with price control measures,” UHC Watch said.