Nat'l health research system needed to counter swine flu,
emerging viruses - Angara

With the advent of H1N1 virus in the Philippines, Senator Edgardo J. Angara today called on legislators and country's health experts to establish a national research system that will help discover cures and solutions to emerging viruses such as H1N1.

"The confirmation of the second case of the H1N1 flu virus has made establishing a national research system in the Philippines even more urgent and imperative." Sen. Angara said.

"We need an institutionalized program that will advance research to address this problem."

According to DOH reports, the second case is a 50-year old female Balikbayan who arrived from the United States on May 20. Earlier, DOH reported of a 10-year old who was infected by the virus. They said however both are recovering and are no longer exhibiting the signs of the flu.

"The establishment of a national health research system will serve as a potent key in fighting this epidemic and preventing other related diseases or viruses," Angara stressed.

He added that "a national research system will keep our citizens healthy and ready for any virus outbreak. Ensuring that health research is linked to the needs of the health system assures that the quality of health care will be provided to our countrymen,"

Philippine National Health Research System will build capabilities for health research and development activities and encourage individuals to pursue research as a career; ensure public access to the information and other outputs generated by the health research system and encourage the utilization of research results in the form of products, technologies, programs and services," added Senator Angara.

Core agencies that will be involved in this policy are the Department of Health, the Department of Science and Technology- Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD), University of the Philippines Manila - National Institutes of Health (UPM-NIH) and the Commission on Higher Education.