MakatiMed Cellular Therapeutics Center receives DOH accreditation

Makati Medical Center’s Cellular Therapeutics Center received accreditation in March from the Department of Health as a hospital-based facility engaging in cell-based therapy in the Philippines.

The Center’s accreditation under DOH Administrative Order No. 2013-0012, or rules and regulations governing the accreditation of health facilities engaging in human stem cell and cell-based or cellular therapies in the Philippines, is valid until March 13, 2016.

This is testament to the level of service of the Cellular Therapeutics Center, which carries out stem cell procedures in a Biosafety Level 5 laboratory. Equipped with state-of-the-art facilities from the US, Germany, and Japan, it ensures 90-95% cell purity and viability, making this treatment paradigm a great help for those who most need it.

“Cell-based therapy is the future of medicine,” says the Center’s Co-Director, Manuel O. Fernandez, Jr., MD. “The current paradigm has proven to be very promising in cancer-related, autoimmune, neurologic, and cardiac cases and we are excited for more developments.”

While it is now extensively used for blood-related disorders, further studies and tests can make stem cells treat even Multiple Sclerosis, spinal cord injuries and Parkinson’s disease.

Stem cell treatment, which was developed in the 1970s, can treat numerous blood disorders. Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant (HSCT) has been used to cure malignant and nonmalignant diseases including but not limited to: Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia, congenital disorders of blood, Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, Multiple Myeloma, Myelodysplatic Syndrome, Myeloproliferative disorders, Waldenström’s Macroglobulinemia, testicular cancer, and autoimmune disorders.

Allogeneic HSCTs (a procedure which uses stem cells derived from various individuals) have also been used for stem cell disorders, erythrocyte disorders, inherited immune system deficits, and congenital metabolic diseases including: Aplastic Anemia, Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria, and Sickle Cell Anemia.

According to Co-Director Francisco S. Chung Jr., PhD, stem cells infused into the body post-chemotherapy migrate to the bone marrow and produce healthy stem cells. Since the strong substances in chemotherapy drugs also harm the healthy cells, the introduction of new, healthy cells through stem cell treatment greatly aid in the patient’s healing process.

Chung says harvesting of immature dendritic cells (DCs), such as those used in the US FDA-approved cancer immunotherapy for prostate cancer patients, begins with apheresis, wherein DCs are separated from the patient’s blood. Next is maturation, where the cells are immersed in an environment where they are cultured to perform their functions.

DCs then go through a stage called education, where they interact with the patient’s cancer cells to help the healthy cells identify the bad guys. Once the cells have been “taught” to destroy the cancer cells, they are then injected back to the patient.

Dr. Fernandez notes other positive changes observed among patients who have undergone stem cell treatment, “With our regenerative program which involves 12 months of patient monitoring, we have seen significant reduction in Reactive Oxygen Species (also known as Free Radicals) in our patients post stem cell infusion. Some age-related symptoms such as chronic pain and skin thickness also started to improve.”

DOH confers tribute award to MakatiMed for Yolanda aid

Shown in photo with the recognition plaque during the awarding rites at the Heritage Hotel in Pasay City are: Dr. Gerry Bayugo, Asst. Secretary of Health, Dr. Enrique Ona, Secretary of Health and Dr. Donna de Padua, an Emergency Department Officer and representative of MakatiMed who led the first MakatiMed medical response team

The Philippines’ premier hospital, Makati Medical Center, was recently conferred a tribute by the Department of Health for the medical and financial assistance it extended to the victims and survivors of Typhoon Yolanda during the “Awarding of the Unsung Heroes: TY Yolanda”.

In the aftermath of the storm, MakatiMed tasked its Medical Response Team to join other local, national, and foreign institutions and organizations in providing rescue and medical assistance to those affected by one of the strongest storms recorded in history. The hospital, led by President & CEO Rosalie R. Montenegro, also raised nearly P10M, in cash with the help of its employees, Medical Staff Association (MSA), the Philippine Disaster Recovery Foundation (PDRF) and other partners and donors.

Asst. Secretary of Health Dr. Gerry Bayugo opened the awarding ceremonies, with Undersecretary of Health Dr. Teodoro Herbosa providing an inspirational message. Secretary of Health Dr. Enrique Ona led the awarding of plaques to the recognized institutions.

“We are humbled and honored by this award from the Department of Health. This recognition only drives us to continuously provide excellent health service with a heart, especially to those most in need,” says MakatiMed President Rosalie R. Montenegro.

Smart, Ateneo partner to make SHINE an open-source platform

Smart and Ateneo sign an agreement to further enhance SHINE and make it an open-source platform by 2015. In photo are John Paul Vergara (left), vice president for the Loyola Schools of the Ateneo de Manila University, and Ramon Isberto (right), head of Public Affairs at Smart.

Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) has forged an alliance with the Ateneo Java Wireless Competency Center (AJWCC) to enhance and make Secured Health Information Network and Exchange (SHINE) an open-source platform next year, allowing users to contribute modules and plug-ins.

Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) has forged an alliance with the Ateneo Java Wireless Competency Center (AJWCC) to enhance and make Secured Health Information Network and Exchange (SHINE) an open-source platform next year, allowing users to contribute modules and plug-ins.

Launched in 2011 in consultation with the Department of Health (DOH) and various stakeholders, SHINE is the first cloud-based electronic medical record and e-referral system in the country, readily deployable in any area with Internet coverage.

A multi-awarded mHealth platform here and abroad, SHINE enables health facilities and professionals to create an electronic medical record, send electronic referrals to other health facilities, generate reports, and send SMS reminders to patients.

“By making SHINE a community-driven platform, we hope to make it more user-friendly and flexible to address the specific healthcare needs of different communities,” said Ramon Isberto, head of Public Affairs at Smart.

Smart is also tapping partner-universities under the Smart Wireless Engineering Education Program (SWEEP), as well as developers in the Smart Developers Network (DevNet) to contribute modules and plug-ins to the SHINE open-source platform.

“Our vision for SHINE is to create not only a community of users but also a community of developers who want to help on improving healthcare delivery in the country,” said AJWCC Executive Director Dr. Reena Estuar.

In collaboration with Ateneo, SHINE 2.0 will be aligned to the Philippines eHealth Strategic Framework and Plan 2013-2017 of DOH and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). A senior level advisory body composed of representatives from the government, Smart, and Ateneo is also being formed to ensure the system and implementation is aligned with the country’s health policies and programs.

To formalize the partnership, a memorandum of agreement was signed between Smart and AJWCC on March 31. The SHINE Laboratory in Ateneo de Manila University will also be inaugurated during the event.

The role of the SHINE lab is to serve as the center for the further enhancement of SHINE, function as the help desk for users, and make SHINE an open source platform by 2015.

SHINE is part of the mHealth program of Smart, which hopes to transform healthcare delivery in the country by utilizing wireless technologies. In 2012, SHINE has been given the award of merit at the 2nd Galing Likha-Kalusugan Awards and has been recognized as ‘Best Community Telecom Project’ at the 15th Telecom Asia Awards, ‘Best Emerging Market Initiative’ at the 2nd Asia Communication Awards in Singapore, and a finalist for Mobile Health Innovation Category at the Global Mobile Awards in Barcelona, Spain.