Duterte says gov't will raise incentives for medical, health R&D
Published May 27, 2020 12:00 am
By Genalyn Kabiling
The government is considering scaling up the incentives and subsidies for the research and development on innovative medical equipment, vaccines, and health capacity enhancement under its recovery plan.
(KARL NORMAN ALONZO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO)
The government's support for health-related research and development initiative is among the priority programs listed in the "We Recover as One" Report, President Duterte said in his ninth weekly report to Congress.
The recovery plan, prepared by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), outlines government programs on health, social, economic and security and governance aspects in adapting the new normal state of activities.
"The highlights of the We Recover as One Report include priority programs to intensify to combat COVID-19 through R&D," the President said in his report released last Monday.
The government plans to "incentivize, subsidize, and support researchers and research institutions who will engage in research and development related to development of test kits, medical equipment, vaccines (e.g., COVID-19 vaccine), medicine, and others," Duterte said.
Another priority program, Duterte said, is to implement a comprehensive bioprospecting and biotechnology program to develop novel compounds and derivatives for pharmaceutical purposes.
He said research and development programs will also be conducted on the capacity and needs assessment of health care facilities, especially government hospitals to manage health care wastes.
Under the recovery plan, the government also intends to support R&D on the assessment of existing technologies or processes on waste storage and treatment to manage new viruses as well as early detection and rapid response to manage new viruses and other organisms, and its relationship to the environment.
Duterte also said the recovery plan includes projects to upgrade the epidemiological and surveillance capacities for the coronavirus and other infectious diseases. It also recommends the government to invest in programs of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) such as Balik-Scientist program.
Last month, the President encouraged vaccine research and development by providing incentives for potential cure of the coronavirus. He has offered a P50 million reward to any Filipino who can develop a vaccine for the dreaded disease.
Duterte also voiced confidence the capability of local scientists, saying he recognizes their dedication to find vaccines to promote public health.
(KARL NORMAN ALONZO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO)
The government's support for health-related research and development initiative is among the priority programs listed in the "We Recover as One" Report, President Duterte said in his ninth weekly report to Congress.
The recovery plan, prepared by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), outlines government programs on health, social, economic and security and governance aspects in adapting the new normal state of activities.
"The highlights of the We Recover as One Report include priority programs to intensify to combat COVID-19 through R&D," the President said in his report released last Monday.
The government plans to "incentivize, subsidize, and support researchers and research institutions who will engage in research and development related to development of test kits, medical equipment, vaccines (e.g., COVID-19 vaccine), medicine, and others," Duterte said.
Another priority program, Duterte said, is to implement a comprehensive bioprospecting and biotechnology program to develop novel compounds and derivatives for pharmaceutical purposes.
He said research and development programs will also be conducted on the capacity and needs assessment of health care facilities, especially government hospitals to manage health care wastes.
Under the recovery plan, the government also intends to support R&D on the assessment of existing technologies or processes on waste storage and treatment to manage new viruses as well as early detection and rapid response to manage new viruses and other organisms, and its relationship to the environment.
Duterte also said the recovery plan includes projects to upgrade the epidemiological and surveillance capacities for the coronavirus and other infectious diseases. It also recommends the government to invest in programs of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) such as Balik-Scientist program.
Last month, the President encouraged vaccine research and development by providing incentives for potential cure of the coronavirus. He has offered a P50 million reward to any Filipino who can develop a vaccine for the dreaded disease.
Duterte also voiced confidence the capability of local scientists, saying he recognizes their dedication to find vaccines to promote public health.