Senator Edgardo J. Angara urged the Departments of Health (DoH) and Science and Technology (DoST) on Saturday to work together in harnessing the country’s biotechnology potentials and improve the country’s health care system.

“Biotechnology’s application on health include researches in drugs and medicines, genetic testing, gene therapy, vaccine development, diagnostics and cloning. This will allow us to better diagnose diseases, promote the use of gene therapy, stem cell therapy and xeno-transplant to prolong human life,” explained Angara, Chair of the Congressional Commission on Science and Technology and Engineering (COMSTE).

The biotechnology sector is estimated to amount for more than a third of the world’s GDP. Medical and health applications of biotechnology are the largest sector worldwide, making up 12 – 14% of the GDP in key markets. (Rolly T Carandang)