'Vital Signs' launched

MANILA, Philippines - With a need to regularly update doctors, nurses and other health care professionals with scientific as well as socioeconomic, political, legislative, regulatory and religious news that impact directly or indirectly on health care delivery in the country, FAME Publishing has launched Vital Signs, a health-centered newspaper.

Vital Signs is designed to focus on all health-related news, scientific breakthroughs, landmark clinical trials, legislative updates, and advocacies, giving busy doctors the bite-sized news and views they need.

“Doctors and health care professionals need to be well informed on varied issues confronting health care delivery in the country,” says Dr. Rafael Castillo, Vital Signs editor-in-chief.

The newspaper contains commentaries and insights from respected opinion leaders to guide them in making vital decisions on some health-related issues.

The list of columnists includes Sen. Edgardo Angara, Health Secretary Enrique Ona, former Health secretary Esperanza Cabral, Prof. Ramon Abarquez Jr., Dr. Saturnino Javier, Dr. Anthony Leachon, Dr. Malaya Santos, and Dr. Cynthia Juico.

“The newspaper also aims to highlight the professional excellence of the Filipino doctors, nurses and other health care professionals as world-class caliber. They are world-class when it comes to research, medical practice and service to the people who need their clinical acumen and healing touch,” says Castillo.

According to Dr. Reuben Ricallo, Vital Signs editor-at-large, doctors, nurses and other health care professionals play a key role in maintaining good health for the nation.

“They are faced with a constant challenge to keep themselves up-to-date with the latest in their respective fields. Knowing the recent trends, paradigm shifts and best practices in their field of practice can help them translate these updates into the real-world scenario so their patients can benefit from them, too,” says Ricallo.

But scientifically equipped health care professionals do not necessarily result in an efficient and effective health care, Castillo points out.

“Doctors and other health care professionals need to be well informed on the various issues challenging health care delivery in the country,” he says.

“They need to know also relevant socio-economic, political, religious and other issues impacting health care. They need to become steadfast advocates to commit themselves to help ensure that all Filipinos, rich or poor, have adequate access to health care,” he adds.

Aside from the main news section, the first-of-its-kind newspaper also has a Hippocrates section which features clinical updates, scientific researches, highlights of conferences and conventions, medical issues and controversies that pose a clinical dilemma to practicing physicians.

It has a Holistic Nursing section to provide nurses scientific updates and relevant pointers on nursing care.

Vital Signs also has Off-Duty, the newspaper’s lifestyle section that features travelogues, dining and food reviews, sports, fashion and other interesting events and activities doctors and health care professionals would like to read about as they unwind after a busy day attending to their patients.

Vital Signs is published by FAME Inc., which is also behind several full-color, glossy publications such as H&L (Health & Lifestyle), Zen Health, Travel Plus, DiabetEASE and Disney magazines.