Manila, Philippines - Smart Comunications Inc. recently boosted its partnership with the Department of Health (DOH) through a suite of mobile solutions that can help provide Filipinos equitable and accessible health care.
These initiatives were presented during the DOH’s 114th anniversary celebration with the theme “Kalusugan Pangkalahatan.”
Part of Smart’s support to the DOH is the use of Infoboard, a technology that enables institutions to broadcast health news, updates, health campaigns via subscribed text broadcasts and speedy reporting for citizen concerns, questions, surveys or disease monitoring to Filipinos, straight to the Smart mobile phones of subscribed individual members, anytime and anywhere.
Smart wireless community solutions manager Louie de Guzman said, “This technology was mainly developed for disaster mitigation and prevention and schools, but the InfoBoard has several other applications.”
“We have implemented this technology in sports, gated communities, and real estate. Now, government agencies such as the DOH can take advantage of the Infoboard to efficiently broadcast timely, relevant, and accurate health care-related information such as advisories on dengue prevention month, vaccination reminders and health seminars,” De Guzman said.
Mobile health services
Aside from the Infoboard service, Smart is also active in supporting the DOH and local government health units through mobile health (mHealth) services that will enhance efficiency and clinics and health centers.
Parent company Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) also inaugurated its first contact center service with hotline number 165-DOH (165-364) that will merge all phone calls on inquiries on health care concerns and issues. This hotline covers all mobile and landline calls from anywhere in the country.
Smart is the only wireless services provider in the Philippines that has significantly invested in mHealth services. In June last year, it launched its flagship mHealth program called Secured Health Information Network and Exchange (SHINE), a Web and mobile-based system for health facilities and practitioners that allows for electronic medical records, inter-facility referrals, text message reminders, and report generation.
Smart senior manager for community partnerships Darwin Flores said, “These services are especially relevant now as they are rolling out a lot of programs that will require faster communications and information dissemination. We want to enable people and communities to reach their potential of universal healthcare access for all.”
DOH Assistant Secretary Gerardo Bayugo said, “In the 114 years of DOH’s existence, the need to innovate our communication to provide equal and accessible health care for all is now imperative more than ever. That isa why we partnered with the nation’s leading wireless services provider to present Filipinos with a speedy and timely solution to their needs in health and physical well-being.”
According to Bayugo, the partnership with Smart is in line with President Aquino’s initiative to connect to citizens through the use of information and communications technology.
“We are confident that wireless technologies and other innovations enable us to respond immediately to the health concerns of Filipinos,” Bayugo said.
For more information on Smart’s Infoboard, e-mail at communications@smart.com.ph.