While waiting for the so-called “flattening the curve”in terms of the spread of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that causes the deadly COVID-19, the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD) continues to deploy more RxBoxes in different hospitals across the country.

The DOST in collaboration with the University of the Philippines Manila – National Telehealth Center (UP-NTHC), University of the Philippines Diliman – College of Engineering, DOST - Advanced Science and Technology Institute, and the Department of Health (DOH) developed this telemedicine device that aims to supplement the country’s community healthcare system particularly to help Rural Health Centers (RHC) in the country.

Classified as a telehealth device, the RxBox is capable of measuring a patient’s temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen saturation, uterine contractions, and electrocardiogram readings remotely. In other words, the patient need not be physically present in the hospital because the device allows diagnosis to be done in another hospital by a specialist doctor.

Thus, the use of the RxBox device can reduce contact between patients diagnosed with COVID-19 and healthcare workers, as it provides an efficient way for healthcare workers to monitor multiple patients at once.

RxBox telehealth device provides medical diagnosis particularly for patients in remote rural areas in the country with limited access to health facilities.  (Photo: DOST-X/Text by Rodolfo P. de Guzman/S&T Media Service)   

The RxBox devices are now deployed in selected healthcare facilities for bedside monitoring ofvital signs, oxygen saturation, and electrocardiogram readings of patients diagnosed with COVID-19, especially those in severe or critical conditions who need continuous monitoring.

Some 106 RxBox devices were initially sent to designated COVID-19 wards in the Philippine General Hospital.

As the implementing agency, DOST Region IV-A assesses and coordinates the needs of the healthcare facilities in each region for the rollout of the RxBoxes to augment the health facilities, particularly in the provinces.

On the other hand, according to DOST Region X, there are 65 RxBox Telehealth devices earmarked for distribution in selected RHU sites across Northern Mindanao (Region 10). The sites will be appropriately evaluated through the project’s Pre-deployment Assessment procedure during which the Regional Management Team validates the qualifications of the proposed health facilities. Once approved, four (4) staff from the RHUs will be invited for a Super User Training and the facility will receive one (1) RxBox Telehealth device, one (1) CPU, one (1) monitor, and one (1) router for the deployment.

The RxBox units are being manufactured in partnership with IONICS EMS Inc., a local manufacturing company based in Laguna. (Rodolfo P. de Guzman, DOST-STII)

 Source:  http://www.dost.gov.ph/knowledge-resources/news/67-2020-news/1816-dost-pchrd-rolls-out-more-rxbox-telehealth-devices-to-fight-covid-19-2020-05-09.html

Answering the country’s need for more supplies of personal protective equipment (PPEs) for the frontline workers, the Department of Science and Technology–Metals Industry Research and Development Center (DOST-MIRDC) now mass produces medical face shields.

Initially, DOST-MIRDC produced 3D-printed face shields that were distributed to our modern-day heroes who are bravely fighting COVID-19. To produce more, DOST-MIRDC transitioned to plastic injection technology allowing them to increase production volume by up to 2,500 pieces of face shield frames per day.

The plastic injection mold was fabricated at the Die and Mold Solution Center (DMSC), a facility within the DOST-MIRDC compound in Bicutan, Taguig City.  Mass production of the face shield frames is also being done in the said facility.

“With the mass production of the medical face shields being done simultaneously in Laguna and in Taguig, we can assure the enhanced protection of our frontliners,” says Engr. Fred P. Liza, chief of the Materials and Process Research Division and project leader of the DOST-MIRDC’s Advanced Manufacturing Center.

To further augment the supply of face shields, partner organizations such as Team Twilight Men Only (a private group composed of managers from the semiconductor industry) and the Tzu Chi Foundation Philippines donated 6,000 pieces and 23 rolls of acetates, respectively.  Other donors were Manly Plastics, Inc., Prima Plastics, and the University of the Philippines Visayas (in cooperation with Frabelle Fishing Corporation, Inc., and Philippine Fishing Gear Industries, Inc.)  that donated 300kg, 1200kg, and 1000kg of polypropylene (PP), respectively.

Other technology partners also joined DOST-MIRDC in this cause. Omnifab fabricated another injection mold, while the Megasamsotite Plant in San Pedro, Laguna became another site for mass production of the face shield frames.  They can also produce up to 2,500 face shield frames daily.

DOST-MIRDC, realizing the need for more PPEs, is calling on organizations, both from the public and the private sectors, for donations of more raw materials.  With one (1) ton of polypropylene, they can produce 25,000 face shield frames.  DOST-MIRDC believes that this collective effort will help save the lives of our gallant and selfless frontliners.   

The DOST-MIRDC has started packaging and distributing the face shields to various hospitals since Monday, 06 April 2020.  For inquiries about the medical face shields, send messages on facebook (facebook.com/dostmirdc), or e-mail at (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). (Information from DOST-MIRDC)

The plastic injection mold for the face shield frame fabricated at the Die and Mold Solution Center inside the DOST-MIRDC Compound in Bicutan, Taguig City. (Photos from DOST-MIRDC)

The plastic injection machine is housed inside the Die and Mold Solution Center  in the DOST-MIRDC Compound in Bicutan, Taguig (left); Team MIRDC engineers and technicians carry out mass production of the face shield frames (right).

(Photos from DOST-MIRDC)

Source: http://www.dost.gov.ph/knowledge-resources/news/67-2020-news/1804-dost-mirdc-leads-mass-production-of-face-shields-for-covid-19-frontliners.html

The 2020 Joint Research Project Call for Proposals between DOST and the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) of the People’s Republic of China is now open!

In pursuit of cooperation between the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) of the People’s Republic of China, we are calling for mutually beneficial and collaborative project proposals in any of the following identified priority areas:

1. Health
2. Agriculture
3. Renewable Energy

A total of eight (08) new projects will be approved during this call for proposals. DOST will provide an annual funding of up to Php 8,000,000.00 for each approved research project, while MOST will provide an annual funding of up to RMB 1,000,000.00 for the Chinese counterpart. Each project should have a maximum duration of two (2) years.

For reference, below is the timeline for the 2020 DOST-MOST JRP Call for Proposals: 

Interested parties are advised to coordinate with prospective counterpart/collaborator in China to craft the project proposals. The Filipino researcher must submit the capsule proposal to DOST through the Office of the Assistant Secretary for International Cooperation while the Chinese counterpart will submit the same to MOST for separate review and evaluation. Only proposals that are endorsed for further submission of full-blown proposals will undergo technical review and possible approval by both DOST and MOST.

The necessary DOST-GIA forms may be downloaded at http://tiny.cc/DOSTGIAForms. For further inquiries, you may contact Ms. Andrea Velasquez of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for International Cooperation, at Tel. No.: +632-8-838-8376 or email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. /This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Source: http://www.pchrd.dost.gov.ph/index.php/news/6547-call-for-proposals-2020-joint-research-project-dost-and-the-ministry-of-science-and-technology-most-of-the-people-s-republic-of-china

Call for Research Proposals: AHEAD-HPSR Program