Dr. Erwin Benedicto Archives - THEPHILBIZNEWS

J&J supports DOH drive to educate Filipino households on safeguards against COVID-19 infection and transmission

The Philippine Business and News — Thu, 24 Feb 2022 06:18:00 +0000

The unabated rise in the number of COVID-19 positive cases underlines the importance of sustained education among Filipino families on healthy habits and proper behavior to avoid getting COVID-19. This is what the Department of Health (DOH) has set out to do with its aggressive education campaign called BIDA Solusyon Plus sa COVID-19.

BIDA Solusyon Plus encourages Filipino families to take an active role in combating the virus on a daily basis. It promotes the constant practice of minimum health standards among families nationwide to help cut COVID-19 transmission down by up to 90%.

“DOH reiterates the call for BIDA Plus: Bawal ang walang mask (not wearing of a mask is prohibited), I-sanitize ang mga kamay (sanitize hands), Dumistansya ng isang metro (practice one-meter social distancing), Alamin ang totoong impormasyon (know the right information), Plus magpabakuna laban sa COVID-19 (get vaccinated for COVID-19),” said the former Secretary of Health and now Technical Working Group Chairman of the BIDA H2H Campaign, Dr. Paulyn Jean Ubial.

Central to the campaign’s success was the participation of thousands of health workers who conducted house-to-house visits aimed at educating families on the importance of making BIDA a daily habit. The government-led initiative also encouraged unvaccinated individuals to take action in building up their immunity, by enlisting in their local government unit’s vaccination drive. Those hesitant to get vaccinated were given a safe space to voice out their concerns and engage in an open dialogue with experts to arrest doubts and correct misinformation on COVID-19 vaccines.

Fostering healthy communities together

To help drive the success of BIDA Solusyon Plus sa COVID-19, Johnson & Johnson (Philippines), Inc. supported DOH by mobilizing health workers to reach over 20,000 households in NCR. Their combined efforts enabled more Filipino families to have a better understanding and appreciation of BIDA Solusyon Plus, and its many benefits to their health.

“Each one of us has an important role to play in beating COVID-19,” said the head of Medical Affairs of Johnson & Johnson (Philippines), Inc., Dr. Erwin Benedicto. “Even the simple act of always wearing a mask and observing proper social physical distancing when out in public can save thousands of lives.”

“Aligned with our vision to make care available to every Filipino, we are happy to partner with the Department of Health in this education drive that will help safeguard the health of our countrymen. We know that it is only by working together in the common fight against COVID-19 that we can win as nation.”

J&J Philippines and partners eye to expand TB Academy in PH big 3 regions

The Philippine Business and News — Sat, 26 Jun 2021 06:14:00 +0000

In photo from left: Johnson & Johnson Philippines Head of Medical Affairs Dr. Erwin Benedicto and Dr. Vicente Belizario, Jr. Dean of the UP College of Public Health
Photo collage by THEPHILBIZNEWS

Global healthcare company Johnson & Johnson (Philippines), Inc. in cooperation with the Department of Medical Microbiology, College of Public Health, University of the Philippines-Manila and the local Department of Health (DOH) are expanding the roll-out of the online learning platform, Tuberculosis (TB) Academy to three key regions in continuing to build the country’s capacity to respond to multi-drug resistant (MDR-)TB cases.

The collaboration of all three stakeholders aim to institutionalize the TB Academy and the sustainability and support of the National Tuberculosis Program (NTP) of the DOH.

Its expansion is set to include cities within the National Capital Region (NCR), Region 3, and Region 4A, which have been identified as the three key regions with the highest incidence rates of TB in the country. In addition, participants from other provinces will be invited.

Dr. Vicente Belizario, Jr. Dean of the UP College of Public Health shared, “Our first four runs of the TB Academy proved to be highly satisfactory, with all our participants completing both online curriculum and live webinars and showing great improvement in their post-test scores, following the results of their pre-tests. In the next runs, we are expanding the program to include TB treating clinicians in the Programmatic Management of Drug-resistant TB (PMDT) and Directly Observed Treatment, Short Course (DOTS) facilities as well as nurses and medical technologists, that we may be able to democratize the knowledge and skillsets in treating patients with MDR-TB.”

According to the World Health Organization (WHO)’s 2020 Tuberculosis Report, the Philippines still belongs to the top 20 countries with the highest incidence rate of TB cases, with it being the 8^th leading cause of mortality and morbidity among Filipinos.

Since the program’s launch last October, a total of 57 healthcare service providers (HCPs) from 16 Philippine regions have completed the training courses. From July to October of this year, 140 more are expected to partake in the training, including i-DOTS treating physicians, nurses, and medical technologists (and other HCPs).

The training sessions are expected to run for 4-weeks with 30 online training days per cohort, which will be available on demand on The Union’s digital platform, and a weekly face-to-face session.

Johnson & Johnson Philippines Head of Medical Affairs Dr. Erwin Benedicto shared, “As a company, we’ve had a long-standing commitment to supporting our partners in the medical field in responding to the ongoing challenges of Filipino TB patients. With the expansion of the TB Academy’s roll-out, we hope to empower more HCPs that we may improve health outcomes of and respond quicker to existing cases.”

Johnson & Johnson’s efforts in supporting the local government’s agenda to end TB in the Philippines are aligned with the WHO’s goal of ending TB worldwide by 2030.

To learn more about Johnson & Johnson’s efforts in fighting TB worldwide, you may visit: https://www.jnj.com/tb

PH pioneered first virtual medical education on surgical skills training

Alithea De Jesus — Wed, 16 Dec 2020 21:24:44 +0000

By Alithea De Jesus

The country’s 1^st Online Learning Continuum on Basic Surgical Skills Training was recently launched under the auspices of, Johnson & Johnson Philippines (J&J) and in collaboration with the Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society (POGS -NCR) and the Philippine Society of General Surgeons (PSGS Metro Manila and Central Luzon Chapters).

This initiative reaffirms Johnson & Johnson Philippines (J&J) commitment to empower healthcare professionals through continuing medical education such as this.

Interestingly, the pioneer program is the first of its kind in both the Philippines and Southeast Asia, the Johnson & Johnson Institute’s Surgical Skills Training program was designed to provide continued learning for first to third-year PSGS residents in a convenient and innovative online digital format.

Facilitated by illustriousn proctors and surgeons, the online learning sessions are built on the latest developments and breakthroughs in the field. Through a curriculum designed to develop proficiency in basic surgical skills, learning sessions are delivered through blended learning that covers modular and evidence-based sessions and ‘virtual hands-on training’.

The Institute’s Surgical Skills Training pilot began in October and will run until December 2021 and will be deployed to a total of 87 training hospitals within NCR and Central Luzon. Participants will earn certificates upon program completion.

“As a healthcare ally, we at Johnson & Johnson have pledged to support the continued medical education of our medical professionals and are happy to finally launch the first Surgical Skills Training in the country and in Southeast Asia for PSGS residents in collaboration with our partners at POGS NCR and PSGS MMC and Central Luzon. As the Surgical Skills Training program that we launched this quarter continues to evolve, we will continue to collaborate with our partners to co-develop relevant content for every stage of surgical skills training and education,” explains Dr. Erwin Benedicto, Head of Medical Affairs of J&J Philippines.

“This pandemic has required us to adjust operations according to safety and physical distancing protocols, causing a lot of elective cases to be put on hold and disruptions to our surgical residents’ training. With this program, we are hoping to bring back up to speed our trainees’ skills development and help them in delivering the highest quality of healthcare, and ensuring the best patient outcomes“ said Dr. Alfred Q. Lasala II, President of PSGS Metro Manila Chapter.

Dr. Raymund Noel Mallari, President, PSGS Central Luzon Chapter shared that the roll-out of this program comes at an opportune time for the society, as it will allow for them to open their doors to non-emergency case patients again and go back to providing those with elective cases preventive treatments.

Likewise, Dr. Rosalie Junio, Regional Director, POGS NCR said that the introduction of this online platform will be of great value to their members and residents, as it will allow for them to further their training, despite the limitations presented by the community quarantine.

Since 2017, the J&J Institute has provided comprehensive professional training that helps enable healthcare professionals to improve patient outcomes in today’s value-based care environment. Through 24 training centers in 23 cities on 5 continents, the Institute has provided training to over 125,000 healthcare professionals across the globe through on-site training, online courses and strategic educational partnerships.

In the Philippines, the J&J Institute has supported over 70 training institutions in the education of over 6,000 healthcare professionals in various medical fields to include colorectal, head and neck, gastric, thoracic, cardiovascular, liver, gynecology, and tissue management.

J&J, PCCP promote for early detection, proper diagnosis of pulmonary arterial hypertension

Victoria De Dios — Sat, 28 Nov 2020 01:45:58 +0000

By Victoria “NIKE” De Dios

We often hear that an ounce of prevention is better than the pound of cure, and this cliché is often neglected.

As early as 2007, there was already prevalence of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in a group of Filipinos with connective tissue diseases (CTDs) and the mortality remains high, particularly among those with underlying scleroderma. The study further said that the early recognition and treatment are crucial in order to provide a better outcome for these patients. This is according to the study made by University of Santo Tomas Hospital and the St. Luke’s Medical Center published in Research Gate website: https://www.researchgate.net/,

As global and local health industries work together to make treatment and healthcare services accessible to patients, Johnson & Johnson (Philippines), Inc. (J&J) and the Philippine College of Chest Physicians (PCCP) announced that they are collaborating on an awareness campaign for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) this November to improve diagnostic rates and increase the number of patients treated for the disease.

PAH is a type of Pulmonary Hypertension (PH) that occurs when the walls of the arteries leading from the right side of the heart to the lungs narrow and tighten. As a result, pressure in the lungs rises, leading to symptoms like fatigue and shortness of breath.

It is a rare chronic and progressive disease whose effects can become deadly if not properly diagnosed and treated.

According to the Philippine Heart Center’s 2009-2012 single-center study, 82 out of 104 Filipino patients were found to have PAH within this period and was mostly seen in those between the ages of 20-40.

PCCP President Dr. Ivan Villespin however highlighted that there are no exact figures that determine the current prevalence of PAH in the Philippines, due to limited data. He also emphasized that it is critical to note that PAH is different from your usual systematic hypertension, otherwise known as “high blood pressure.”

He shared that because the disease can manifest a wide range of symptoms, PAH can be often misdiagnosed as a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart diseases, asthma, and many others.

In providing patients with the right access to treatment and diagnostic resources, Dr. Villespin said, “It is important for us to take on a multi-disciplinary lens when it comes to diagnosing and treating patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension. We must work together across different fields of specialization to holistically care for our patients, that we may move the needle towards prevention rather than reactive treatment.”

Through knowledge-sharing sessions and educational roadshows, J&J aims to bring its expertise in the management of PAH to Filipino healthcare practitioners and work together with local leaders and stakeholders to make diagnostic tests and proper treatment more accessible for patients.

Johnson & Johnson Philippines Head of Medical Affairs Dr. Erwin Benedicto shared, “Although PAH is a rare disease, the true prevalence is still unknown. As a healthcare company, we recognize that we play a key role in advancing the PAH advocacy in the Philippines.”

He added, “Together with our local partners and stakeholders, we aim to create a future wherein this disease becomes a thing of the past, and wherein every Filipino will have access to the right resources and information in how they can manage and overcome their PAH symptoms. That is our promise.”

Among the programs that J&J and the PCCP mentioned included the development of a referral system wherein specialists in the field of pulmonology, rheumatology, cardiology, and family medicine, will be able to work together in ensuring treatment and proper diagnosis is made available to patients.

Patients experiencing symptoms of PAH, such as labored breathing, chest pain, shortness of breath, coughing, and fatigue, can visit their pulmonologist for consultation and proper diagnosis.

For more information on pulmonary arterial hypertension, you may visit the link: https://www.jnj.com/tag/pulmonary-arterial-hypertension

J&J partners with UP-College of Public Health in e-learning platform for treating Multi-Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis

The Philippine Business and News — Mon, 16 Nov 2020 15:04:25 +0000

In photo: (Upper left) The Institute of Microbial Technology, India, Johnson & Johnson’s partner-organization for research and development, (lower-left) a microscopic view of TB, (right) Andrias, one of Janssen’s researchers at work in the lab

Johnson & Johnson (Philippines) Inc. (J&J) and the Department of Medical Microbiology, College of Public Health (CPH), University of the Philippines-Manila, SEAMEO Tropmed Philippines have partnered together to launch the Tuberculosis (TB) Academy, an online learning platform aimed to further the education of Filipino healthcare practitioners and specialists in treating Multi-Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB).

The TB Academy is a project spearheaded by the Union, a global scientific organization that aims to improve the health of populations in low and middle-income countries, in partnership with J&J Global Public Health.

Its roll-out in the Philippines will be done through the collaboration between J&J and UP-CPH from November 2020 up to June 2021; aiming to strengthen clinician’s capacity in clinical and programmatic management of drug-resistant tuberculosis.

According to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) 2020 Global Tuberculosis Report, the Philippines makes up 6% of the total estimated cases of TB worldwide and is one of the top 30 countries with the highest number of MDR-TB cases.

In 2019, the Department of Health set a target of finding and treating 2.5 million Filipino TB patients by 2022, coinciding with the WHO’s goal of ending TB by 2030 worldwide.

J&J Philippines Head of Medical Affairs Dr. Erwin Benedicto shared that the program will consist of three training levels and will be deployed via live and on-demand webinars.

He expounded that these three training levels will cater to 1) clinical officers and nurses, 2) clinicians, and 3) DR-TB Experts, respectively. Each of these will consist of knowledge and skill-sharing sessions on effective management of drug-susceptible and drug-resistant tuberculosis cases, capacity-building exercises for programmatic management of DR-TB, and cascade of operational research findings on modified oral short treatment regimens.

Participants who complete all sessions and modules will also be given certifications from the Union, Dr. Benedicto added.

“The fight to end tuberculosis in the Philippines has been long, but it is not hopeless,” said Dr. Vicente Belizario, Dean and Center Director, College of Public Health, University of the Philippines-Manila, SEAMEO Tropmed Philippines. “This collaboration between our two organizations is integral for us at this time, as we strengthen our healthcare workers’ capabilities and continue to educate the public about available treatment options for our TB patients, all in support of the National Tuberculosis Program of the Department of Health.”.”

In September 2018, Johnson & Johnson announced its 10-year initiative to help end tuberculosis around the world, focusing on expanding access to treatment, improving detection, supporting health systems respond to cases, and accelerating TB research and development.

J&J Philippines President and Managing Director Raghu Krishnan shared, “As advocates and partners of the local healthcare industry, we will never cease to find ways in which we can put our Credo into practice. In every way that we can, we will continue to extend our expertise and support to our doctors and patients that we may collectively end the long fight against tuberculosis.”