Photo courtesy of Manila press office
MANILA, Philippines — Truly world class.
This was how Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso described the newly-opened Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Medicine and Robotics Center of the Sta. Ana Hospital after he and Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna led its inauguration on Monday.
“Ngayon po ay papasinayahan natin, dagdag pasilidad para sa taong-bayan. We always wanted the best. Sometimes it is being compared to maybe first-class services the private sector can offer. If and if the private sector, kung kaya nilang magbigay ng first-class service, mas may kakayanan ang gobyerno dahil ang gobyerno may salapi. Pera ng taong-bayan. So it has to be returned through services,” Moreno said in his speech.
According to the 47-year-old presidential aspirant, the center is part of the city government’s continuous effort to improve health services and upgrade medical equipment in district hospitals to further serve its constituents.
The program is in partnership with private firm Robocare Solutions, Inc., from which the Manila City government loaned units of Hybrid Assistive Limb (HAL) that is powered by advanced robotic rehabilitation technology. It is the first and only robotic exoskeleton that trains the brains and limbs of a patient to walk again.
The Bagong Ospital ng Maynila, which is also world-class in terms of equipment, service and amenities, has its Neurological Rehabilitation Center intended for patients with physical therapy needs. The rehab center was launched by Moreno on June 30, 2021.
“Ayoko lang nung “mema” services. Me masabi lang, me mapa-picturan lang, me magawa lang. No, I really don’t like it. So, when we create things, we always wanted to achieve things ‘yung above average because the people deserve better things from their government, especially nowadays,” Moreno pointed out.
Photo courtesy of Manila press office
Moreno said people who will be able to visit the state-of-the-art medical facility in Sta. Ana Hospital will be very much impressed with what they see and experience.
“Alam mo pag pinasok mo ‘yan, sa mga bisita namin dito, pag pinasok mo ‘yan modesty aside, i-tatangos namin ng ilong ‘yan. Sabi nga nung aking nephro, ‘yung head, sabi nya ‘yung gamit daw diyan parang Mercedes Benz. That’s how he described it,” Moreno said.
“It’s a fully airconditioned new additional hemo-dialysis center. Now we’re opening what we did in Ospital ng Maynila, an access for the people, better healthcare, utilizing technology,” he said.
Moreno admitted that he is always looking for the latest technology to copy as this will bring the newest and latest technology innovations to the City of Manila for the benefit of Manileños especially those who cannot afford the services of private hospitals.
“We’ll always copy, duplicate and innovate. Lagi tayong maghahanap ng tunay na solusyon at mabilis na aksyon para sa ating mga kababayan. So, with the help, especially of AI (Artificial Intelligence) or in this case, robot, mas madaling makaka-recover ‘yung mga kababayan natin,” Moreno said.
“Modesty aside, we always try to compete with the first-class services being offered by the private sector. So, if the private sector can do it, the government can do it better. We can do it better because we have resources and we will access resources,” said the Aksyon Demokratiko standard bearer.
Photo courtesy of Manila press office
Present during Monday’s inauguration were Manila 3rd District Rep. Yul Servo, City Engineer Armand Andres and Sta. Ana Hospital Director Dr. Grace Padilla.
“Pipilitin namin ni Vice Mayor Lacuna na maging mainam, masinop at episyente kayong paglingkuran. With the 308 square meters of this facility, we offer this type of services to our people. Additional facility, better health care para sa lahat, para sa tao,” said Moreno.
Padilla, for her part, thanked the City Government of Manila led by Moreno and Lacuna for their trust and confidence to have such kind of innovation introduced to their hospital. She also thanked Robocare Solutions, Inc. for entrusting their Hybrid Assistive Limb (HAL) to them.
“We are gathered here to witness another milestone of the City of Manila, Sta. Ana Hospital. As we embark on the newest technology innovations. Yes, technology innovations are very apt in this day and age as the world continues to face the never-ending Covid-19 pandemic. In the middle of this Omicron surge, the Sta. Ana Hospital are about to launch our newest service on Robotics Program,” Padilla said.
Padilla said the Hybrid Assistive Limb is a robotic exhaust skeletal device that can help people who have various neurological issues including patients who have stroke or cerebral vascular accidents, patients with spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, and other issues of the brain and neuro-muscular system that causes weakness or paralysis of both the upper and lower extremities.
Photo courtesy of Manila press office
“This technology innovation such as Physical Therapy Rehab Robotics Program are most welcome at Sta. Ana Hospital as we are committed to improve our health service delivery,” she said.
Padilla said in the near future they will see health service programs in hospitals introducing more digital innovations and incorporating technology into their services.
“This is the future world we are to embark on and we have to move along with its pace and standard. Once again, Sta. Ana Hospital commits its doors to digital technology to level up our healthcare service delivery,” Padilla said.
HAL is the leading advancement in addressing stroke and other neurologic conditions by helping patients recover their physical mobility. The machine is programmed to detect faint bio-electric signals on the surface of the skin, which reflects a patient’s intention to move.
Using these signals, HAL allows the wearer to perform the desired movements with their voluntary commands. The physical therapist can see these signals and adjust settings on the robot suit to amplify weak signals and focus on desired signals.
The equipment is free to use and is expected to help Manileños for their medical needs, specifically those with spinal cord injury, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, traumatic brain injury and progressive intractable neuromuscular diseases.
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