Bangkok--30 Sep--Philips Electronics Asia Pacific
Symposium to address challenges faced by healthcare systems across Southeast Asia
Philips Healthcare will today hold its 4th ASEAN Symposium on Access to Healthcare, an event which encourages an open dialogue aimed at solving healthcare challenges across Southeast Asia. The Symposium will see delegates from public and private companies, not-for-profit organizations and governments address specific challenges faced by healthcare systems across Southeast Asia including:
Sustaining quality healthcare for aging populations,
Improving access to healthcare through developing a framework for the future, and
Changing healthcare practices of today to suit advances in medical technology.
“The annual ASEAN Symposium on Access to Healthcare brings together leaders in Southeast Asia to reflect on how both public and private organisations can help improve the quality of healthcare across the region. Philips is proud to see that the Symposium has evolved into an industry platform, bringing together key healthcare stakeholders across Southeast Asia to discuss challenges and solutions for helping this fast-growing region overcome its healthcare challenges,” said Mr. Wayne Spittle, Senior Vice-President and General Manager, Philips Healthcare, Multi-Country Region Asia Pacific.
The 4th ASEAN Symposium on Access to Healthcare takes place today, September 21, 2011, in Manila, the Philippines. Previous Symposiums were held in Indonesia in 2010, Vietnam in 2009, and Malaysia in 2007.
Health and Wellbeing: Sustaining quality health services in an aging population
By 2050, the United Nations estimates that 60 percent of the world’s population aged 65 and above will reside in Asia[1],[2], which will increase market demand for quality. According to last year’s Symposium, Southeast Asia’s aging population accounts for half the world’s poor community — a majority of which lives off less than $2 a day — and healthcare systems face greater challenges of increasing pressure for resources and sustaining quality healthcare services.
In the first panel discussion at today’s Symposium, industry professionals will share their opinions on developing sustainable partnerships and realistic roadmaps, improving existing processes, ensure continuous application of the latest medical technology, and the role of the government.
Access to healthcare: Developing a framework for the future
The key issues impacting access to quality healthcare in Asia are increasing costs, an ageing population, limited resources and remote communities. The lack of healthcare workers is a challenge faced by healthcare systems globally. While the World Health Organization set what it sees as a required doctor-to-patient ratio at 2.5:1,000[3], that number is almost 1.2:1,000 in the Philippines today[4].
The second panel discussion at this year’s Symposium will discuss how to ensure that health services adequately meet the needs of communities going forward. It will also table topics such as healthcare reform with changing government regulations and liabilities, standards and systems for a healthcare framework that is available 24/7, public and private co-operation, challenges in converging technology, telecommunications and data communications, and enhancing open innovation.
Hospitals of the future: More technology, human & financial capital or a paradigm shift?
Increasing advances in medical technology has fundamentally changed the way diseases are treated today, and life expectancy has increased with the use of advanced diagnostic imaging techniques .
The third and last panel discussion at this year’s Symposium will see panellists discussing how emerging technologies will change the way healthcare is provided today, and how healthcare systems need to change to stay relevant in this paradigm shift.
Philips Healthcare improves access to quality healthcare in the Philippines — both in the public and private healthcare sectors
Philips Healthcare Solutions business offers hospitals innovative partnership approaches to help control costs, improve services, and eliminate the risk associated with the investment in healthcare technology. In the Philippines, Philips Healthcare has worked with hospitals in both the private and public sector, including the new National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) and St Luke’s Medical Center (SLMC).
(For more details on how Philips Healthcare’s work with NKTI and SLMC, please refer to factsheet in the media kit)
“As a company focused on the health and well-being of the society, Philips is committed to develop new services and business models, including lower-cost technology and solutions, to help address Southeast Asia’s healthcare delivery challenges by accelerating access to affordable products,” said Mr. Wayne Spittle, Senior Vice-President and Chief Executive Officer, Philips Healthcare, Multi-Country Region Asia Pacific.
For further information, please contact:
Sarah Campbell
Philips Healthcare Communications, Corporate Communications
Philips Electronics Asia Pacific
Tel: +61 421 612 994
E-mail:
[email protected]