AN artificial intelligence (AI) expert emphasized the need for the government’s political will to advance P4 medicine — predictive, preventive, personalized, and participatory — an approach aimed at shifting the health care sector from reactive to proactive.
Speaking at the 44th anniversary of the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD) in Muntinlupa on Wednesday, Astrid Dita, head of AI and Innovation for Asia Pacific at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, highlighted that a lack of political prioritization and coordination among stakeholders has hindered progress.
In an interview with The Manila Times, Dita said that while governments are struggling to prioritize measures — given the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and rising prices of goods — the health care sector should not be left out in their priorities.
“The political leader’s mind would basically be pulled into a different direction. What is important is that, amid all external shocks, it’s really important for the government to still carry on with its core agenda at home. For the health sector agenda, P4 Medicine is something that is going to be what forms as a foundation for the future of the health care delivery in the country,” she said.
One of the major barriers to advancing P4 medicine in the Philippines is the country’s low investment in health research and development (R&D), which currently accounts for only 0.16 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).
Dita acknowledged that, aside from competing priorities, limited resources also contribute to the low number.
She urged the government to increase its allocation to catch up with other nations.
“It’s just a matter of how we make sure that we can get more out of that constraint,” she said, emphasizing the need for strategic prioritization to maximize the impact of limited funds.
Dita outlined actions for the Philippines to consider in its journey toward P4 medicine, beginning with the development of a clear and unified strategy.
“That strategy will hopefully be able to rally stakeholders behind a singular coordinated direction,” she said.
She also emphasized the importance of demonstrating quick wins to get the support of both political leaders and the public.
For example, she pointed to affordable cervical cancer prevention kits as a tangible outcome that could save lives and build momentum for broader health care reforms.
“To be able to connect that important agenda into a real result that the people can support early on, it would be super important,” Dita noted, adding that such initiatives could help demystify P4 medicine, which may seem abstract to some.
The Philippines currently relies heavily on imported technology and foreign expertise for health care solutions.
Dita believes that fostering local innovation is a strategic move that could reduce costs and address the country’s unique health care challenges.
“By making that choice (to become a producer of medical innovation), the Philippines will also have the agency to drive down costs for diseases and challenges most pertinent to the country,” she said.
Dita highlighted the role of AI in the shift from a reactive to a proactive health care system.
While the country lags in establishing governance frameworks for AI, she argued that this should not prevent the country from leveraging AI for scientific advancements, such as genome analysis and protein research..
“While the Philippines may need to catch up on AI governance, it doesn’t mean the country cannot immediately use AI for the advancement of science,” Dita said, stressing the need to adopt best practices from other countries to accelerate progress.