MANILA CITY – Advancing the efforts towards improved healthcare initiatives in the country, the National Academy of Science and Technology, Philippines (NAST PHL) conducted a roundtable discussion (RTD) on the establishment of local genomic infrastructure for clinical adoption on 15 June 2026. The activity was led by the NAST PHL Technical Working Group (TWG) on the Applications of Advanced Technology in the Delivery of Health Care Services under the Special Concerns Program (SCP).
With the concerns surrounding the limited local genomic testing capacity and high reliance on international testing services in the Philippines, the RTD focused on the following key discussion points: (1) mapping and assessment of existing resources such as facilities, data assets, and human resources, (2) defining of the roles of central expert centers and regional health facilities, and (3) expansion of local capacity and improvement of referral pathways.
The RTD convened various experts in the field of genomics and the Philippine healthcare system with Academician Jaime C. Montoya as the TWG’s chair. In his welcome message, Acd. Montoya talked about the current existing efforts in precision medicine and omics technologies supported by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), highlighting the need for enhanced diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in the Philippine context.
Dr. Eva Maria C. Cutiongco-De La Paz, head of the Philippine General Hospital - Center for Precision Health and Medicine was the moderator of the RTD. To set the tone of the discussion, Dr. Cutiongco-De La Paz started with a presentation of the resolution to advance precision medicine endorsed by the Seventy-ninth World Health Assembly. She also shared the continuing progress of the Filipino Genome Sequencing Project launched by the Philippine Genome Center on 26 March 2026.
Shedding light on the underrepresentation of Filipinos in genome databases, Dr. Cutiongco-De La Paz brought attention to the lack of dedicated Filipino genomic data for clinical use in the country, posing a barrier to the translation of genomics into clinical practice.
To serve as a reference for the discussion, National Scientist Carmencita D. Padilla presented the challenges and strategies in setting up the Newborn Screening Program leading up to the present. Through the combined efforts of dedicated health advocates in expanding laboratory infrastructure, establishing the inclusion of newborn screening in PhilHealth benefits packages, and raising awareness, the National Newborn Screening Program grew from the involvement of 24 hospitals in 1996 to 7,082 hospitals and birthing centers in 2025.
In assessing current capabilities in genomics, the participants pointed out the gaps in local institutions as most facilities acquire services from commercial laboratory institutions outside the country for genomic testing and next-generation sequencing technologies. While the Philippine healthcare system has seen developments in the field of genomic medicine and precision health, there are still evident limitations within genomic infrastructure, national sovereignty over Filipino-specific data assets, and human resources across healthcare institutions nationwide.
A network of laboratories consisting of a central referral center (hub) connected with regional healthcare facilities (spokes) is proposed to address the limitations of local institutions through network coordination for genetic testing, data processing, and high-level bioinformatics analysis. The participants stressed the need for a clear definition of the roles and functions of the central referral center and regional healthcare facilities.
Participants also cited the insufficient number of fully trained clinician scientists, geneticists, and genetic counselors as another critical gap. The participants emphasized the increasing need for specialized training in genomic data analysis and structured staff retention and progression in the country to bridge laboratory work to bedside care.
Another challenge in applying genomic and precision medicine in clinical practice is accessibility in terms of financial capacities of patients. High costs of genetic tests hinder patients from getting tested and acquiring targeted treatment despite healthcare facilities’ capabilities to detect and diagnose diseases. The participants recommended the need to review the feasibility for developing a PhilHealth benefits package for precision medicine.A disease-specific population database to determine the prevalence of specific diseases in the Philippines must be developed to build local evidence in supporting the inclusion of genomic testing in benefits packages.
The participants also raised the need to establish public awareness and clinical demand for genetic testing for the improvement of personalized treatment and ensure economic growth within the healthcare industry, further developing genomic research.
The RTD was concluded with resounding support for continuous collaborative efforts to build a genomics-enabled future in the country with capacitated Filipino scientists in genomics, precision medicine and precision public health (Danica T. Salcedo/NAST PHL).
The National Academy of Science and Technology, Philippines, is an attached agency to the Department of Science and Technology, mandated by law (Executive Order 818 s.1982) to serve as an adviser to the President of the Republic of the Philippines and the Cabinet on policies concerning science and technology in the country. For more updates, follow NAST PHL’s (@nastphl) social media accounts.