ACLOUD-based electronic medical-record solution won the first prize in the Takeda Digital Healthcare Innovation Challenge (DHIC).
Developed by Ascendant Technologies Inc., EMR Doc Assistant was awarded the top prize of $10,000 and will have the opportunity to work with Takeda Pharmaceuticals International Inc. and Takeda Healthcare Philippines Inc. to further develop their solution.
In an interview with the media, Ascendant Chairman and CEO Sergio Arroyo said the cloud-based solution will be promoted initially in the country.
“We want our countrymen first to benefit from our product,” Arroyo told reporters at the sidelines of the awarding ceremonies on August 6. Gabriel Georgy, president and general manager of Takeda Philippines and competition judge, said the Osaka, Japan-based medical company decided to organize the competition to enable them to harness digital technology-based applications that can help cancer patients obtain relevant information regarding their sickness.
He added the company is delighted by the turnout of participants, especially with the majority coming from the Philippines. Furthermore, the Australian-born executive said Takeda chose the Philippines as the venue for the competition because of the presence of numerous start-ups in the country, proficiency of the Filipinos in English and openness of Filipinos in using digital technology.
The finalists included six from the Philippines, two from the US, one from Malaysia and one from Thailand. DHIC is a HealthTech pitching competition sponsored by Takeda Healthcare Philippines Inc. HealthTech is a term generally used to define software or tech-enabled solutions geared for the health-care industry.
Georgy said Takeda is pursuing innovation in the Philippines by introducing the latest cutting edge in medicine and utilizing digital technologies. Also part of their commitment to innovation is to support the local tech start-ups.
The Takeda DHIC was implemented with the technical assistance of TechTalks.ph, a non-profit organization and innovation consultant that promotes the technology and start-up industries in the Philippines.