Assoc. Prof. Maria Rhona Gatpandan-Bergantin, MD, an infectious diseases specialist of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery and the UST Hospital, joined an international panel of experts to share latest developments and concerns in the three-day Asia-Pacific Congress of Medical Virology, held from November 19-21, 2024 at the Singapore Expo. Specifically, Bergantin joined the panel on pandemic preparedness.
The discussion, moderated by Professor Linfa Wang of Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School and Dr. Lee Fok Kay of Temasek Foundation, Singapore, delved into what it takes to be ready for the next pandemic. Bergantin and her co-panelists stressed the importance of convincing governments and leaders of the ASEAN groups that the knowledge base gained during the COVID-19 pandemic is a vital resource worth sharing to the general public. Bergantin recalled the collaboration between the government and professional associations during the pandemic. A case in point was the preparation of COVID-19 guidelines prepared by the Philippine Society for Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, whose inputs helped craft policies during the onslaught of the dreaded virus.
The panel included Indonesia鈥檚 Dr. Darmawali Handoko, Medical Services Deputy Director Prof. Derrick Heng, Thailand鈥檚 Mahidol University Prof. Prassert Auewarakul, and Malaysia鈥檚 Tropical Diseases Research and Education Center Executive Director Prof. Dr. Sazaly bin Abu Bakar.
Bergantin also added that a sound pandemic preparedness policy requires the participation of not just scientists and government leaders, but also economists, vulnerable groups, and community members. In an interview with the Communications Bureau, Bergantin said that: 鈥淚 am just thankful that aside from teaching, I have been included in various clinical practice guideline creation and health technology assessment thus I have first hand experience in policy-making (recommendation), which I have just realized when I was asked to join the panel. I may not hold a degree in public health but working for the Filipinos in my capacity from the academe, together with other specialists from UST who are regularly consulted by the government based on their expertise, the Thomasian spirit of competence, compassion and commitment truly burns bright.鈥�
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Bergantin joined fellow doctors and healthcare professionals in the UST Hospital to save lives amidst the strictest of mobility restrictions. Look at her COVID-19-focused interview with the Communications Bureau here:
The congress drew over 300 onsite participants and was supported by Temasek Foundation, Singapore.
