As the number of Filipino seniors surpass 9.2 million,[1] the healthcare system faces increasing pressure to address the unique needs of this demographic. To tackle these challenges, the Philippine Academy of Family Physicians (PAFP) have partnered with GSK Philippines to empower family physicians with advanced knowledge and tools to enhance preventive healthcare, particularly for the elderly.
Through this groundbreaking collaboration, family physicians, who are often the first point of contact for patients, will receive the necessary support to promote wellness, manage and prevent both acute and chronic conditions, including vaccine-preventable diseases, thus encouraging healthy ageing.[2]
Addressing health challenges of the ageing population
Aging increases the risk of certain diseases due to a gradual decline in the immune system’s ability to respond effectively to infections[3] Seniors face a higher risk of chronic conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and respiratory diseases,[4] which are among the top 10 causes of death in the Philippines.[5] With preventive care playing a pivotal role, the healthcare system must focus on early detection, prevention and proactive disease management to ensure the well-being of aging Filipinos.
“Older adults face unique health challenges, and family physicians play a critical role in managing these through early interventions and holistic preventive care,” said Dr. Josefina
- Isidro-Lapeña, President of PAFP. “By strengthening their skills, we can ensure comprehensive care is delivered.”
Empowering Family Physicians through Education
The heart of the PAFP-GSK partnership lies in continuous education for family physicians. Through this nationwide program, family doctors will receive updated guidance on managing elderly care, including healthy lifestyle promotion, recognition of age-appropriate screening tests, chronic disease management, vaccination, and promoting overall wellness.
A key initiative, the Ageing Gracefully Among Filipinos Summit, focuses on providing family physicians with practical knowledge in areas such as nutrition, physical activity, health screenings and immunization. This equips doctors to deliver more holistic care to our seniors.
EducAIR, an on-demand medical education platform, enables family physicians to enhance their skills in diagnosing and treating airway diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which are prevalent among seniors, and in preventing infections in this vulnerable patient group with adult immunization. Through this advanced training, physicians will be better equipped to manage these conditions, ultimately improving elderly care.
The ceremonial signing of the memorandum of agreement (MOA) between PAFP and GSK formalized their collaboration on the Ageing Gracefully Among Filipinos Summit and EducAIR programs, highlighting their shared commitment to advancing healthcare for seniors.
[1] Age and Sex Distribution in the Philippine Population (2020 Census of Population and Housing). Philippine Statistics Authority . (2022b, August 12). Population and Housing | Philippine Statistics Authority | Republic of the Philippines
[2] Piccoliori, G., Barbieri, V., Wiedermann, C., & Engl, A. (2023). Special roles of Rural Primary Care and family medicine in improving vaccine hesitancy. Advances in Clinical and Experimental Medicine, 32(4), 401–406. https://advances.umw.edu.pl/pdf/2023/32/4/401.pdf
[3] Maggi S. Vaccination and Healthy Aging. Expert Rev. Vaccines 9(3 Suppl.), 3–6 (2010)
[4] Cruz, G. T., J. N. Natividad, and Y . Saito (2019), ‘Activities, Social Isolation, and Information Technology’, in G. T. Cruz, C. J. P. Cruz, and Y. Saito (eds.), Ageing and Health in the Philippines, Jakarta, Indonesia: Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia, pp. 215-226. https://www.eria.org/uploads/media/Books/2019-Dec- Ageing-and-Health-Philippines/20-Ageing-and-Health-Philippines-Chapter-14-new.pdf
[5] 2023 Causes of death in the Philippines | Philippine Statistics Authority | Republic of the Philippines.
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