GPCCI President Marie Antoniette E. Mariano opened the discussion by underscoring the urgent need for coordinated action to address the interconnected nature of cardiovascular, renal, and metabolic diseases.
Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Cherry Sevilla-Arenas, Nephrologist and Consultant at the Philippine Heart Center, called for a national roadmap for integrated CRM care. She highlighted key barriers—particularly financial and geographic limitations—that hinder early screening and treatment and emphasized the role of the Philippine Universal Healthcare Act in improving access to essential services.
A representative from the public health sector further stressed the government’s commitment to health programs and policies on non-communicable diseases (NCDs), particularly cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and diabetes, advocating for a stronger, crisis-resilient healthcare system that meets growing national needs.
Mr. Ralph Degollacion of the Healthy Philippines Alliance provided the patient’s perspective, drawing attention to the socioeconomic toll of CRM diseases. He highlighted the challenges of treatment costs, exclusion, and discrimination, and pointed to inequitable access to healthcare services as a root cause of stigma.
Dr. Rodney Jimenez from the Philippine Heart Association recommended the development of interdisciplinary CRM expertise through elective training, certifications, and collaborative care models. He also advocated for universal healthcare as a foundation of patient equity and for the development of disease registries to guide health resource allocation.
Representing the industry, Dr. Greta Cortez of Boehringer Ingelheim Philippines outlined the evolution of cardio-metabolic conditions into what is now recognized as cardio-renal-metabolic conditions. She shared how earlier awareness campaigns were fragmented but are now becoming more cohesive through initiatives like It Starts With U: Get CheCKD, which aimed to provide health screening and disease awareness for chronic kidney disease and related CRM conditions.
Following the main presentations, stakeholders engaged in an open forum to identify challenges and propose action points. Key insights included:
In closing, Dr. David Klebs, Economic Counsellor of the German Embassy Manila, reaffirmed the importance of raising awareness and fostering partnerships to improve CRM outcomes. “Collaboration must go beyond talk. We need lasting strategies for education, prevention, and patient care—backed by a shared commitment to make a tangible impact.”
The roundtable discussion was able to gather leaders and experts who insightfully discussed current state of CRM health in the Philippines, patient experiences, medical professional insights, industry innovations, and various policy and program recommendations.
Through the collective contributions of speakers and participants from the government, private sector, academe, industry groups, patient organizations, medical societies, and healthcare institutions, the event laid the groundwork for a holistic and integrated approach to CRM care.
In addition to its event partners, GPCCI also acknowledges and extends its appreciation to the following organizations for their participation and valuable insights:
- Public Health Agency
- Diabetes Philippines
- Dialysis PH
- De La Salle University Jesse Robredo Institute of Governance
- De La Salle Medical and Health Sciences Institute
- Healthy Philippines NCD Alliance
- Healthway Daniel O. Mercado Medical Center
- Institute for Studies on Diabetes Foundation Inc.
- Kidney Alliance Philippines Inc.
- National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI)
- Pharmaceutical & Healthcare Association of the Philippines
- Philippine Academy of Family Physicians (PAFP)
- Philippine Association of Diabetes Educators, Inc. (PADE)
- Philippine College of Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism (PCEDM)
- Philippine College of Occupational Medicine
- Philippine College of Physicians (PCP)
- Philippine Heart Association (PHA)
- Philippine Heart Center
- Philippine Health Insurance Corporation
- Philippine Society of Nephrology (PSN)
- Philippine Society of Public Health Physicians
- Universal Health Coverage/UHC Watch
