Uratex Philippines, the country’s leading sleep solutions provider, has partnered with the Philippine Society of Sleep Medicine, Inc. (PSSM) to address the growing problem of sleep deprivation and related disorders.

The partnership, formalized at a ceremony at Uratex Alabang, aims to raise awareness, conduct research and develop solutions for better sleep quality.  The theme of the event was “Partnering to Provide Quality Sleep for Filipinos.”

Dr. Rodolfo V. Dizon Jr., PSSM president, called the partnership, years in the making, significant. “We’ve been working toward this for about five years,” he said, noting Uratex’s commitment. “The ultimate beneficiaries of this collaboration are the Filipino people.”

Sleep deprivation is a widespread problem in the Philippines, though Dr. Dizon cited that existing data is limited.  “We lack localized, scientific data on sleep deprivation and disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea,” he explained. The partnership will allow for nationwide research to better understand the issue.

Stephen Lee, sleep business unit director at Uratex, emphasized the importance of awareness. “Many Filipinos are sleep-deprived or suffering from sleep diseases, yet they are unaware of it,” he said.  The goal is to combine PSSM’s medical expertise with Uratex’s product innovation to create awareness.

Both organizations stressed the partnership is about sleep health advocacy, not just product sales. Dr. Abigail Zaraspe, immediate past president of PSSM, highlighted the need for broader research to understand the extent of sleep issues.  Dr. April Caparas-Manlagñit, PSSM secretary, cited the challenge of undiagnosed sleep apnea, estimating 2.5 million Filipinos were affected as of 2016, a number expected to have increased.

Dr. Jimmy Chang, PSSM vice president, pointed to societal and cultural factors, including long work hours and a lagging sleep medicine field, as contributing to sleep problems. He noted Taiwan’s significantly higher number of sleep specialists and beds compared to the Philippines.

Dr. Caparas-Manlagñit also discussed the cultural shift needed to prioritize sleep, citing late-night mall hours and the country’s extended Christmas season, coupled with social media, as factors.

Despite the challenges, Dr. Dizon expressed confidence in Uratex’s commitment.  Natividad “Naty” Cheng, co-founder and CEO of Uratex, reaffirmed the company’s mission to provide affordable, high-quality sleep products.

The partnership will involve sleep health seminars, furnishing sleep centers with Uratex products, and developing research-backed solutions. Lee said Uratex’s innovations will undergo medical validation through PSSM.

For PSSM, the collaboration will help meet growing demand for sleep disorder testing and treatment.  Dr. Dizon noted some sleep centers have three-month waiting lists.

Both organizations said their shared vision is to make sleep health a national priority. “This is not just about products or medical research -- it’s about improving lives,” Lee said.

Dr. Dizon said, “This is a win-win situation, not just for Uratex and PSSM, but for the millions of Filipinos who deserve better sleep. Together, we will make it happen.”