Telehealth services for marginalized communities

An alumnus of the University of the Philippines-Diliman College of Science (UPD-CS) has initiated a project to bring digital health to marginalized communities.

Dr. Romulo de Castro, now the director of the Center for Informatics of the University of San Agustin in Iloilo City, launched ATIPAN in 2021 to offer free teleconsultations, provide technology and training for health workers in partner indigenous people and rural low income communities in Western Visayas, as well as supply basic medication and health essentials.

The ATIPAN Project has received positive feedback from communities that lack access to quality healthcare services. 

Currently funded by foreign agencies, the ongoing project looks forward to seeing its expansion plans and innovations come to fruition.

De Castro shared details of ATIPAN at the “Innovation Impact Stories: A Webinar Series on the Societal Impacts of Science Innovation” of UPD-CS’ Innovation Program held last 15 October 2025.