ZAMBOANGA CITY, Sept 10 (PIA) - Biomedical devices and equipment such as intensive care units (ICUs) are very expensive including the cost of using them. In Philippine hospitals, the ideal one patient is to one unit is far from reality as hospitals here have limited resources.

To address this, the Ateneo de Zamboanga University (ADZU) is proposing to develop its own biomedical devices, as was learned during the Science and Technology Week opening held yesterday (September 9).

Secretary Fortunato de la Pena of the Department of Science and Technology said ADZU, along with other universities in the country has expressed intention to develop the first locally-manufactured biomedical devices. "Yes, Ateneo de Zamboanga University has proposed to do this. This is very good because we are very dependent on imported biomedical devices, and with this move, we can now develop local devices making them less expensive," the secretary said.

Biomedical devices include life-support equipment such as ICUs, prosthetics and generally all devices intended for medical purposes such as MRIs, CT scans and ECGs.

Last year, ADZU introduced their biomedical engineering course.

The country's science chief bannered other programs of the DOST. One is a research to radically improve coconut productivity, and another is a research to maximize the use of rubber trees, even after its latex-producing lifespan by using senile trees for furniture.

The DOST celebrates the regional science and technology week with a science and invention fair at the Palacio del Sur, featuring the works of local students and researchers. This is open for free to the public until tomorrow (September 11). (DIS/PIA9-Zamboanga City)