Asian Hospital Launches New Interstitial Lung Disease Center

 
Manila, Philippines, December 2024
Asian Hospital and Medical Centre (AHMC) launches the Interstitial Lung Disease Center in the newly established Asian Institute of Respirology (AIR) under a program initiative supported by Boehringer Ingelheim (Philippines) Inc. 

Asian Hospital and Medical Centre (AHMC) launches the Interstitial Lung Disease Center under the newly established Asian Institute of Respirology (AIR) supported by Boehringer Ingelheim (Philippines) Inc.

Dr. Lenora Fernandez, Program Director of Asian Institute of Respirology (AIR), announces, “We are launching the first center of excellence under the AIR, which will be our ILD clinic. Our mission is to deliver accessible, world-class pulmonary specialized healthcare services to every individual.” 

Program Director of Asian Institute of Respirology (AIR), Dr. Lenora Fernandez, announces the launch of the ILD center in collaboration with Boehringer Ingelheim, highlighting its mission in delivering accessible, world-class, and specialized healthcare services.

The ILD Center will serve as a specialized facility dedicated to the comprehensive management of interstitial lung disease, a rare and complex condition. It will integrate advanced diagnostics, personalized treatment options, and ongoing support services to streamline and enhance the ILD journey from pre-diagnosis to management. 

The partnership between Asian Hospital and Boehringer Ingelheim aims to improve ILD management with patient support programs and ongoing medical education. The program will support this initiative by connecting patients with a broad network of doctors, healthcare professionals and facilities.

Dr. Giovanni Nazario, Medical Advisor, Specialty Care at Boehringer Ingelheim (Philippines) Inc., expresses their unwavering commitment to improving the lives of ILD patients and providing the best possible care and support by partnering with Asian Hospital.

Dr. Giovanni Nazario, Medical Advisor, Specialty Care, Boehringer Ingelheim (Philippines) Inc., highlighted its significance, “By working closely with our esteemed partners from Asian Hospital, we aim to ensure that those affected by this disease have access to the best possible care and support.”

The Asian Institute of Respirology will expand its services, beginning with the ILD Center, to include fellowship training programs in pulmonary rehabilitation and the launch of a TB-DOTS clinic. It will also extend its focus to managing pulmonary masses and pulmonary arterial hypertension. 

Attendees actively participated in the discussion about the ILD Center's comprehensive approach to managing interstitial lung disease, which includes advanced diagnostics, personalized treatment, and ongoing support to enhance patient care.

A multidisciplinary approach is crucial for effectively diagnosing and treating rare diseases like ILD, given its complexity and diverse causes. The interstitial lung disease encompasses a group of disorders characterized by inflammation and scarring of the lung’s parenchyma, the functional tissue responsible for gas exchange. This leads to symptoms such as shortness of breath and cough and may progress to pulmonary fibrosis. Estimates indicate that between 0.6 and 7.6 people have ILD, with a minority developing pulmonary fibrosis.

Dr. Ethel Añonuevo, Associate Director of the Asian Institute of Respirology and Head of the ILD Center, noted, "In the Philippines, we don’t have any data yet. Having a lot of ILD clinics and centers will be a way for us to gather information on what really is the prevalence of ILD and ILA in the Philippines.”  

Dr. Ethel Añonuevo, Associate Director of the Asian Institute of Respirology and Head of the ILD Center, highlights the need for more ILD clinics to gather crucial data on the prevalence of ILD and Interstitial Lung Abnormality (ILA) in the Philippines.

The launch of ILD Center marks a significant advancement in the management of interstitial lung disease. Asian Hospital is dedicated to advancing research, providing world-class healthcare, and enhancing the quality of life for ILD patients in the Philippines.