More units of RxBox biomedical device will be delivered anytime soon to hospitals, to help health workers attend to more patients while also protecting themselves during the fight against coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Fortunato dela Peña said Friday.

In the “Laging Handa” public briefing, dela Peña said RxBox was actually developed few years ago, with the objective of deploying these to rural areas where there are only a few clinical specialists.

The RxBox is capable of capturing medical signals through built-in medical sensors, storing data in an electronic medical record, and transmitting health information via internet to a clinical specialist in a hospital for expert advice.

It could monitor a patient’s vital signs, pulse rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, and even electrocardiogram readings.

Dela Peña said the DOST have repurposed at least 1,000 units of RxBox, for use during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“This (RxBox) would enable (health workers) to monitor patients without getting near them. They would be able to attend to more patients, check their vital signs, since this is very easy to use,” he said.

An initial 200 units were delivered to the Philippine General Hospital, and a hospital in Laguna. He said the DOST already received new batteries, so deployment of more units will happen anytime soon. (PNA)