AYUHON Program Launches to Strengthen AI-Driven Pediatric Healthcare in the Philippines
From left to right: Krisia Denise V. Misa from DOH-Epidemiology Bureau, Dr. Lourdes Bernadette C. Sumpaico Tanchanco, MSc, FPPS, FPSDBP, IFMCP, Director, ACRI, Dr. Raymond Carl V. Romulo from DOH-Epidemiology Bureau, Dr. Jacqueline O. Navarro, FPPS, FPSDBP, MClinEpid, Former President of Philippine Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics (PSDBP), Sarah Jane A. Jimenez, MD, DPPS - Project Leader of CHILDMIND, Engr. Eduardo D. Piedad, Jr., AYUHON Program Leader and CHARITY Project Leader, Dir. Franz A. De Leon, ASTI Director, Dr. Fe Abarcar Delos Reyes, FPNA, FCNSP, Executive Director of HELP Learning Center Inc., Dr. Ruth Grampon Valeriano, FPPS, FPNA, FCNSP, Former President of Child Neurology Society of the Philippines, Inc (CNSP), Mr. Justin Villas Asuncion, Division Chief of DOH-Health Policy Development and Planning Bureau (HPDPB), Louise Sky T. Olaguer, MSc, Program Head of PCHRD-DFTH, Phoebe Nicole G. Perez, Ph.D., S&T Fellow DOST-PCHRD, and Engr. Jacqueline De Vera-Noche, S&T Fellow DOST-MIRDC.
April 21, 2026 — Philippines — The Assistive Systems Using AI in Healthcare Operations Nationwide (AYUHON) program officially launched its initiative through a successful kick-off meeting held on April 20, 2026, convening local experts, healthcare professionals, and key stakeholders to advance the use of artificial intelligence in pediatric healthcare.
Engr. Eduardo D. Piedad Jr., program lead, highlighted the persistent challenges in the Philippine healthcare system, including the realities faced by geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs) and the complexities of a devolved healthcare structure. He underscored the importance of leveraging technology to bridge gaps in access and quality of care.
During the event, Dr. Sarah Jane Jimenez presented the core features of the program’s Clinical Decision Support System (CDSS), emphasizing its offline web-based tools and its capability to support neurodevelopmental screening for children. These innovations aim to enable early detection and intervention, particularly in underserved communities.
The Assistive Systems Using AI in Healthcare Operations Nationwide (AYUHON) program is a government-led initiative with two project components: Child Focus Mapping of Interventions for Neurodevelopmental Disorders in the Philippines (ChildMIND) and Clinical Decision Support System for Healthcare with AI-Driven Response to Improve Tuberculosis in the Young (CHARITY). ChildMIND is designed to screen developmental delays and map available interventions nationwide, while CHARITY is designed to assist clinicians in diagnosing and managing tuberculosis, especially among children in vulnerable populations.
Central to the program is the development and deployment of AI-assisted Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSS), which empower healthcare providers to make more accurate, timely, and data-driven medical decisions.
The initiative is being led by the Department of Science and Technology – Advanced Science and Technology Institute (DOST-ASTI), which oversees program execution and technology development. The Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD) provides research guidance and funding oversight. The Philippine Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics (PSDBP), the Child Neurology Society, Philippines, Inc. (CNSP), and HELP Learning Center Foundation, Inc. serve as medical and community partners, supporting clinical expertise and outreach. The Department of Health also expressed its unreserved support during the AYUHON kick-off meeting, establishing its commitment to future program collaboration.
The program is led by DOST-ASTI under the leadership of Engr. Eduardo D. Piedad Jr., with support from project leads such as Dr. Sarah Jane Jimenez, and guided by ASTI Director Dr. Franz de Leon.
Through AYUHON, the Philippine government aims to harness cutting-edge AI technologies to improve healthcare delivery, particularly for vulnerable pediatric populations, and to ensure more equitable access to quality medical services nationwide. If you want to know more about the program, you can navigate through their website at https://ayuhon.ph .
For more information you can contact project AYUHON
