The second chance your heart deserves

Perhaps one of the most significant effects of the COVID-19 pandemic among Filipinos is that a lot of us started becoming more conscious about our health. It made us mindful about the way we take care of our bodies: our diet, our physical activities, and even how our own environment affects us.

As we get older, this proactive approach to our health becomes a more critical responsibility, as the risk of disease grows higher with age. This is especially true for cardiovascular diseases (CVD). In fact, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reveal that CVDs are the top causes of mortality among Filipinos. In both 2022 and 2023, ischemic heart diseases claimed almost more lives than neoplasms and cerebrovascular diseases combined. 

Addressing this glaring health concern was at the center of the recently held roundtable series entitled Unblocked Movement – Inspiring Conversations on Heart Health: Turning Second Chances to Lifelong Victories. This initiative was initiated by Novartis Healthcare Philippines with the Swiss Chamber of Commerce (SwissCham), and in collaboration with the Cardinal Santos Medical Center (CSMC).

My journey as a health advocate over the years has led to many unforgettable opportunities, and yours truly again had the chance to stand beside some of our country's leading innovators in healthcare. As the moderator of the Unblocked Movement roundtable, I personally heard the inspiring stories and the fiery passion of every guest and dignitary.

The roundtable discussion was held to spark innovation and collaboration on the healthcare sector's approach towards managing heart attack patients. Ultimately, it was about giving every patient every opportunity for a 'second chance' at life.

Mr. Raul Pagdanganan, CSMC’s President and CEO, who also happens to be a very good friend of mine, shared how this was a personal endeavor for him. Raul shared how, just a few months ago, doctors found a small blockage in the arteries of his heart. After a few years running CSMC, he was now the patient.

But with the strides that healthcare and medicine has made over the years, what would have been a long and difficult path of treatment was now “already