W. Visayas crafts roadmap to become HIMS capital by 2028

Western Visayas is on a strategic path to becoming the Health Information Management Services (HIMS) Capital of the World by 2028. Key stakeholders, including industry leaders, government officials, private sector representatives, and academic experts, gathered on June 28, 2024, for a comprehensive workshop at the Park Inn by Radisson Hotel in Iloilo City.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Region VI spearheaded the event, “HIMS Connect: Road to Becoming the Health Information Management Service Capital of the World.” The workshop aimed to develop a roadmap for the region’s HIMS sector growth and development. Participants included representatives from DICT, TESDA, DOLE, NEDA, DOST, Iloilo Province LEDIPO, Iloilo City LEDIPO, City Government of Bacolod, WVSU-MC, WVSU-BINHI, Riverside College, Iloilo Federation for ICT (IFIT), WNS, Sagility, San Jose Antique Council for IT, PCCI Iloilo, HIMAP, Medstar, and DTI provincial offices.

DTI Region VI Regional Director Rachel Nufable presented the initial Region VI HIMS Trade Promotion Gameplan, focusing on three key areas: branding and promotions, talent development, and industry relations.

“This collaborative approach provides us with a comprehensive and actionable roadmap,” Nufable said. “By addressing specific challenges in branding, capability building, and industry relations, we’ve laid a solid foundation for our goal of becoming the world’s HIMS capital.”

The workshop featured notable speakers, including DTI Undersecretary Dr. Rafaelita M. Aldaba, who emphasized the potential of the HIMS sector to drive regional economic growth. “Iloilo is one of the key cities in the country leveraged for the delivery of contact center and health information management services,” Aldaba noted. She highlighted Iloilo’s high-quality workforce, efficient connectivity to neighboring provinces, and robust local economy as significant advantages.

Dr. Aldaba also discussed new HIMS trends and developments, focusing on emerging technologies and innovations impacting outsourcing and offshoring to the Philippines. “The sector could generate significant investments and high-quality jobs,” she added, citing projections from the national IT-BPM Industry Roadmap 2028, which forecasts 285,000 jobs in healthcare by 2028 and annual revenue reaching $6.7 billion.

Participants engaged in intensive breakout sessions, addressing gaps and challenges in branding, talent development, and industry relations. They developed strategies, activities, and timelines, outlined necessary resources, and identified responsible agencies for implementing proposed initiatives.

Jonathan de Luzuriaga, CEO of Spring Valley Tech Corp and President of the Philippine Software Industry Association, highlighted the potential of HIMS for regional growth. Other high-profile speakers, including DTI Export Marketing Bureau Services Division Chief Maria Teresa Loring and Healthcare Information Management Association of the Philippines (HIMAP) Board Trustee Nora K. Terrado, contributed to the discourse.

The workshop concluded with optimism about Western Visayas’ potential to become a global leader in HIMS, citing the region’s strong educational institutions and growing IT-BPM sector as key advantages. The detailed strategies and action plans developed during the workshop will guide the region’s HIMS sector development in the coming years.