But 20 years after this charter s inception, the need for health reforms convergence bringing medical schools on board is still in want. Although medical schools have been highly criticized as isolated ivory towers , lacking in proactive contributions to society s health needs, academic institutions actually have the potential to address the complex issues of health unity and therefore can create synergies between the community, health professionals, health managers, and policy makers towards Unity for Health . We report here, the convergence of various stakeholders in establishing an innovative medical school in the Southern Philippines. Seventy percent of the people live in rural densely populated shorelines of the islands.
Travel is predominantly by boat, access to inland areas is mostly by foot.
Neonatal tetanus, measles, typhoid, cholera, dengue fever, tuberculosis, malaria, diarrhea and respiratory infections are major problems. The fertility rate is about 5 and infant mortality is more than 75 per 1000 births. Safe water, balanced nutrition, prenatal care and full immunization remain long term health goals. There are 28 medical schools in the Philippines but none in this region and few physicians are willing to move to this under resourced area. As a result of these series of intensive intersectoral meeting, a new, private, not for profit medical school was proposed.