ATIPAN+ General Workshop 2025: Strengthening Health Connections for Indigenous and Rural Communities
The AI4PEP Philippines team, through the Center for Informatics at the University of San Agustin, marked a significant milestone in advancing health equity with the successful staging of the ATIPAN+ General Workshop 2025. Under the theme “Strengthening Health Connections: Empowering Indigenous and Rural Communities through Telehealth,” the workshop brought together healthcare professionals, researchers, policymakers, and community leaders to explore AI-driven solutions that bridge the healthcare gap for remote populations. Held over three days in Iloilo City, the workshop culminated in a high-level press conference on March 20 at Hotel Santa Monica, spotlighting the impact of telehealth in bridging health gaps for indigenous and rural communities.
The ATIPAN (Advancing Telehealth for Indigenous Populations and Nation-building) initiative, a core component of AI4PEP’s mission in the Philippines, has emerged as a transformative model for delivering timely, community-based healthcare to underserved areas. Since its launch in November 2021, the ATIPAN+ Telehealth Project has conducted over 8,550 consultations for the Ati communities in Western Visayas, illustrating the potential of AI and telehealth innovations to improve access to healthcare at the margins.
Dr. Pia Regina Fatima Zamora-Rico, an ATIPAN+ telehealth physician, emphasized the importance of early intervention and the project’s potential to reduce hospital congestion. She shared that conditions are often severe when patients arrive at the hospital. However, with telehealth, they can intervene early, at the onset of illness, right in the community. She pointed out that replicating this model across the country could significantly ease hospital loads and uplift entire communities.
The workshop offered a platform for health professionals, community members, and government partners to reflect on the success of ATIPAN+ and to envision its expansion. Representatives from partner indigenous communities shared heartfelt testimonies, highlighting how telehealth has changed their lives not only by improving healthcare access but also by building confidence and enabling connection with broader systems of care.
A health coordinator of the Ati community in attendance, Leonisa Lumangyo noted how, prior to ATIPAN+, they relied on herbal medicines. She expressed how empowered she feels about being able to consult with doctors even from remote areas, a change which has been made possible thanks to ATIPAN+.
A striking theme throughout the event was resilience. Despite infrastructure gaps and historical neglect, ATIPAN+ has demonstrated that effective, community-driven telehealth solutions are not only feasible but replicable. Dr. Roselle Rivera of the ATIPAN+ remarked, “If it works in the margins, why can’t it work in the parts of the Philippines?”
With continued support from funders and stakeholders, including the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), AI4PEP Philippines is committed to building on the ATIPAN+ momentum to ensure no community is left behind.
For a deeper understanding of the ATIPAN Project’s impact and goals, visit the ATIPAN Project website: https://www.usacfi.net/atipan-project.html
Watch the video below for a recap of the ATIPAN+ General Workshop 2025
