Pinoy doc heads hypertension panel

Filipino cardiologist and Inquirer health columnist Dr. Rafael Castillo has been elected to the executive council of the prestigious International Society of Hypertension (ISH) based in the United Kingdom and will head its communications committee.

This was announced by ISH president Dr. Neil Poulter during the society’s biennial congress in Seoul, South Korea, on Sept. 24-29.

ISH, which marks its 50th anniversary this year, is composed of clinicians, scientists and researchers engaged in the prevention, treatment and control of hypertension or high blood pressure. The congress was attended by almost 4,000 delegates from all over the world and was chaired by professor Cheol Ho Kim of South Korea.

 ‘Medical Files’

Castillo is the first Filipino elected to ISH’s governing body. He has been writing the column “Medical Files” in the Health/Science section of the Inquirer for over 15 years. He is a past president of the Philippine Heart Association, Philippine College of Cardiology and Philippine Society of Hypertension. He also served as president of the Australia-based Asian Pacific Society of Hypertension.

Poulter, well known in the medical community for his landmark researches, said that intensifying campaigns and programs to improve public awareness, treatment and control of hypertension will be ISH’s priority in the next two years of his term.

Castillo and his committee will be tasked to come up with an effective communication program to reach out to various populations and international bodies involved in hypertension prevention and control.