ManilaMed - Medical Center Manila Emilio Aguinaldo College - School of Medicine garners the award for the Clinical Service Initiative of the Year 2019

The GDC is the first of its kind in the Philippines, and serves the special needs of individuals with concerns regarding their gender and sexuality.

ManilaMed launched its Gender Diversity Center (GDC) on May 25, 2018. This was conceptualized to address the needs of the transexual, transgender and gender non-conforming individuals (TGNC), as well as those who are simply gender-questioning and do not necessarily identify themselves as part of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual (LGBT) community. This population is subjected to prejudice and discrimination. They are more predisposed to psychosocial problems and mental health problems, compared to the general population.

The GDC is the first of its kind in the Philippines, and serves the special needs of individuals with concerns regarding their gender and sexuality. The GDC is designed to help individuals through comprehensive, compassionate, and gender-sensitive physical and psychological assessments and management. This includes individual counselling, family counselling, psychotherapy, treatment of medical and psychiatric co-morbidities, and if necessary hormonal interventions. These efforts are now coordinated with the Mental Health Section of the Emilio Aguinaldo College-School of Medicine so that young health professionals are made aware of and educated on the health and psychological burdens this special group has to carry. For this, ManilaMed - Medical Center Manila and Emilio Aguinaldo College - School of Medicine won the Healthcare Asia Awards 2019 for Clinical Service Initiative of the
Year.

The GDC is composed of a skilled interdisciplinary team of professionals with special interest to reach out to the gender-questioning and TGNC individuals. The team includes psychiatrists, a pediatrician specializing in adolescent medicine, pediatric endocrinologists, adult endocrinologists, infectious disease specialists, and a psychometrician. For a more holistic care, the GDC obtained the commitment of the hospital priest to provide pastoral care when needed. Forward-looking, the GDC team is exploring to also include obstetrician-gynecologists, urologists, and reconstructive surgeons in the future.

Through the GDC, ManilaMed recognizes that health is defined not only by excellent clinical care but also by a social environment that provides and ensures social tolerance, equality and love. The GDC is also a testament to ManilaMed's advocacy for the elimination of prejudice, discrimination, and stigma, and the delivery of customized care especially for the marginalized. A sense of acceptance, inclusivity, sensitivity and compassion distinguish the
medical assistance available at the GDC.

The Healthcare Asia Awards 2019 was held on May 23, 2019 at the Conrad Centennial Singapore.

This year's nominations were judged by a panel consisting of Abhay Bangi, Partner, Life Sciences & Healthcare Lead, Ernst & Young; Dr. Loke Wait Chiong Executive Director, Healthcare Sector Leader, Deloitte; Dr. Zubin Daruwalla, Director, SEAC Health Industries Leader, PwC; Chin Chee Choon, Advisory Leader, Nexia TS; and Willy Leow, Partner, Risk Advisory Services, BDO LLP.

Check out the event photos during the awards night here.

If you would like to join the 2020 awards and be awarded as one of the most outstanding healthcare companies in the region, please email Julie Anne Nuñez at [email protected].