Lourdes Hospital’s BIDA Lourdes Campaign: A commitment to future healthcare professionals

The hospital won the Marketing Initiative of the Year - Philippines category at the Healthcare Asia Awards 2025.

BIDA Lourdes: Sci-Tech Champs is a flagship campaign of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, developed in partnership with the Department of Education - National Capital Region (DepEd NCR). The campaign was launched in 2023, after the COVID-19 pandemic, a period that drove a surge in demand for healthcare professionals and forced education systems across the country to adapt to remote and home-based learning. The shift revealed a worrying decline in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) enrollees, alongside growing health and wellness challenges amongst students and teachers that continue to affect learning today.

Recognising the urgent need to address these gaps, Lourdes Hospital and DepEd NCR created BIDA Lourdes: Sci-Tech Champs—a campaign designed not just to promote science and healthcare careers but to reconnect young learners with the value of real-world knowledge and skills. The programme sets out to reignite students' natural curiosity, strengthen their critical thinking, and show them that a future in STEM or healthcare is both achievable and meaningful. At the same time, it responds to the growing wellness concerns inside schools, positioning healthcare as a daily part of life, not just a career choice. By engaging schools, students, and families through interactive programmes, competitions, and outreach, BIDA Lourdes builds a vibrant bridge between healthcare and education—ultimately reinforcing Lourdes Hospital’s role not only as a provider of care but also as an active partner in shaping a healthier, smarter generation.

BIDA Lourdes launched with Brainiac: Clash of the Sci-Tech Champs, an inter-school quiz bowl and robotics competition for elementary and high school students. To uplift educators, it introduced Training the Trainers, a programme that revitalises science and research teaching strategies. It also established the BIDA Lourdes Research Award, spotlighting student innovations with real-world healthcare applications. Beyond competitions, Lourdes Hospital aimed to promote health awareness and encourage students and teachers to take a more proactive role in their well-being. To support this, the hospital provided free health screenings, service discounts, and health bulletin boards in schools. It also took part in academic events like the Global Robotics Competition and the Regional Science and Technology Fair to stay engaged with the educational community.

To support career exploration and encourage more senior high school students to pursue careers in medicine and healthcare instead of other STEM fields, the campaign expanded with the Jumpstart: Work Immersion Program. This programme offers immersive, hands-on training experiences within a real healthcare setting, in partnership with leading special science programmes. Jumpstart introduces students to various medical professions, helping them build interest, gain clarity, and make informed choices about their future. Since its launch, students from various schools across Metro Manila and nearby provinces have taken part in the hospital’s work immersion programme. For many still navigating the uncertainty left by the pandemic, this real-world exposure has restored confidence and sparked new aspirations

BIDA Lourdes has made a meaningful impact since its launch. In its third year, the campaign has engaged more than a thousand students from nearly 160 schools across Metro Manila, whilst its activities reached more than three million people on Facebook. Through health caravans and screenings, hundreds of students and teachers became more informed about their health and gained access to affordable, quality care at Lourdes Hospital. As a result, Lourdes Hospital has grown into a household name, recognised not only as a champion of STEM education but also as a trusted and accessible healthcare provider.

Over the past three years, BIDA Lourdes: Sci-Tech Champs has grown into a transformative movement that helps bridge the lingering gaps between healthcare and education. From reigniting student interest in STEM fields to empowering teachers with fresh tools and opportunities, the campaign continues to inspire a new generation of future healthcare professionals and supports the nation's journey toward a healthier, brighter future.
The Healthcare Asia Awards honours exceptional hospitals across the region that have redefined the standards of excellence in the industry through their innovative solutions and substantial contributions to communities.

The Healthcare Asia Awards is presented by Healthcare Asia Magazine. To view the full list of winners, click here. If you want to join the 2026 awards programme and be acclaimed for your organisation's remarkable initiatives and contributions to the healthcare industry, please contact Julie Anne Nuñez at [email protected].