Cebuano surgeon eyes ‘100 affordable knee operations’

Dr. Rene Catan during the Tatak UP awarding ceremonies for alumni at UP Cebu. (CDN PHOTO/JULI ANN M. SIBI)

Cebuano orthopedic surgeon Dr. Rene Catan is targeting “100 knee operations nationwide before the year ends” using his two-piece knee replacement technology “Logic 1.0”  so that people suffering from arthritis can be helped at half the cost of conventional procedures.

Logic 1.0 was  developed by Catan’s Manila-based company Arthrologic.

“Total knee replacement procedure is demanded by over 80,000 Filipinos who are suffering from severe knee arthritis, preventing them from walking without extreme pain,” Catan said.

Catan was one of the  Tatak UP Cebu awardees recognized last week by the  University of the Philippines Alumni Association–Cebu Chapter.

Catan’s new two-piece replacement together with simpler surgical instruments and procedures would cost a patient only half the P400,000 usually paid for surgeries on both knees.

“In my clinical practice, I saw many of these patients waiting for these kinds of surgery, but they could not  afford it. Instead of just sitting around and telling them to come back when they have the money, I found it in me to develop something that can help them,” Catan said.

Catan developed the technology early in 2011.

“I didn’t have any funding before to develop my prototype, so I tried finding ways to get my technology out there,” Catan said.

He pitched his idea to businessman Manny V. Pangilinan’s Ideaspace, a foundation that supports tech startups. It  was a finalist among 700 other proposals  nationwide.

Since Ideaspace offers a wide network of connections, many people helped him develop his idea.

Last year, he found two manufacturers who helped mass-produce his product for surgical application nationwide.

“Before 2015 ends, I want to be able to help our Filipino elderly be able to walk again and enjoy life. That is why I want to reach 100 operations that require  zero professional fees before the year ends,” Catan said.

Catan spends eight days off his clinic in Manila to travel around the country where colleagues  in General Santos, Davao, Cotabato, Cebu, and Romblon, call him to have the procedure done.

Catan teaches  surgeons or doctors in the area how to conduct the procedure.

“The more people there are working on this, the more people will have access to the technology, and the more people who will be able to walk, run, and enjoy their life,” Catan said.