Health and Lifestyle
FDA warns public vs fake drugs sold online
November 28, 2017, 6:36 pm
ZAMBOANGA CITY -- The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned the public against online purchase of medicines and other health products. Annette Tan, FDA-Mindanao West Cluster head, issued the warning as counterfeit drugs have continued to proliferate in the market. Tan advised the public to… Read More
JE vaccine for Makati gov’t employees, public school students
November 28, 2017, 12:59 pm
MANILA – Makati’s city government on Monday launched its Japanese Encephalitis (JE) vaccination for 60,000 city government employees and public school students. "According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Pediatric Infectious Disease Society of the Philippines, JE is the leading… Read More
PhilHealth premium increase set in January 2018
November 27, 2017, 2:55 pm
*ZAMBOANGA CITY -- The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) is set to increase its monthly premium starting January 2018 in an effort to boost the agency's health programs. Bryan Jabay, PhilHealth regional information officer, told the Philippine News Agency the increase is… Read More
Cavite health caravan treats 215 patients with skin diseases
November 23, 2017, 6:06 pm
TRECE MARTIRES CITY, Cavite – Some 215 patients benefited from free skin consultations and medicines offered during a health caravan in Barangay Pasong Kawayan 1 here since Tuesday. The patients, who were afflicted with scabies, athlete’s foot, psoriasis, eczema, ringworm and other fungal… Read More
US tobacco firms run anti-smoking ads 11 years after court order
November 22, 2017, 4:24 pm
WASHINGTON -- Major tobacco companies will run newspaper and television advertisements in the United States starting this weekend -- not meant to promote smoking, but rather to tell the public about the deadly consequences of smoking. The tobacco companies are not running these ads voluntarily,… Read More
DOH, advocates hope mental health bill would soon be signed into law
November 22, 2017, 11:49 am
MANILA – The Department of Health (DOH) and mental health advocates have expressed hope that the recent approval of the Comprehensive Mental Health bill by the House of Representatives would pave the way for its immediate signing into law. "We welcome this development as it shows that… Read More
Health group calls for 60% tobacco tax hike
November 22, 2017, 11:34 am
MANILA -- HealthJustice Philippines has urged legislators to increase the tax imposed on tobacco products by at least 60 percent in 2018, and at least 9 percent every year afterwards. “We call on our legislators to seriously consider including tobacco tax in the Tobacco Tax Reform for… Read More
DOH open to adopting US' lower standard for hypertension
November 21, 2017, 7:41 pm
MANILA -- The Department of Health (DOH) is open to the possibility of adopting locally the lower level of high blood pressure that was set by the United States. "Nothing wrong with it," said DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III, when asked about the recent BP adjustment in the US. "It's okay.… Read More
More than half of HIV population on treatment: UNAIDS
November 21, 2017, 12:57 pm
GENEVA -- Remarkable progress has been made on HIV treatment over the past 15 years, with about 57 percent of all the people worldwide living with HIV currently on treatment, according to UNAIDS' latest data on Monday. In 2000, just 685,000 people living with HIV had access to antiretroviral… Read More
Early childhood adversities linked to health problems in teens
November 21, 2017, 12:52 pm
CHICAGO -- A pathway in the brain seems to link exposure to adverse experiences during early childhood to depression and problems with physical health in teens and preteens, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have found. The study involved 119 children aged 3 to 6… Read More
CBCP wants realignment of contraceptives budget
November 18, 2017, 8:48 pm
MANILA -- An official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-Public Affairs Committee (CBCP-PAC) said that the funds intended for buying pills and condoms should be aligned in helping poor Filipinos to have access to hospitals and other benefits. CBCP-PAC executive secretary Fr.… Read More
Duque plans to meet with Sotto on RH Law
November 17, 2017, 4:38 pm
MANILA – Health Secretary Dr. Francisco Duque III said Thursday he would like to discuss the implementation of the Reproductive Health (RH) Law with Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III, a staunch critic of the law. "I will get in touch with him (Sotto). We have to make our communication… Read More
Family planning products to be sent to RHUs soon: DOH
November 17, 2017, 4:20 pm
MANILA -- Essential family planning commodities will be made available in rural health units (RHUs) across the country in the coming weeks, Health Secretary Dr. Francisco Duque III said Thursday. "The Department of Health (DOH) intends to cascade all the family planning commodities to civil… Read More
ASEAN adopts declaration to combat anti-microbial resistance
November 16, 2017, 3:56 pm
MANILA -- Leaders of ASEAN member states have adopted the Declaration on Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR) as an outcome of the 31st ASEAN Summit, the Department of Health (DOH) announced Wednesday. "With the political commitment to combat AMR gathered from the Heads of the ASEAN member states, the… Read More
ASEAN Declaration adoption to end malnutrition: DOH
November 16, 2017, 3:42 pm
MANILA – ASEAN leaders have agreed to address problems on malnutrition with their adoption of the Declaration on Ending All Forms of Malnutrition during the 31st ASEAN Summit. In a statement issued Wednesday, the Department of Health (DOH) said the declaration embodies the highest level of… Read More
DOH considers TRO on contraceptives lifted
November 15, 2017, 4:02 pm
MANILA – With the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) clearance of 51 contraceptives as non-abortifacient, the Department of Health (DOH) considers as lifted the Supreme Court’s temporary restraining order (TRO) on subdermal implants, Implanon and Implanon NXT, an official said. "With the… Read More
Regular exercise staves off effects of brain aging
November 14, 2017, 1:04 pm
SYDNEY -- Regular exercise can increase the size of the human brain, a landmark Australian study has found. The research, published by Australia's National Institute of Complementary Medicine (NICM) at Western Sydney University on Tuesday, revealed that aerobic exercise can significantly improve… Read More
Contraceptives safe: FDA
November 14, 2017, 12:20 pm
MANILA -- The Food and Drug Administration (DFA) has declared 51 contraceptives, among them Implanon and Implanon NXT, as medically safe and non-abortifacient. Based on a resolution “on the applications for recertification filed by the Market Authorization Holders with opposition filed by… Read More
NCR, Region 3, 4-A hospitals on code blue for ASEAN Summit
November 12, 2017, 3:54 pm
MANILA -- The Department of Health (DOH) on Sunday placed all hospitals in the National Capital Region, Central Luzon and Calabarzon on blue alert in line with the country's hosting of the 31st ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings. "It will be elevated to Code Blue starting Sunday (today) until… Read More
DOH bats for ASEAN policy on disaster health woes
November 12, 2017, 1:42 pm
MANILA -- The Department of Health (DOH) on Saturday cited the need for ASEAN member states to come up with a policy to address anti-microbial resistance (AMR) and disaster health concerns in the region. "We need to come out with a policy among the different ASEAN member states on how to address… Read More
