Health and Lifestyle
38 daily cases of HIV may affect blood supply quality: Gordon
June 11, 2019, 7:41 pm
MANILA -- Philippine Red Cross (PRC) chairperson and Senator Richard Gordon on Tuesday said the increasing number of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cases this year could affect the supply of quality blood products nationwide. According to the Department of Health's (DOH) latest HIV registry,… Read More
Duque urges PhilHealth stakeholders not to defraud system
June 11, 2019, 5:42 pm
MANILA -- Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Tuesday appealed to stakeholders of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) not to engage in any activity that would defraud its system. In a press briefing, Duque said there are many ways by which health care providers and professionals… Read More
Public warned vs. purchasing meds online
June 11, 2019, 3:01 pm
MANILA -- The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Monday warned the public on the significant risks associated with increased sales of medicines online. In a statement, the FDA said the purchase of medicines through the internet may lead to "serious side effects and health problems" if they are… Read More
Alleged P154-B overpayments are 'efficiency gains': PhilHealth
June 8, 2019, 1:51 pm
MANILA -- The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) on Saturday clarified that the alleged overpayments made in its claims amounting to PHP154 billion in the past six years are efficiency gains, a feature in the case rates payment system that the agency is implementing. In a… Read More
Biomarker predicts which pancreatic cysts may become cancerous
June 6, 2019, 4:46 pm
CHICAGO -- Testing fluid from cysts for a biomarker, an antibody called mAb Das-1, a research team led by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis has identified pancreatic cysts that likely become cancerous with 95 percent accuracy, as against current clinical… Read More
Group urges vigilance on tobacco tax hike implementation
June 5, 2019, 7:18 pm
MANILA -- Health advocates on Wednesday urged the public to be vigilant on the implementation of the higher tobacco tax bill. "We are happy on the approval of increased tobacco tax because it would decrease the number of new smokers and the Universal Health Care (UHC) program would have additional… Read More
Tobacco tax hike bill to save lives of 200K Filipinos
June 5, 2019, 5:53 pm
MANILA -- Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said Wednesday the approval of a bill raising the tobacco excise tax would save the lives of 200,000 Filipinos from the ill effects of smoking. "We are one step closer to enacting this bill that seeks higher tobacco excise taxes into law. On behalf of… Read More
EU vows continued support for PH's health projects
June 4, 2019, 1:53 pm
MANILA -- The European Union (EU) on Monday expressed its continued support to the Philippines to achieving universal health care (UHC) through its partnership with the World Health Organization. In his speech at the EU Health Programs presentation in Manila, EU Ambassador Dr. Franz Jessen said… Read More
Duque rallies public support for campaign vs. tobacco
June 3, 2019, 8:57 pm
MANILA -- Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque III on Monday urged the public anew to support the government's efforts to control tobacco use nationwide in celebration of the National No Smoking month. "The DOH, in coordination with the World Health Organization (WHO) and other… Read More
Pediatricians, youth group urge senators to pass tobacco tax hike
May 31, 2019, 6:22 pm
MANILA -- Pediatricians and health advocates on Thursday urged senators to protect the health of the Filipino youth by passing the bill on the tobacco tax hike. Dr. Riz Gonzalez, chair of the Philippine Pediatric Society – Tobacco Control Advocacy Group, said studies have proven that the most… Read More
WHO honors PH city for excellent tobacco control
May 30, 2019, 8:44 pm
MANILA – The World Health Organization (WHO) has named Iloilo City as one of the recipients of the 2019 World No Tobacco Day Awards for its outstanding work in tobacco control. In a statement on Thursday, the WHO Western Pacific region recognized Iloilo, a highly-urbanized city of Western… Read More
Older women taking 7.5K steps per day have lower mortality
May 30, 2019, 5:20 pm
WASHINGTON -- Many wearable devices or mobile apps set the daily step goal at 10,000 but its origin is unclear. A study on older women showed that 7,500 steps could be enough. The study published on Wednesday in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine showed that older women who took 4,400 steps per… Read More
Burnout not a medical condition: WHO
May 29, 2019, 5:38 pm
MANILA -- The World Health Organization (WHO) said “burnout” is not a medical condition but an occupational phenomenon. In a statement Tuesday, the WHO reported that burnout is included in the 11th Revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11), where it was described as one… Read More
Nat'l Geriatric Health: The need for an institutionalized center
May 28, 2019, 5:35 pm
MANILA -- With their wisdom and contributions to the country and to the economy, senior citizens are considered as the pillars and valuable members of every community. But needless to say, most of them are not properly cared for by their families and communities in their twilight years. Dr.… Read More
Higher alcohol, tobacco taxes to fund Universal Health Care: Duque
May 17, 2019, 9:23 pm
MANILA -- Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque III on Friday stressed the importance of passing the pending sin tax bills in the Senate to ensure sufficient funding for the Universal Health Care (UHC) program and improve health condition in the country. In a press brifieng at the… Read More
Monitor blood pressure at home: health experts
May 17, 2019, 3:21 pm
MANILA -- Health experts on Thursday encouraged the public to perform blood pressure monitoring at home amid the rising cases of hypertension among Filipinos. Dr. Leilanie Mercado-Asis, president of the Philippine Society of Hypertension, said early detection is important in the treatment and… Read More
Health dept exec to head FDA
May 17, 2019, 1:14 pm
MANILA -- The Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday expressed its support for President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s commitment to eradicate graft and corruption in all government agencies, following the termination of Charade Puno as head of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Undersecretary… Read More
Seek medical advice first before trying diet plans
May 16, 2019, 6:19 pm
MANILA -- As various types of fad diets and fitness programs become a trend, a health expert on Thursday reminded the public on Thursday to consult a doctor first before trying these diets. In an interview with the Philippine News Agency (PNA), Philippine Heart Association (PHA) president Nanette… Read More
Experts tackle medical care for elderly persons with cancer
May 15, 2019, 8:14 pm
MANILA -- Medical experts, doctors, scientists, academics and political leaders in Asia Pacific countries convened on Wednesday to formulate medical care policies for countries with increased cancer cases among older populations. In her keynote speech at the 2019 International Society of Geriartic… Read More
Neck, back pains can be symptoms of spinal arthritis: health expert
May 7, 2019, 6:39 pm
MANILA -- A health expert on Tuesday urged the public not to neglect severe and prolonged neck and back pains as they can be symptoms of Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS), a type of arthritis that attacks the spine. "All of us will develop some sort of back pain. For example, if you're working in a… Read More
