Health and Lifestyle
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
Health chief seeks to boost vaccination rate for kids
November 11, 2017, 7:12 am
MANILA – Health Secretary Dr. Francisco Duque III has sought the help of various stakeholders in improving the vaccination rate for children, which was at 70 percent in 2016, far from the health department’s target. "Today, our vaccination coverage for fully immunized children or FIC is far… Read More
Low calorie diet may help reverse type 2 diabetes
November 10, 2017, 12:35 pm
WASHINGTON -- A US study released Thursday revealed how a very low-calorie diet can rapidly reverse type 2 diabetes in rats. If confirmed in people, the insight provides potential new drug targets for treating this common chronic disease, said the researchers, according to the study published in… Read More
FDA warns vs. fake Safeguard soaps
November 9, 2017, 7:50 pm
MANILA -- The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning the public against purchasing and using counterfeit Safeguard Family Germ Protection Pure White 60-g. soap bars that are proliferating in the local market. In its Advisory No. 2017-291, the FDA said the fake Safeguard soaps could be… Read More
Big drug rehab centers could be ‘reconfigured’: Duque
November 9, 2017, 4:10 pm
MANILA – Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said his department is open to the idea of "reconfiguring" the mega drug rehabilitation center in Nueva Ecija province. "Yung malalaking (The large) drug rehab centers should probably be reconfigured so they can provide services for the more… Read More
Breast cancer may return even years after treatment: study
November 9, 2017, 11:19 am
WASHINGTON -- Women with a type of breast cancer fueled by estrogen still face a substantial risk of cancer returning or spreading, even 15 years after they finished standard treatment for the disease, a new study said Wednesday. Researchers from an international collaboration known as the Early… Read More
Aussie scientists develop drug to reduce obesity
November 9, 2017, 10:58 am
SYDNEY -- Australian researchers have uncovered a drug that has the potential to reverse the negative effects of maternal obesity. The drug, known as NMN, increases energy metabolism and could provide the same benefits as exercise in the fight against obesity in children born to overweight… Read More
Advocates seek budget for mental health
November 8, 2017, 6:34 pm
MANILA – Advocates have asked Congress to hasten the passage of the proposed Philippine Mental Health Law and to include specific budgetary provisions to ensure its successful implementation. Citing global statistics, Dr. June Lopez of the Philippine Psychiatric Association (PPA) said one in 20… Read More
Duque okays use of medical cannabis for research
November 8, 2017, 12:51 pm
MANILA – Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said his department approves of the use of medical marijuana for research purposes and in line with the provisions of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). "It is very important that we emphasize that in terms of what the FDA is allowed to do, it… Read More
