Health and Lifestyle

DOH receives US-donated testing cartridges for HIV detection

MANILA – The Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday received PHP85 million worth of HIV viral load testing cartridges from the US government in celebration of the Worlds AIDS Day.“These laboratory tests [cartridges] are further proof that the US government is committed to working... Read More

SSS to release 13-month pay, monthly benefits 1st week of Dec.

MANILA – The Social Security System (SSS) is set to release the 13th month benefit and the monthly pension of its eligible members as early as the first week of December.In a statement on Thursday, SSS president and chief executive officer Michael Regino noted that around PHP29.74 billion... Read More

Experimental drug slows progression of Alzheimer’s: study

ANKARA – The experimental drug lecanemab has the "potential" to serve as treatment at early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, according to new trial results.The drug’s developers, Biogen from the US and Eisai from Japan, published results of the study on Tuesday showing the drug as... Read More

More hand, foot and mouth disease cases reported in Albay

LEGAZPI CITY – The Department of Health (DOH) 5 (Bicol) continues to encourage individuals, particularly parents with children, to strictly follow the minimum public health standards after an increasing number of cases of hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) were recorded.In a press conference... Read More

Covid-19 cases may reach 2.3K per day by end of December: DOH

MANILA – The country’s tally of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) infections could be as high as 2,294 per day by the end of December, according to the Department of Health’s (DOH) projection.In a Kapihan forum on Tuesday, DOH Epidemiology Bureau Director Dr. Alethea de Guzman... Read More

WHO renames monkeypox as ‘mpox’ to avoid stigma

GENEVA – To avoid racist stereotypes and stigmatization, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended on Monday that the monkeypox virus be renamed "mpox."Both names -- mpox and monkeypox -- will be used simultaneously for one year while the latter is phased out, the WHO said in a press... Read More

No evidence that BQ.1 causes severe Covid-19

MANILA – There is no proof showing that the Omicron BQ.1 subvariant causes more severe type of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), an infectious disease expert said Monday.In a televised public briefing, Department of Health (DOH) Technical Advisory Group member Dr. Edsel Salvaña... Read More

DOH assures RITM personnel employment in proposed CDC

MANILA – The Department of Health (DOH) has assured personnel of the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) that they would not lose their jobs once the bill on the establishment Center for Disease Control is enacted into law.“We assure our personnel in RITM, nobody will lose... Read More

DOH detects 1st 14 cases of BQ.1 in PH

MANILA – The Department of Health (DOH) on Friday confirmed that it has detected the “highly transmissible and immune-evasive” Omicron BQ.1 subvariant in the country.In a media forum, DOH officer in charge Maria Rosario Vergeire reported 14 new cases of the BQ.1 subvariant have... Read More

DOH studies benefits of 3rd booster, bivalent jabs as add'l dose

MANILA – The Department of Health (DOH) is still looking into pieces of evidence showing the benefits of administering a third booster shot of the Covid-19 vaccine.In a media briefing on Friday, DOH officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said the government ensures the effectiveness and... Read More

PH's 153rd Malasakit Center opens at OFW Hospital in Pampanga

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – The 153rd Malasakit Center was launched on Thursday at the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) Hospital here to the medical and health needs of migrant workers and their families.Department of Health (DOH) officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Singh-Vergeire, together... Read More

PHAPI recommends extension of state of calamity due to Covid-19

MANILA – The Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines, Inc. (PHAPI) has recommended the extension of the national state of calamity due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), set to expire in December.“Sa tingin po natin dapat ituloy pa iyan kahit siguro until the first... Read More

NCR Covid-19 positivity rate spikes to 9.2%: OCTA

MANILA – The weekly positivity rate or the number of people testing positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), in the National Capital Region (NCR) increased to 9.2 percent as of November 22.Over Twitter on Wednesday, OCTA Research Group fellow Guido David said the figure marks a... Read More

Diabetes top cause of peripheral neuropathy: health experts

MANILA – Diabetes mellitus is the leading cause of peripheral neuropathy, a condition characterized by damage of nerves outside the brain and spinal cord, worldwide.During the “Winning the Fight Against Neuropathy in Diabetic Patients” forum on Nov. 10, Central Manchester... Read More

Advocacy body raises alarm as Baguio sees soaring HIV cases

BAGUIO CITY – The city's advocacy body on Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) has raised alarm amid an increase in cases of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in this summer capital."As of August 2022, there were 544 active cases recorded," Dr. Celiaflor Brillantes, assistant city... Read More

Study state of public health emergency lifting carefully: expert

MANILA – The lifting of the state of public emergency due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) by year-end must be studied thoroughly, an infectious diseases expert said Tuesday.In a televised public briefing, Dr. Rontgene Solante emphasized that placing the country under a state of... Read More

DOH primary care van brings services to Pangasinan communities

MANAOAG, Pangasinan – Some 420 residents of this town have availed of free services of the Department of Health (DOH)'s primary care van.In an interview on Tuesday, Gina Gomez, one of the beneficiaries, said the van has saved her time and money."I usually go to Region 1 Medical Center in... Read More

Pharmaceutical firms urged to report alleged anomalies in FDA

MANILA – Pharmaceutical companies are urged to report alleged anomalies in the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).This, after Senator Raffy Tulfo claimed in a Senate hearing last Nov. 18 that some FDA officials are asking PHP5 million to PHP20 million from pharmaceutical companies for the... Read More

DOH rallies health sector vs. antimicrobial resistance

MANILA – The health sector is urged to support the fight against the growing problem of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) through adoption of global strategies and tools.In her speech at the Philippine Antimicrobial Awareness Week 2022 (PAAW 2022), Department of Health officer-in-charge Maria... Read More

DOH exceeds 100% infant immunization target in NCR

MANILA – The Department of Health (DOH), through its Metro Manila Center for Health Development, has inoculated over 137,701 infants against vaccine preventable diseases (VPDs) in the National Capital Region (NCR).In a statement on Tuesday, the DOH said the achievement is part of its... Read More