Government opens more HIV treatment hubs

MANILA, Philippines - The government has opened six more satellite treatment hubs to provide services for a growing number of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients nationwide.

In an advisory, the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) announced that four accredited health care institutions (HCIs) and two non-PhilHealth accredited HCIs are now open for outpatient HIV/AIDS treatment.

PhilHealth said the Department of Health (DOH) opted to set up the satellite treatment hubs to increase the access of PhilHealth members and their dependents to the service.

The accredited centers are Klinika Bernardo in Quezon City, Marikina City Health Office, General Santos District Hospital, and Dr. Rafael S. Tumbokan Memorial Hospital. These facilities shall no longer apply for a separate accreditation for outpatient HIV treatment services.

The non-PhilHealth treatment hubs are the Manila Social Hygiene Clinic and Cebu City Social Hygiene Clinic.

The DOH earlier designated 22 treatment hubs nationwide.

Based on DOH data, there are 10,629 people living with HIV undergoing anti-retroviral therapy as of June. The figure excludes patients who were previously taking antiretroviral drugs  but have died, left the country, or opted not to take ARV anymore.

The DOH has recorded a total of 26,456 HIV cases, including 2,287 that have progressed into full-blown AIDS, since 1984.