Latest news with #DOH
GMA Network
a day ago
- Health
- GMA Network
DOH concerned over rising chronic kidney disease cases among children
The Department of Health said the cases of chronic kidney disease are rising. The Department of Health (DOH) has raised concern over the increasing number of chronic kidney disease (CKD) cases in the Philippines, including among children, prompting a renewed call to strengthen primary care and prevention programs nationwide. 'Tama iyan ano, mayroon ding bata na nakita si Presidente kanina doon sa dialysis center,' said DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa during a Malacañang press briefing on Wednesday. (That's right, the President even saw a child at the dialysis center earlier.) President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has since ordered the development of a CKD prevention program to address the root causes of the disease, such as diabetes and hypertension. 'Ang CKD natin ngayon karamihan dahil sa diabetes at hypertension... inatasan ako na palakasin iyong primary care prevention part,' Herbosa said. (Most of our CKD cases today are due to diabetes and hypertension… the President instructed me to strengthen our primary care prevention.) He also pointed to the need for lifestyle changes, especially among the youth. 'Mataas siguro iyong sugar content ng ating mga kinakain, gawan ng paraan para mabawasan ito... iyong ating mga kabataan mabigyan ng tamang ehersisyo or active,' he added. (Maybe our food has too much sugar—we need to find ways to reduce it… our young people need proper exercise and physical activity.) Herbosa emphasized that encouraging healthy habits is more cost-effective in the long run: 'Kapag ang tao ay kumakain nang tama, hindi masyadong matatamis, hindi magkaka-diabetes iyan. Kapag hindi nagka-diabetes iyan, hindi magkakaroon ng chronic kidney disease.' (If a person eats properly and avoids too much sugar, they won't get diabetes. Without diabetes, they won't develop chronic kidney disease.) Meanwhile, PhilHealth president and CEO Dr. Edwin Mercado said the agency has allocated around ?300 billion for its total benefit packages in 2025, which includes support for kidney transplant patients and dialysis services. 'Ang huli po naming tantiya ay aabot na po ng mga ?300 billion po ang aming total benefit package na nakalaan po ngayong taong ito,' Mercado confirmed. (Our latest estimate is that the total benefit package for this year will reach about ?300 billion.) PhilHealth's benefit budget for 2026 is currently being planned, with projections based on disease prevalence and expected program expansion. Mercado also addressed concerns about coverage under PhilHealth's Z Benefit Package, which includes kidney transplants. For ward patients, the package fully covers the procedure, including professional fees. For private room patients, the coverage is negotiated with doctors and may require additional agreements between patient and provider. 'Iyong tinatawag namin na Z Package... kapag po doon sa mga ward accommodation... dapat po ay wala nang babayaran,' Mercado said. (In the Z Package, when the procedure is done in ward accommodation, there should be no more out-of-pocket costs.) 'For private [rooms], it's negotiated with doctors… substantially, yes [doctor's fees are covered],' he added, clarifying that excess charges must be discussed before the procedure. Asked about proposed amendments to the Universal Health Care Act—which may reduce PhilHealth premiums from 5% to 3–3.5%—Mercado confirmed that impact studies are underway. 'Gumawa po kami ng pag-aaral... may 3.5%, may 4%, may 4.5%, may 5%—at tiningnan po namin iyong impact doon sa lifespan po ng pondo,' he said. (We conducted studies with various scenarios—3.5%, 4%, 4.5%, 5%—and evaluated their impact on the fund's sustainability.) To ensure continuity of services, PhilHealth is also enhancing internal systems to fast-track claim processing and reduce turnaround times. 'Ramdam po nila iyong pag-iigsi ng claims cycle po namin,' Mercado said, noting improvements from 40-day processing to an average of 23 days in many regions, with some achieving 15 days. PhilHealth is now targeting a seven-day processing time and is working with partner banks to shift from weekly to daily claim disbursements. As part of broader reforms, PhilHealth is reprocessing nearly ?9 billion worth of previously denied claims, especially those filed late between 2018 and 2024. The current rate of denied or returned claims has dropped from over 10% to around 4%. 'Ngayon po na medyo nahabol na natin, iyon naman pong pabalik ang aming tutukan,' Mercado said. (Now that we've addressed incoming claims, we'll shift focus to backlogs from previous years.)—LDF, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
a day ago
- Health
- GMA Network
No cases yet of new COVID-19 variant Nimbus in PH
Swab samples for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) tests are pictured in Berlin, Germany September 22, 2020. REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke/File Photo There are no reported cases yet of the new COVID-19 variant NB.1.8.1, also known as 'Nimbus,' in the Philippines, according to Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Teodoro Herbosa on Thursday. At a Palace press briefing, Herbosa said that while the new variant is being monitored globally—especially in some Southeast Asian countries—the Philippines has yet to detect a single case. 'Wala pa akong nakuhang report but now we will be monitoring that now that's reported,'' Herbosa said. (I haven't received any report yet, but we will be monitoring now that it has been reported.) The DOH, through its Epidemiology Bureau, is keeping a close watch on COVID-19 cases in light of the rainy season, which typically coincides with a rise in influenza-like illnesses. 'Itong NB.1.8.1, or 'Nimbus,' ang sinasabi nila, and it was the one causing the drive in countries in Southeast Asia,' Herbosa said. (This NB.1.8.1, or 'Nimbus,' as they call it, is the one driving the surge in some Southeast Asian countries.) The 'Nimbus' variant, according to a report by the Associated Press, is said to cause a painful symptom described as 'razor blade throat.' Herbosa assured the public that existing COVID-19 vaccines still provide protection against this new variant. 'It seems yung vaccines na binigay before are still effective on them. So, if you were vaccinated during the previous COVID pandemic, you are still protected,' he said. (It seems the vaccines given before are still effective against it. So, if you were vaccinated during the previous COVID pandemic, you are still protected.) Herbosa noted that there has been no significant increase in local COVID-19 cases but emphasized the importance of surveillance. 'We're monitoring our COVID cases kasi nga season natin ng influenza-like illnesses, and COVID is one of those.' (We're monitoring our COVID cases because this is the season for influenza-like illnesses, and COVID is one of them.) The DOH is coordinating with other countries and conducting genome sequencing to detect possible entry of new variants. ''Yan yung importance na nagri-report 'yung ibang countries what their variant is. So, that means magsa-surveillance kami. We will select samples at paggagawa namin sa RITM (Research Institute for Tropical Medicine) 'yung genome sequencing para malaman namin kung 'yung variant na 'yan lumalabas na dito,'' Herbosa said. (That's why it's important for other countries to report their variants. It means we will begin surveillance. We will select samples and do genome sequencing at RITM to find out if that variant is already present here.) The DOH has yet to issue any advisory specific to the new variant but urges the public to continue observing precautions, especially during the flu season. — VBL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
3 days ago
- Health
- GMA Network
DepEd, DOH aligns curriculum to address HIV spike among Filipino youth
With enrollees reaching 7,222 students at 7 a.m. on Monday, June 16, 2025, the first day of School Year 2025-2026, Tenement Elementary School in Taguig City had to use temporary partitions to divide classrooms for pupils. SHERYLIN UNTALAN/GMA Integrated News The Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of Health (DOH) have collaborated to prepare an aligned curriculum for Filipino learners with the goal of addressing the rise in HIV cases and other critical issues affecting the youth. "Nag-align kami ng curriculum dahil ang findings namin, mas bata ang tinatamaan ng HIV (We aligned the curriculum because our findings show HIV infections among younger Filipinos)," said Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa during a joint field assessment with Education Secretary Sonny Angara on Wednesday. Filipinos aged 15 to 24 now account for 30% of the 57 new daily infections in the country, DOH data from January to March 2025 showed. At the basic education level, this age group overlaps with junior high school learners in Grade 10 and senior high school students from Grades 11 to 12. The cooperation of the two agencies is in line with President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s directive to strengthen inter-agency efforts for student health, particularly as classes reopen for School Year 2025–2026. Read: Cover Story | Overcoming HIV: Hope Rises Between Two Red Lines "Pinapriority talaga ni Pangulo ang edukasyon... instruction niya na magsama-sama ang mga ahensya para yung pagbukas ng klase, kalusugan ng ating mga anak at pati na rin ng ating mga guro ay inaalagaan po ng gobyerno," Angara said. (The President prioritizes education... his instruction is that agencies work together for the opening of classes.) Nutrition, pregnancy, road safety Aside from HIV education, the curriculum now also integrates discussions key health issues on mental health, unplanned pregnancy, road safety, and nutrition. Herbosa noted that these health concerns may also be contributing to the broader learning crisis observed in the country. "Some of it is the cause of learning crisis," he said, adding that, "Some of it is stunting because of undernutrition… Pumapasok, walang pagkain (They come to school without food)." In response, the DepEd has expanded its school feeding program to provide meals not just for undernourished students, but to all young learners at the entry level. The DepEd and DOH are also monitoring and responding to potential health outbreaks in schools, especially with the onset of the rainy season. "[Kung] May clustering of cases sa isang school, pinupuntahan ng aming regional office kaagad 'yan (Our regional offices immediately go to areas where there are clustering of health cases)," Herbosa added. As cases of HIV and other diseases continue to climb, both agencies reaffirmed their commitment to protecting students not just academically, but physically and emotionally as well. "Tutukan talaga 'yung kalusugan ng mga bata (Focus will be on children's health)," Angara said. Earlier this moth, the DOH reported that the number of young Filipinos infected with human immunodeficiency virus has increased by 500% prompting the agency to request for the declaration of a national public health emergency for HIV. Herbosa had expressed concern that if the trend is not be stopped, the number of people in the Philippines living with HIV could reach 400,000. Based on available figures as of June 2025, there are 148,831 cases of HIV in the Philippines. The DOH earlier said that in the first three months of the 2025, a total of 5,101 HIV cases were confirmed. This was higher than the 3,409 confirmed cases the same period in 2024. — VDV, GMA Integrated News HIV, AIDS, HIV infections, DOH, DepEd, school opening
GMA Network
5 days ago
- Health
- GMA Network
Road safety group calls for 30 kph speed limit in urban areas
The Department of Health (DOH) is calling for stricter implementation of laws involving road safety, while a road safety advocacy group called for a lower speed limit on urban roads. According to the DOH, road accidents are the fifth leading cause of death in the country, and the top cause of death for children to 29 years of age. 'Tumaas pa from 2022 to 2023 ang road deaths so ako, to me, baka lax 'yung ating implementation,' DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said in a report by Bernadette Reyes on GMA's '24 Oras Weekend' on Sunday. 'Isa 'yun sa mga dapat gawin, enforcement. May batas na. The laws are there, but enforcing of the law,' he added. (Road deaths increased further from 2022 to 2023 so to me, maybe the implementation is lax… That is one of the things that has to be done, enforcement. There are already laws. The laws are there, but enforcing the law.) For its part, the Move as One Coalition is calling for the government to implement a 30-kilometer-per-hour speed limit in urban areas, which it says could lessen fatalities. 'Thirty kilometers per hour speed limit in urban roads is the number one recommendation. Bakit? Ni-research nila [They researched it] and they found it will actually reduce road fatalities by about 40%. Ang laking bagay nito [This is a big thing],' co-convenor Robert Siy said in the same report. GMA Integrated News is trying to reach the MMDA for comment. — Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas/BM, GMA Integrated News
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Three counties in NM potentially exposed to measles
Jun. 13—Health officials said Friday that residents in three New Mexico counties have potentially been exposed to measles by way of two travelers who were diagnosed with the disease during their visit to the state. People in Bernalillo, Santa Fe and Sandoval counties may have been exposed by one adult with an unknown vaccination status, along with an 18-month-old child with an age-appropriate vaccination, the New Mexico Department of Health (DOH) said in a news release. The two were traveling separately and have since left New Mexico, said David Morgan, public information officer for the DOH. When there has been a potential mass exposure, the DOH seeks information to determine which public areas a person with measles has visited. "In addition to providing locations for potential exposure, we provide the public with what symptoms they need to be aware of and guidelines on what actions to consider taking if they suspect they may have contracted measles," Morgan told the Journal. Measles symptoms begin with a cough, runny nose and red eyes before progressing to a fever and rash. In the latest health alert, the DOH warned that there may have been an exposure risk at the following times and locations: —Monday, June 2, from 1-4 p.m. at the Rio Rancho Aquatic Center, 745 Loma Colorado NE. —Thursday, June 5, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Walmart Supercenter, 5701 Herrera Drive, in Santa Fe. —Friday, June 6, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Walmart Supercenter, 2550 Coors NW, in Albuquerque, and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at El Super, 4201 Central NW, in Albuquerque. —Tuesday, June 10, from 9:30 a.m. to 1:40 p.m. at the University of New Mexico Hospital Adult Urgent Care, 2211 Lomas NE, in Albuquerque, and from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Albuquerque International Sunport main terminal, TSA security checkpoint, Terminal A, Gate A6. "These two cases remind us that travel remains an exposure risk when it comes to this contagious virus," said Dr. Miranda Durham, the NMDOH chief medical officer. "The measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine remains the best protection against measles." New Mexico's total measles case count stood at 81 as of Friday.
