Health & Wellness

The Department of Health (DOH) has taken another step toward strengthening mental health care in the Philippines with the inauguration of a new Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine and the Forensic Psychiatry Building at the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) in Mandaluyong City. Health Secretary Ted Herbosa led the ceremony on Wednesday, highlighting the government’s commitment to make advanced …

Around one million Filipinos are currently battling dementia, the Department of Health (DOH) revealed on Thursday, warning that the number could rise as the population continues to age. In an interview during World Alzheimer’s Month, DOH Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo said dementia affects about 10% of Filipino senior citizens, with Alzheimer’s disease as the leading cause. Other forms, such as …

A bigger waistline is often blamed on weight gain, belly fat, or bloating — but health experts caution it could also signal a life-threatening condition called abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). AAA happens when the main artery in the abdomen enlarges or bulges. If it ruptures, it can trigger massive internal bleeding and death within minutes. The Philippine Heart Association (PHA), …

A groundbreaking artificial intelligence (AI) tool is now capable of predicting a person’s risk of more than 1,000 diseases—sometimes up to 20 years before they occur. Published Wednesday in the journal Nature, the study introduces Delphi-2M, a modified language model that analyzes health records and lifestyle factors to estimate the likelihood of conditions such as cancer, skin disorders, and immune …

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) have introduced the Yaman ng Kalusugan Program (YAKAP) in Laguna to bring preventive health care closer to Filipino workers. Launched Tuesday at Yazaki-Torres Manufacturing Inc., the program was led by DOLE Secretary Bienvenido Laguesmaand PhilHealth Acting President and CEO Edwin Mercado. With the tagline “Malayo ka …

The Department of Health (DOH) on Saturday lauded President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for ordering the return of ₱60 billion surplus funds to the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), a move seen as a major boost to Universal Health Care (UHC). DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, who also chairs the PhilHealth Board, said the reinstated funds will expand health benefits, reduce …

Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa last week threw his support behind Senator Erwin Tulfo’s proposal to use the Medical Assistance for Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFP) fund to directly procure medicines and medical equipment for patients in need. In a video message aired over *Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon*, Herbosa called the proposal a timely and practical solution. “Ito po ay isang …

The Police Regional Office 1 (PRO-1) in Ilocos is putting a renewed focus on fitness as it pushes to meet the Philippine National Police’s five-minute emergency response target—and it starts with trimming down the ranks. According to PRO-1 officer-in-charge Brig. Gen. Dindo Reyes, 1,892 uniformed and non-uniformed personnel across the region have been classified as overweight or obese as of …

The Department of Health (DOH) has reminded local government units (LGUs) that the fight against malnutrition is a shared responsibility—and they are at the forefront of the battle. Speaking before over 200 mayors and local leaders at the Philippine Multisectoral Nutrition Project (PMNP) Mayor’s Forum 2025 held at SM Aura in Taguig, DOH Secretary Ted Herbosa emphasized the crucial role …

With dementia and Alzheimer’s disease quietly rising among Filipino senior citizens, United Senior Citizens (USC) party-list Rep. Milagros “Mila” Aquino-Magsaysay is sounding the alarm and urging Congress to pass a comprehensive national policy to confront the growing mental health crisis among the elderly. Speaking during a health conference held recently at the University of the Philippines Diliman Theater, Aquino-Magsaysay emphasized …