Health & Wellness

More Filipinos are now seeking hospital care without fear of medical debt, thanks to the Department of Health’s (DOH) Zero Balance Billing (ZBB) program, which guarantees that patients in government hospitals pay nothing out of pocket for covered services. In an interview on Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon Friday, DOH Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo reported a 10 to 15 percent increase in hospital access …

The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) is stepping up its campaign for the early detection of breast cancer this October, in observance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to strengthen healthcare access across the country. PhilHealth President and Chief Executive Officer Edwin Mercado urged women to take advantage of the agency’s …

Pneumonia, a disease that can be easily prevented through vaccination, has emerged as the Philippines’ fourth leading cause of death, claiming more than 46,000 lives from January to July this year, health experts warned on Thursday. “As a highly preventable disease, pneumonia should not be claiming this many lives anymore,” said Dr. Rontgene Solante, an infectious disease specialist at San …

Rivals on the basketball court but allies in nation-building, the University of the Philippines Manila (UPM), Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU), and De La Salle University (DLSU) have joined forces to strengthen healthcare and health education across Southeast Asia. In a news release on Thursday, UPM said the three universities—each holding identical 4-3 standings in the first round of UAAP …

The Department of Health (DOH) reported a 25-percent decline in influenza-like illness (ILI) cases nationwide over the past two weeks, even as the country continues to experience its seasonal rise in flu infections. In an advisory posted Monday, the DOH said its latest surveillance data recorded 6,457 ILI cases from September 28 to October 11, 2025—significantly lower than the 8,628 …

Simple dietary changes—such as adding kiwis, rye bread, and mineral-rich water to one’s diet—may help relieve chronic constipation, according to new international guidelines published in the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics and Neurogastroenterology & Motility. The study noted that about one in every six to seven people worldwide suffers from chronic constipation. In the United States alone, an estimated 9 to 20 …

Japan’s health ministry has approved the over-the-counter (OTC) sale of the emergency contraceptive pill Norlevo, marking the first time such a drug can be purchased without a prescription in the country. The pill, manufactured by Aska Pharmaceutical Co., is expected to become available as early as this fiscal year, according to a person familiar with the matter. Norlevo is effective in preventing …

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday visited the Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center (ITRMC) and San Agustin Elementary School in San Fernando City, La Union, to extend financial and relief assistance. At ITRMC, the President checked on patients and assessed the implementation of the government’s zero balance billing policy, according to Palace Press Officer Claire Castro. He also …

The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) has released over ₱195.21 billion in benefit claims from January to August 2025, marking an 84.35 percent increase from the same period last year. Data showed private healthcare institutions received the biggest share at ₱114.63 billion, while government hospitals accounted for ₱80.58 billion. In 2024, PhilHealth disbursed a total of ₱105.89 billion for the …

The World Health Organization (WHO) clarified last week that there is no conclusive scientific evidence linking the use of paracetamol during pregnancy to autism, dismissing a claim made by US President Donald Trump. In a statement, the UN health agency said nearly 62 million people worldwide—about one in 127—live with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a condition that affects brain development. …