Health & Wellness

By Tracy Cabrera The appointment of Dr. Jose Brittanio Pujalte Jr. as Secretary of the Department of Health (DoH) has raised hopes that long-awaited reforms will finally improve access to quality healthcare for millions of Filipinos. A respected orthopedic surgeon and former executive director of the Philippine Orthopedic Center, Pujalte assumes office as the country’s health sector continues to grapple …

While a balanced diet and regular exercise have long been regarded as the cornerstones of a long and healthy life, health and wellness advocates say physical fitness is only part of the equation. Experts are increasingly highlighting the role of mental and emotional well-being in promoting longevity, with principles inspired by Stoic philosophy gaining renewed attention. They argue that staying …

Japanese biotechnology startup PorMedTec is moving closer to bringing pig-to-human kidney transplants into clinical practice, with plans to launch the country’s first human trials in 2028 and seek conditional regulatory approval the following year. The Kanagawa-based company said it expects the initial clinical studies to be conducted at Hokkaido University Hospital and Shonan Kamakura General Hospital, marking Japan’s first clinical …

Health authorities are aiming to vaccinate more than 437,000 children across the Negros Island Region (NIR) next month as part of a nationwide campaign to curb the continued spread of measles and rubella. The Department of Health (DOH)-NIR said 437,586 children aged six to 59 months are targeted under the Measles-Rubella Supplemental Immunization Activity (MR-SIA) scheduled from Aug. 10 to …

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infections in the Philippines have dropped by 70 percent so far this year, although health authorities continue to urge the public to remain vigilant against the virus and other respiratory illnesses. The Department of Health (DOH) said recently that the country recorded 1,532 confirmed COVID-19 cases from Jan. 4 to July 11, 2026, significantly lower than …

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday inspected the newly inaugurated Department of Health–Jose B. Lingad Children’s Medical Center in Clark, describing the facility as another milestone in the administration’s drive to bring specialized healthcare closer to Filipinos outside Metro Manila. Accompanied by First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos, the President toured the hospital’s pediatric ward, respiratory unit and laboratory before leading …

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday completed the nationwide distribution of patient transport vehicles (PTVs) after leading the turnover of 34 units to local government units (LGUs) in Northern and Central Luzon and the Cordillera Administrative Region. The ceremonial turnover at the Pampanga Capitol marked the completion of the government’s provincial rollout of emergency medical transport vehicles. “We have …

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 …