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 …
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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 …
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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 …
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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 …
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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 …
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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 …
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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. …
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A bigger waistline is often blamed on weight gain or bloating, but health experts warn it may also point to a life-threatening condition called abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). In a recent public advisory, the Philippine Heart Association (PHA) said AAA occurs when the abdominal aorta—the body’s main artery in the abdomen—bulges or enlarges. If it ruptures, it can cause massive …
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The Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education (MBHTE) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to integrate Comprehensive Gender and Health Education for Youth (CGHEY) into the education system of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) from 2025 to 2028. CGHEY will be mainstreamed across basic education, alternative learning systems, …
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The Research Institute for Tropical Medicine’s (RITM) Schistosomiasis National Reference Laboratory (SjNRL) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ (DENR) Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (ERDB) joined forces to train DENR field personnel on schistosomiasis prevention and response. The training, held recently at the Watershed and Water Resources Research, Development and Extension Center (WWRRDEC) in Baguio City, gathered 23 …
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