DOH eyes more treatment hubs for HIV patients

MANILA, Philippines – More treatment centers for HIV and AIDS will be set up nationwide to give the growing number of patients free anti-retroviral therapy (ART).

However, Lyndon Lee Suy, Department of Health (DOH) spokesman, said the existing 19 treatment centers nationwide are sufficient since only few HIV/AIDS patients are availing of free ART.

“In order to provide patients more access (to ART), there is no reason why we will not open new treatment hubs,” he said.

Lee Suy said the DOH continues to encourage the public to get tested and those found positive for the infection to avail of ART services.

“But again, it is their choice to make, not ours,” he said.

Based on the August 2014 Philippine HIV/AIDS Registry report, a total of 7,380 people with HIV are enrolled and accessing the ART drugs. That number excludes those who have died, have left the country and those who stopped getting the treatment.

Lee Suy the DOH hopes more HIV/AIDS patients would avail of the treatment readily available from the government.

“It would be best if all (with HIV) will avail of the ART,” he said.

Since 1984, the country has already recorded a total of 20,424 HIV cases nationwide, including 1,052 deaths.

“If we see an increase in the number of HIV cases in a certain area and there is only one treatment hub there, we will not hesitate to give them additional access to ART,” he said.

The current ART treatment hubs are in Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center, Cagayan Valley Medical Center, Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center, Jose B. Lingad Medical Center, James Gordon Memorial Hospital, Makati Medical Center, Philippine General Hospital, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, San Lazaro Hospital and the Medical City.

ART treatment centers are also in Bicol Regional Training and Teaching Hospital, Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital, Western Visayas Medical Center, Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital, Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, Zamboanga City Medical Center, Southern Philippines Medical Center, Northern Mindanao Medical Center, and Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center. –Mayen Jaymalin (The Philippine Star)