DOH Services Uninterrupted Despite US Aid Freeze, Assures Public
Department of Health (DoH)
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The Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday assured the public that its services will remain uninterrupted amid an executive order by United States (US) President Donald Trump ordering the freeze of any new international aid.
Trump issued a 90-day stop-work order last week on existing and new foreign development assistance.
"Secretary Teodoro J. Herbosa has been facilitating multilateral arrangements with various countries to support health systems strengthening activities towards universal health care (UHC) for many conditions of all Filipinos," DOH Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo told the press on Thursday.
"The delivery of health services by DOH and the expansion of PhilHealth benefit packages continue unimpeded," Domingo added.
This, however, was not the case for a local organization promoting the welfare of patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
On Wednesday, 29 January, LoveYourSelf Inc. announced that it is temporarily pausing the distribution of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and HIV self-testing kits.
PrEP is a medication that helps reduce HIV risks.
Trump ordered the stop of the supply of lifesaving drugs, including HIV medicines, to countries supported by the US Agency for International Development.
A big blow to the Philippines, as the country is recognized as one of the nations with the fastest-growing HIV epidemics in Asia.
There are about 190,000 persons living with HIV in the Philippines, according to data.
