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AC Health is training its medical staff and mobilizing its integrated network of clinics, hospitals, and importation business to help curb the HIV epidemic.
MANILA – In support of the Department of Health’s (DOH) call to declare HIV a national public health emergency, AC Health is mobilizing its integrated healthcare network to help curb the alarming rise in HIV cases across the country.
Central to AC Health’s response is the push for proactive HIV screening in workplaces, schools, and communities.
In a video statement released Tuesday, Health Secretary Ted Herbosa reported a staggering 500% increase in HIV cases among individuals aged 15 to 25. From just six reported cases daily in 2010, the DOH now records between 40 and 57 new cases each day—underscoring the urgent need for a whole-of-society approach to address the growing epidemic.
Meanwhile, Dr. Beverly Ho, AC Health’s Chief Health Officer and a public health expert, emphasized the critical role the private sector can play in expanding access to HIV prevention, screening, treatment, and counseling.
“The government and civil society organizations have made significant progress in addressing the HIV epidemic,” Dr. Ho said. “But with this looming public health emergency, the private sector must step up to complement existing efforts and help scale proven interventions.”
Last year, AC Health signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to expand HIV care in the Philippines. With USAID gradually scaling down its HIV initiatives, AC Health aims to strengthen its role by broadening access to stigma-free care and lifesaving services across its network.
Mobilizing an Integrated Ecosystem
To drive awareness and normalize screening, AC Health is offering HIV health literacy programs across its network of over 220 corporate clinics. The company also plans to roll out free HIV screening services in these clinics in the coming months.
“Workplace-based screening provides a convenient way for employees to get tested,” Dr. Ho explained. “Early detection and proper treatment allow people living with HIV to lead long, healthy, and productive lives. That is our vision for the Filipino workforce.”
HIV screening is also available in 16 Healthway Multi-specialty Clinics located in key cities nationwide.
In partnership with Pilipinas Shell Foundation, AC Health trained 40 frontline medical professionals—including nurses and pharmacists—in HIV counseling last May. Another batch of 40 will undergo training this June, further equipping AC Health teams to respond effectively to patient needs.
“We are open to partner with educational institutions,” Dr. Ho added. “HIV is affecting younger Filipinos at an alarming rate. Schools are a critical front in raising awareness and starting proactive screening.”
Through the Healthway Medical Network, AC Health also offers HIV treatment services. Healthway QualiMed Hospital in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan—a DOH-designated treatment hub and PhilHealth-accredited facility—provides both inpatient and outpatient HIV care. The company also ensures access to essential medicines and lifesaving technologies through its pharmaceutical distribution companies, I.E. Medica and MedEthix.
About AC Health
Established in 2015, Ayala Healthcare Holdings, Inc. (AC Health) aims to provide every Filipino accessible, affordable, and quality healthcare. Its portfolio includes Generika Drugstore, the pioneer in generic retail pharmacies; IE Medica and MedEthix, a major pharmaceutical importer and distributor; Healthway Medical Network, a network of multi-specialty clinics, ambulatory centers, and full-service hospitals; and St. Joseph Drug, a leading retail pharmacy in North and Central Luzon. Through its pillars of pharma, hospitals, and clinics, AC Health creates a seamless and integrated healthcare ecosystem for the Filipino patient.
