Senator Risa Hontiveros raised concern over reports that HIV treatment hubs have been forced to stretch their supply of antiretroviral drugs due to delayed and insufficient deliveries in the country.
Hontiveros said the reported shortage of ARV drugs places the health and lives of people living with HIV at risk, stressing that treatment must not be interrupted.
“Nakakabahala marinig ang mga ulat na napipilitan ang mga HIV treatment hubs na pagkasyahin ang antiretroviral o ARV drugs para sa kanilang mga pasyente dahil sa delayed at kulang ang supply ng gamot sa bansa,” Hontiveros said.
“Kalusugan at buhay ang nakataya dito, kaya dapat kumikilos na ang gobyerno para agad na mapunan ang shortage ng ARVs at maiwasan na mahinto ang gamutan ng mga PLHIV. Hindi pwedeng paputol-putol at dapat araw-araw ang kanilang pag-inom ng ARV para manatili silang malusog,” she added.
Hontiveros urged the Department of Health to ensure that the supplier fulfills its commitment to deliver the ARV drugs and distribute them to treatment hubs as soon as possible.
“Ang priority ngayon para mapawi ang pangamba ng mga PLHIV: Siguraduhin ng DOH na tutuparin ng supplier ang pangako nitong ma-deliver ang ARV drugs at maipamigay ito sa mga treatment hubs sa lalong madaling panahon,” she said.
The senator also said the government must pursue all available remedies to secure the medicines already procured for public use.
“All available contractual, legal, and logistical remedies must be pursued to secure the government-procured medicines. Kailangang may managot sa nangyaring delay at dapat hindi na lalong magtagal pa ang delivery ng gamot,” Hontiveros said.
She also called on PhilHealth to speed up the processing of claims for Outpatient HIV/AIDS Treatment, or OHAT, and clarify to treatment hubs how the program may be used to ensure that treatment will not be disrupted.
“Kailangan ring pabilisin ng PhilHealth ang processing ng claims para sa Outpatient HIV/AIDS Treatment (OHAT), linawin sa mga treatment hubs kung paano pwedeng gamitin ang OHAT para hindi maputol ang gamutan, at tiyakin walang PLHIV ang hindi mabibigyan ng gamutan dahil sa delay sa financing o paperwork,” she said.
Hontiveros said the government should provide transparent updates to affected communities, improve forecasting and procurement, strengthen inventory monitoring, and allow inter-hub redistribution when necessary.
“The government must also give transparent updates to affected communities, improve forecasting and procurement, strengthen inventory monitoring, and facilitate inter-hub redistribution when needed,” she said.
She emphasized that the Philippine HIV and AIDS Policy Act, or Republic Act 11166, mandates free, accessible, continuous, and dignified HIV treatment and care.
“Klaro ang mandato ng pinasa nating Philippine HIV and AIDS Policy Act o RA 11166: Dapat libre, accessible, tuloy-tuloy, at dignified ang HIV treatment and care,” Hontiveros said.
She said the reported shortage should not be dismissed, warning that people living with HIV must not lose access to their medication because of system gaps that could have been prevented.
“Ang nangyayaring shortage ng ARVs ay hindi dapat pinagkikibit balikat. Hindi dapat maputulan ng lifeline ang mga PLHIV ng dahil lang sa kakulangan sa sistema na dapat sanang naagapan,” she said.