The NSMHW also found poverty as one of the causes that Filipino adults are unable to access mental, neurological, and substance abuse (MNS) disorders medications, along with the lack of awareness, treatment facilities, and trained professionals.
Jerrie Abella, an AI campaigner, detailed the three critical stages where human rights violations occur: during arrests, within drug detention centers, and post-release. Abella described so-called "drug rehabilitation centers" as punitive detention facilities where individuals, including adolescents, are subjected to invasive drug tests and forced treatment. These centers, he said, do not offer rehabilitation but instead serve as sites of coercion.
MSF recorded that only 17 out of 36 hospitals in Gaza are partially functional. Six of their staff have also been killed and since October 2023, their team and patients have had to leave 14 health infrastructure due to attacks.
Young people living with HIV underscored the need to have a strong support among peers, community, and institutions to fight the epidemic.
Reports from civil society organizations and the government revealed policy gaps in the Philippine HIV law: the consenting age for HIV treatment, enforcement of sex education, and implementation challenges.
“We have no goons, guns and gold, but we have our principles and platform, our unity and our unlimited commitment to serve the people. And equally important, we have to guard against electoral fraud and attacks."
“The bruises can disappear and the wounds can heal but the mental health problem if not treated would get worse."
Health advocates said that the transfer of unprogrammed funds violates Republic Act No. 11223 or the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act of 2019.
According to Section 11 of this law, any excess in PhilHealth reserve funds at the end of the fiscal year should be used to enhance program benefits and reduce member contribution amounts.
“While the people are paying high out-of-pocket expenses, [the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation or] Philhealth is earning so much profit that the Department of Finance wants to get the surplus funds for other unprogrammed expenses like Maharlika investment,” De la Paz said.
Even as an emerging drag queen, Celestia immediately started her career by partnering with the development and humanitarian organization Oxfam Pilipinas to create content about the climate crisis. In the form of reels, she initiated conversations about the connection between the climate crisis and public health, and how the government needs to implement policies that reduce carbon emissions.
Jao Clumia of the AHW said, the prolonged delay in receiving these benefits affects the morale and service of healthcare workers. They feel disheartened, leading to the exodus of frontline workers.
The health department is slated to suffer a budget cut amounting to P10 billion. The Alliance of Health Workers said this will have an impact on the 69 public hospitals that they run.
“We will continue to demand for food, wages, social services and free health services, subsidies, and benefits, rights and good governance, as we continue the fight for better health in a better, more humane and just society."
Filipino health workers celebrated Valentine's Day with a "Black Hearts Day" protest as they called anew for a substantial salary increase and the release of their still unpaid COVID-19 allowances.
“It is ironic because they said they will make health care a priority and that this is the leading agenda of this administration. But until now, there is still no portfolio, no health secretary. That remains a big vacuum."
The former police chief now health undersecretary is among the brains of the bloody “Oplan Tokhang,” the drug war that former President Rodrigo Duterte waged during his administration that led to the killing of over 30,000 people.
“We are worried that if this will not be addressed, the outbreak will also spread to nearby communities in the Sierra Madre. We also hope that this will be disseminated to private citizens and other non-government organizations who can help the Dumagats."
The end of the COVID-19 pandemic may be “in sight” as far as the World Health Organization is concerned. But for Filipino health workers, their rightful hazard pay and allowances remain nowhere to be seen.
"We strongly urge the suspension of the Philhealth premium hike amid the soaring prices of basic goods, commodities and services. The hike has already caused the failure of payment of teachers' loans with their measly salaries barely sufficient for their daily needs following the implementation of the premium hike last June 15."
“It pains me to see (tarpaulins) of politicians and partylists claiming to represent our voices, even using images of nurses to boost their campaign. But the truth is, most of them were nowhere to be found when we were fighting for our rights and welfare,” Filipino nurse Pauline Budy said.
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