Philippines

Key Results

More than 10 000 people at high risk of HIV infection accessed PrEP.
New national policy on Access to Adolescent sexual and reproductive health services.
Integrated Biological and Behavioural Surveillance (IBBS) survey was completed.
National government increased public expenditure for the HIV response to US$ 17.73 million to fully cover the cost of antiretroviral medicines and commodities.

Joint Programme Results

The Philippines continued to expand HIV services among young people and key populations. For instance, more than 10 000 people at high risk of HIV infection accessed pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) services in 2022, following the implementation of the new national PrEP guidelines. PrEP was also included in the national drug formulary, thereby facilitating government procurement and the eventual enrolment of 150 000 people over the next three years using domestic resources. In addition, access to early and accurate diagnosis services was strengthened in 38 healthcare facilities across the country due to the implementation of the latest rapid HIV testing algorithm (rHIVDA) and updated HIV testing guidelines, that include HIV self-testing and other differentiated service models (WHO, UNAIDS Secretariat).

Further, dolutegravir-based antiretroviral medicines were included in the national drug formulary and the Government rolled out the Dolutegravir transition plan to improve the health outcomes of people living with HIV. To further scale-up access to testing services, Point of Care GenXpert machines, and tuberculosis sample transportation system (STRIDERS) were expanded for viral load testing in collaboration with government and development partners (WHO, UNAIDS Secretariat).

Access to Adolescent sexual and reproductive health (ASRH) services and knowledge among adolescent people, including adolescent and transgender girls engaged in sex work improved due to the new National policy on ASRH services. The policy included paediatric HIV services; a revised costed comprehensive sexuality education implementation plan; refined out-of-school comprehensive sexuality education; a pilot model for integration HIV and ASRH services; and various adolescent learning modules, such as HIV, family planning, and gender-based violence. A total of 70 healthcare providers improved their skills in delivering treatment services among people who use drugs through a series of workshops. In the context of several typhoons, including Typhoon Odette, the Joint Team in partnership with Y-PEER continued to provide integrated adolescent sexual and reproductive health and humanitarian services and in and out-of-school education among adolescents, young people, and people from the LGBTI community affected by it (UNICEF, UNFPA).

The latest assessment of available healthcare services among women who use drugs, including women living with HIV using drugs underscored the need to put in place gender-responsive policies and services (UNODC). The rapid needs assessment among people who inject drugs in Cebu province gathered evidence on their health and psychosocial support needs to guide programming and the operational research on harm reduction in Cebu. Custodial agency officers and community service organisations were gathered around training and dialogue sessions to discuss the broad topic of health challenges for persons deprived of liberty in custodial settings including drug use disorders, HIV, Hepatitis C and TB reiterating the importance of the structured and integrated approach. Action roadmaps and recommendations are developed to further support the work of service providers and policymakers and to ensure a continuum of care for persons deprived of liberty upon release.

Similarly, the formative study on illicit drug use in sexual settings among key populations, which was conducted in partnership with Epidemiology Bureau informed the Integrated Biological and Behavioural Surveillance (IBBS) survey protocol (UNAIDS Secretariat).

Community-led monitoring was strengthened through the development of a community-led monitoring roadmap; and a monitoring system comprising of a digital platform and an operational manual. In addition, a consolidated operational manual for community-based organizations was developed through the support of WHO; and a social contracting feasibility study was completed to support implementation of social contacting mechanisms in the Philippines (UNAIDS Secretariat).

The national government increased public expenditure to US$ 17.73 million for the HIV response to fully cover the cost of antiretroviral medicines and commodities, including HIV testing kits and condoms following sustained advocacy by the Joint Team and its partners (UNAIDS Secretariat). The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) grant amounting to US$ 1.9 million and the Global Fund COVID-19 Response Mechanism (C19RM) grants proposals amounting to US$ 55.2 million were also approved, thus securing significant donor funding for the HIV response.

Monitoring of policy changes on the local level and alignment of HIV policies nationally was facilitated following introduction of new indicators based on strategic evidence generated from the Regional AIDS Spending Assessment and the Regional Commitments and Policy Index (RCPI) (UNDP, UNAIDS Secretariat).

In 2022, representatives from 12 local government units completed the Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on HIV resulting in 10 local government units drafting HIV and anti-discriminatory policies to uphold the human rights of people from the LGBTI community. The online course is now institutionalized and lodged in the Local Government Academy (LGA) of the Philippines Learning Management System and made accessible nationwide (UNDP). Finally, the National Human Right Roadmap approved and adopted by the Philippine National AIDS Council, through technical support from the Joint Team (UNAIDS Secretariat).