Hontiveros urges swift action over reported HIV drug shortage

MANILA, Philippines—Sen. Risa Hontiveros on Sunday called on the government to immediately address the reported shortage of antiretroviral (ARV) medicines, warning that any disruption in treatment could put the health and lives of people living with HIV (PLHIV) at risk.

Hontiveros said reports that HIV treatment hubs have been forced to ration ARV medicines because of delayed and insufficient supplies were “nakakabahala,” stressing that uninterrupted treatment is essential for patients.

“People’s health and lives are at stake here, so the government must act immediately to address the shortage of antiretroviral (ARV) drugs and prevent any interruption in the treatment of PLHIV. Their treatment cannot be disrupted—they need to take their ARV medication every day to stay healthy,” Hontivero said.

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READ: DOH warns of ongoing local concentrated HIV epidemic in PH

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The senator urged the Department of Health (DOH) to ensure that its supplier delivers the medicines as promised and that the drugs are immediately distributed to treatment hubs.

“The priority now to ease the concerns of people living with HIV is for the DOH to ensure that the supplier fulfills its commitment to deliver the ARV drugs and that these are distributed to treatment hubs as quickly as possible,” she said.

She also called for accountability over the delays.

“All available contractual, legal, and logistical remedies must be pursued to secure the government-procured medicines. Those responsible for the delay must be held accountable, and the delivery of the medicines must not be delayed any further.”

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Hontiveros likewise urged PhilHealth to accelerate the processing of claims under the Outpatient HIV/AIDS Treatment (OHAT) package, clarify with treatment hubs how the benefit can be used to prevent treatment interruptions, and ensure that no patient is denied access to medicines because of financing or administrative delays.

She also pressed the government to provide transparent updates to affected communities, improve forecasting and procurement, strengthen inventory monitoring, and facilitate the redistribution of medicines among treatment hubs when necessary.

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Citing Republic Act No. 11166 or the Philippine HIV and AIDS Policy Act, Hontiveros said the law guarantees that HIV treatment and care should remain free, accessible, continuous, and dignified.

“The ongoing shortage of ARV drugs must not be taken lightly. People living with HIV must not be deprived of their lifeline simply because of failures in a system that should have prevented this from happening.)

The reported shortage comes as the Philippines continues to grapple with one of the fastest-growing HIV epidemics in the region.

The latest DOH data showed that 4,633 new HIV cases were recorded from January to March 2026, down 9 percent from the same period last year, with an average of 51 new cases reported daily.

The health department estimates that 288,000 people are living with HIV in the Philippines, although only 55 percent, or 157,350, have been diagnosed. Of those diagnosed, 69 percent, or 108,367, are receiving antiretroviral therapy—still short of the 95-95-95 treatment targets set by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).

The DOH has said the country adopted these targets in its medium-term plan, aiming to diagnose 95 percent of all people living with HIV, ensure 95 percent of those diagnosed receive treatment, and achieve viral suppression in 95 percent of those on treatment by 2030.

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The department earlier warned that, if current trends continue, the number of people living with HIV in the country could reach 457,000 by 2030, underscoring the urgent need to strengthen prevention, testing, and treatment efforts./coa