Ayala Healthcare Holdings, Inc. (AC Health) has partnered with the US Agency for International Development (USAID) to tackle the HIV epidemic in the Philippines by enhancing access to stigma-free care and essential services. AC Health is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ayala Corporation which is currently considered one of the largest conglomerates in the Philippines. The collaboration with USAID was announced on World AIDS Day, emphasizing the theme “Collective Action: Sustain and Accelerate HIV Progress,” which reiterates the importance of joint efforts in addressing health challenges.
AC Health will leverage its unique ecosystem to develop, test, and scale innovative approaches to improve and expand HIV care and prevention services across the country. The initiative includes onboarding qualified health service providers onto the KonsultaMD platform to extend HIV awareness and screening services beyond traditional healthcare facilities. Additionally, AC Health will import vital medicines through its subsidiaries, making them available at Generika Drugstore.
USAID will support community engagement, provide technical assistance to Healthway Medical Network, and introduce private-sector models for HIV service delivery. They will also train healthcare providers, enhance telehealth access via KonsultaMD, and distribute free HIV self-testing kits, all aimed at bridging gaps in HIV prevention and testing services.
The KonsultaMD platform is a telehealth service that offers 24/7 access to licensed medical professionals through online consultations. It provides various services such as online consultations, medicine delivery, and at-home lab testing, making healthcare more accessible, especially for individuals in remote areas. This partnership is vital in addressing one of the fastest-growing HIV epidemics in Southeast Asia while also highlighting AC Health’s commitment to improving public health in the Philippines.
(Source: The Korea Herald)