MANILA, Philippines– The Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday projected that more than 250,000 people in the Philippines will be living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) by the end of 2024, based on data from its Epidemiology Bureau that health authorities posted on social media and shared with local government partners, including Quezon City.
The DOH Epidemiology Bureau report estimated that the number of people living with HIV (PLHIV) in the country will reach approximately 252,800 by December 31, 2024, using surveillance data, reported cases, and modeling methods to track the progression of the epidemic.
The report stated that the projection covers PLHIV of all ages nationwide and that the bureau used case reports from HIV treatment hubs, social hygiene clinics, and other reporting facilities as inputs for its estimates.
The DOH indicated that the Epidemiology Bureau generated the figures through analysis of trends in new HIV diagnoses, treatment enrollment, and retention in care, and then applied these trends to forecast the year-end total of PLHIV.
The report noted that the projected 252,800 PLHIV figure includes both diagnosed and undiagnosed individuals, with surveillance and modeling used to approximate the number of people who live with HIV but have not yet undergone testing or received confirmation of their status.
The Epidemiology Bureau explained that it used routine HIV/AIDS and ART Registry of the Philippines (HARP) data, along with program reports and demographic information, as part of the inputs for its estimation process.
The department reported that it will continue to release periodic updates on HIV case numbers, trends, and projections to inform policymakers, health workers, and the public about the status of the HIV situation in the Philippines.
