AC Health, USAID join forces vs HIV

Utilizing its extensive healthcare ecosystem, Ayala Healthcare Holdings Inc. (AC Health) plans to develop, test and expand HIV care and prevention services in partnership with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

The collaboration, announced before World AIDS Day, aims to enhance access to stigma-free care and lifesaving services to help combat the HIV epidemic nationwide.

The initiative includes onboarding qualified health service providers to the KonsultaMD platform and extending HIV awareness and screening services beyond traditional health facilities.

The Philippines has an HIV crisis, with those afflicted with the disease expected to reach a record 215,000 by the end of the year.

Additionally, AC Health will import critical medicines and technologies through IE Medica and MedEthix, making them available commercially via Generika Drugstore.

Healthcare must be affordable

“Our mission at AC Health is to make quality and affordable healthcare accessible to more Filipinos. Through our partnership with USAID, our dedicated teams at Healthway Medical Network, KonsultaMD and Generika Drugstore have been equipped with specialized training to serve key populations affected by HIV,” AC Health chairman Fernando Zobel de Ayala said.

“This collaboration brings us closer to bridging gaps in HIV prevention and testing, ensuring these critical services reach more communities nationwide,” he added.

According to AC Health, USAID will provide community engagement support, technical assistance to Healthway Medical Network, and private-sector models for HIV service delivery.

Likewise, it will also train healthcare providers, share research, and coordinate with partners to distribute free HIV self-testing kits.

The partnership addresses one of the fastest-growing HIV epidemics in Southeast Asia, with AC Health’s involvement reflecting its increasing commitment to addressing public health challenges in the Philippines.

AC Health, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ayala Corporation, aims to provide affordable and accessible healthcare to Filipinos.

Its portfolio includes Generika Drugstore, St. Joseph Drug, IE Medica, MedEthix, Healthway Medical Network and KonsultaMD. These entities form a healthcare ecosystem, delivering care through pharmaceuticals, hospitals and clinics and digital health.