The Senate has approved on third and final reading a measure to institutionalize a national program for the prevention and treatment of lupus, a chronic autoimmune disease affecting tens of thousands of Filipinos.

Senate Bill No. 1513, also known as the Comprehensive Lupus Prevention Act, seeks to establish a national health strategy for early detection and long-term management of the condition.

Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and a co-sponsor of the bill, stressed the need for specialized care for a disease that is often difficult to diagnose.

“Behind these numbers are real people who face a daily battle with fatigue, joint pain, organ complications, and unpredictable flare-ups,” Go said. He noted that data shows between 30 and 50 out of every 100,000 Filipinos are affected by the disease.

Lupus is frequently called a “mimicker disease” because its symptoms often resemble other illnesses, which can lead to delayed treatment and irreversible organ damage.

The bill aims to bridge this gap by strengthening public awareness and improving access to essential medicines and healthcare services.

Go said that the measure would empower the health system to intervene promptly, regardless of a patient’s income or location.

The bill’s passage is expected to lead to the creation of a national registry for lupus patients and provide stronger institutional support within the country’s healthcare system to improve the quality of life for those living with the incurable condition.