AstraZeneca forum spotlights rare disease care, patient realities
EVENT gathers experts and advocates during National Rare Disease Week.
Photo by Amelia Clarissa de Luna Monasterial / Daily Tribune images.
MANDALUYONG CITY, Philippines — AstraZeneca convened medical experts, patient advocates, healthcare leaders, and industry partners on 26 February 2026 at the EDSA Shangri-La Hotel for its Agham Kapihan session titled “More than we can imagine: Amplifying voices to strengthen holistic rare disease care in the Philippines.”
AstraZeneca held its forum at the EDSA Shangri-La Hotel on Thursday, 26 February 2026.
Photo by Amelia Clarissa de Luna Monasterial / Daily Tribune images.
The event was held in line with the 17th National Rare Disease Week, observed from 22 February to 28 February under Proclamation No. 1989, s. 2010, led by the National Council on Disability Affairs. Discussions centered on persistent barriers faced by Filipinos living with rare diseases, including long diagnostic journeys, limited specialist access, and fragmented care systems.
One in 20,000 individuals or fewer in the Philippines is diagnosed with a rare disease.
Photo courtesy of National Council on Disability Affairs.
Rare diseases in the Philippines are defined as conditions affecting one in every 20,000 individuals or fewer, pending final classification by the Department of Health technical working group. Globally, more than 7,000 rare diseases have been identified, most of which are genetic, chronic, and progressive.
Dr. Melanie Alcausin of the National Institutes of Health emphasized structural gaps in care delivery. While many rare disorders can be detected through newborn screening, the Philippines had recorded 159 rare conditions as of 2022, yet still lacks a National Rare Diseases Registry. Rare disease care continues to depend on a combination of public and private funding, with donations remaining critical to research efforts.
