The Department of Health (DoH) said it will begin distributing newly arrived antiretroviral (ARV) medicines to treatment hubs nationwide next week following the arrival and inspection of the first shipment under its latest procurement program.

The DoH said 455,188 bottles of Lamivudine, Tenofovir and Dolutegravir (LTD/TLD) — the country’s recommended first-line treatment for HIV — arrived in the Philippines as the first tranche of a 1.2 million-bottle procurement.

The shipment underwent inspection on 10 July at the iGLOO Supply Chain facility in Marikina City to ensure the medicines are safe, effective, of high quality and compliant with Food and Drug Administration standards.

Following the inspection, the DoH ordered the immediate distribution of the medicines to designated treatment hubs to restore regular supplies for patients.

The agency said the arrival of the new stocks will allow treatment hubs to discontinue the temporary two-week rationing implemented in some areas because of supply constraints.

Public health facilities have also been instructed to resume dispensing up to a three-month supply of medicines per patient whenever possible.

The DoH also directed public hospitals and treatment hubs to streamline consultation and dispensing procedures to enable persons living with HIV to obtain their free medicines without unnecessary delays.

To prevent future supply disruptions, the department said its logistics team will closely monitor supplier PhilPharmawealth to ensure the remaining deliveries arrive on schedule between August and September.

The full procurement of 1.2 million bottles is expected to provide treatment for about 97,000 persons living with HIV nationwide.