United States, AC Health Launch Partnership to Expand HIV Services in the Philippines

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and AC Health, a subsidiary of Ayala Corporation, recently launched a partnership aimed at addressing the country’s growing HIV epidemic by making sexual and reproductive healthcare services more accessible. Shown in the photo are USAID Mission Director in the Philippines and Mongolia Ryan Washburn (bottom, left) and AC Health President and CEO Paolo Borromeo (bottom, right) as the signatories; with US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson (top, 2nd from left), AC Health Chairman Fernando Zobel de Ayala, and other key officials as witnesses.Last Nov. 27, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and AC Health, a subsidiary of Ayala Corporation, launched a partnership aimed at addressing critical health challenges in the Philippines, including the country’s rapidly growing HIV epidemic. The event highlighted the commitment of both organizations to make healthcare services more accessible, particularly through telehealth innovations and expanded access to life-saving medications such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).

Manila, November 27, 2024—On November 26, the United States government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), launched a partnership with Ayala Healthcare Holdings, Inc. (AC Health) to strengthen the private sector’s role in making stigma-free care and lifesaving HIV services more accessible in the Philippines, which has one of the fastest-growing HIV epidemics in Asia.

Supported by funding from the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the partnership will develop, test, and scale approaches to improving and expanding HIV care and prevention services in the Philippines, with a special focus on online health services and the direct delivery of critical medication such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)—a drug that, when taken as scheduled, prevents the transmission of HIV.This partnership reflects the United States’ global commitment to partner with private sector companies to accelerate progress in the fight against HIV.  Together, USAID and AC Health will help more Filipinos access the services they need without fear or judgment, combat stigma, and promote the lifesaving message of “U=U,” or “Undetectable equals Untransmittable.”“The agreement we are celebrating today will leverage the power of collaboration and the resources and skills of the private sector to address the HIV epidemic,” U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson said in her remarks at the partnership launch.  “As your partner in prosperity, the United States remains committed to working together for a future rooted in compassion, understanding, and improved access to healthcare for all.”

Under this partnership, AC Health will integrate its ecosystem—including its KonsultaMD telehealth application, Generika Drugstore chain, and Healthway Medical Network —into local HIV networks to bring game-changing HIV-prevention solutions to more Filipinos, especially people living with HIV and those at an elevated risk of contracting it.  AC Health will onboard qualified health service providers on the KonsultaMD platform, expand HIV awareness and screening services beyond health facilities such as in schools and workplaces, and increase the commercial availability of PrEP and other lifesaving technologies through their importation and distribution channels, IE Medica and MedEthix, and their Generika Drugstore chains.

For its part, USAID will support community engagement, provide technical assistance to Healthway Medical Network, and introduce private sector models for HIV service delivery.  USAID will also train healthcare providers, share research, expand telehealth access through KonsultaMD, and coordinate with partners to provide free HIV self-testing kits.“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. This collaboration brings us closer to bridging gaps in HIV prevention and testing, ensuring these critical services reach more communities nationwide.” said AC Health Chairman Fernando Zobel de Ayala.

USAID and AC Health launched their partnership ahead of World AIDS day on December 1.  This year’s celebration under the theme, “Collective Action: Sustain and Accelerate HIV Progress,” highlights the importance of uniting the public and private sectors, community organizations, and international partners to create an inclusive and effective response to HIV.

Since 2020, USAID, through PEPFAR, has contributed more than Php2 billion ($34.7 million) to support the Philippines’ HIV response, making it one of the largest bilateral donors in this critical fight to save and improve lives.