A liver disease specialist urged the national government to increase funding for hepatitis prevention, testing, and treatment, warning that many Filipinos remain undiagnosed or untreated despite available medicines.
Dr. Janus Ong called for a fully funded national hepatitis program and expanded PhilHealth coverage to improve access to care.
He said relying on local government budgets alone creates unequal access to treatment across the country.
Ong estimated that 3.4 million adult Filipinos are living with hepatitis B, most of whom are unaware of their condition.
He stressed that greater national investment is crucial for the Philippines to meet the global goal of eliminating hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030.
Source: PhilNews24 | July 27, 2026
