The Philippines is facing one of the fastest-growing HIV epidemics in the Western Pacific Region, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNAIDS, which convened a high-level dialogue this week to address the mounting crisis.

Held during the seventy-sixth session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Western Pacific, the meeting gathered health ministers from 38 countries, civil society leaders, and development partners to confront the region’s escalating HIV situation and accelerate prevention efforts.

Between 2010 and 2024, new HIV infections in the Philippines increased roughly sixfold, making it one of the most alarming surges in the region.

Health officials noted that young men who have sex with men are the most affected group, while late diagnosis and limited treatment coverage continue to hinder the national response.

The Philippines’ growing epidemic mirrors similar trends across the region — Fiji has seen a tenfold rise in infections over the past decade, and Papua New Guinea declared HIV a national crisis in June 2025 due to rising cases among women and children.

“HIV is not ‘over,’ as the situation across the Western Pacific clearly shows,” said Dr. Saia Ma’u Piukala, WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific.

“We need strategic and targeted approaches to prevention, testing, and treatment that are tailored to specific outbreaks and affected populations.”

UNAIDS Asia-Pacific Regional Director Eamonn Murphy stressed that a stronger and more inclusive response is needed in the Philippines and across the region.

“The investments we make in HIV services for the most marginalized populations ultimately also ensure the health of the wider community,” he said.

“What we urgently need now is political will and shared responsibility to target the right interventions for the right people in the right locations.”

To curb infections, WHO and UNAIDS are urging governments, including the Philippines, to expand early diagnosis, strengthen access to antiretroviral therapy, and roll out harm reduction and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) programs.

They also underscored the importance of fighting stigma and discrimination, which continue to deter people from seeking testing and treatment.

The dialogue concluded with a renewed call for political commitment to keep HIV high on national agendas, integrate HIV care into universal health coverage, and invest in community-led programs for better outreach.

“Complacency is not an option,” Dr. Piukala said.