Filipino health experts played a central role in the development of the first-ever Asia-Pacific pharmacist consensus guideline on peripheral neuropathy, a condition affecting millions of diabetic patients and often going undiagnosed across the region.
The guideline, launched Thursday during an online webinar, was co-led by Dr. Yolanda R. Robles of the University of the Philippines College of Pharmacy, who also serves as president of the Federation of Asian Pharmaceutical Associations.
Peripheral Neuropathy (PN) is a common peripheral nervous system disorder marked by nerve damage that can cause numbness, tingling, burning sensations, and “pins and needles” pain in the hands and feet.
Experts said it is driven by multiple causes, including diabetes, inflammation, infections, alcohol misuse, and vitamin B deficiencies.
Robles said prevalence among diabetic patients remains particularly high in the Asia-Pacific region, including 58% in the Philippines and Indonesia.
“PN is a widespread and often debilitating condition that has high prevalence amongst diabetic patients in APAC 3-7 – the Philippines (58%), Indonesia (58%), Malaysia (54%), Thailand (34%), Singapore (28%), and Australia (21%).”
She said this highlights the urgent need for earlier detection and stronger pharmacy-based intervention, especially in countries where community pharmacies are often the first point of care.
“With pharmacists being the most accessible health professional in many APAC countries, this consensus translates the best available evidence into simple steps for pharmacists to spot PN earlier, guide patients confidently, and partner physicians to improve long-term outcomes.”
Robles also pointed to systemic gaps in the Philippine healthcare system, noting limited deployment of pharmacists in primary care facilities. She said many government health centers still operate without pharmacists, reducing opportunities for early screening and patient counseling.
Furthermore, Robles said full implementation of laws supporting pharmacist integration into primary healthcare settings is needed, alongside stronger training for pharmacy interns and students.
She added that embedding the new guideline into pharmacy curricula and clinical training would help ensure future pharmacists are equipped to identify and manage neuropathy cases.
“We are more aiming for steady but sustainable,”she said, emphasizing that reforms will take time but should focus on long-term capacity building within public health systems.
Other regional experts contributed to the guideline, but Philippine leadership was prominent in shaping its direction and highlighting the role of pharmacists in bridging gaps in early diagnosis.
Yan Li, one of the presenters, said up to 80% of peripheral neuropathy cases remain undiagnosed, underscoring the importance of accessible health professionals such as pharmacists in identifying symptoms earlier and guiding referrals.
