DOH Administrative Order No. 2009-0006Jan 13, 2009Other Rules and Procedures

DOH Administrative Order No. 2009-0006 provides guidelines for antiretroviral therapy (ART) among adults and adolescents living with HIV in the Philippines, aiming to enhance treatment access and standardize management. Although the national prevalence of HIV is low, the number of cases is rising, necessitating comprehensive treatment protocols aligned with World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations. The guidelines cover criteria for initiating therapy, adherence counseling, laboratory testing, and monitoring for toxicity and treatment response. Treatment hubs are designated for providing care, and specific roles are outlined for various health entities involved in HIV management. Additionally, the order emphasizes the importance of continuous advocacy for access to ART and support services for individuals living with HIV.

January 13, 2009

DOH ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 2009-0006

SUBJECT : Guidelines on Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) among Adults and Adolescents with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection

 

I. Rationale

The World Health Organization projects that 45 million people will get infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) between 2002 and 2010. Of this, 40% will come from Asia and Pacific if current prevention efforts are not continued. Prevention efforts however, should be complemented with making treatment available to as many HIV positive and AIDS cases as possible.

In the Philippines, although the HIV and AIDS national prevalence is less than 0.1% of the population, the number of people affected by HIV and AIDS continues to grow. The National Epidemiology Center (NEC) AIDS registry reported that as of December 2008, 3,589 cases of HIV antibody seropositive individuals had been identified in the Philippines, and on the same month, there were 565 PLHIV on antiretroviral therapy (ART).

In line with the global initiative on Universal Access, the health sector has to facilitate access to antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) by People Living with HIV (PLHIV) in need of treatment. A major step of this endeavor is the provision of guidelines to health care providers on the proper use of ARVs in the management of PLHIV. According to WHO, evidence from many parts of the world indicates that introducing treatment in affected communities can reduce the fear, stigma, and discrimination that surround HIV/AIDS, increase uptake of HIV testing and counseling, and reinforce prevention efforts.

Significant decrease in morbidity and mortality due to AIDS has been observed in countries where ARVs are widely used. To ensure safe and effective use of ARVs, there must be standardized treatment guidelines, continuous access to medicines and laboratory facilities for monitoring treatment response and toxicity associated with use of the ARVs, and availability of counseling services for patients to reinforce adherence to ART.

This guideline adapted the current recommendations of WHO for HIV Infection in Adults and Adolescents (2006) in its approach to the delivery of a comprehensive HIV treatment and care, in harmony with current local practices and experiences in treating PLHIV for 3 years in Philippines.

II. Objective

To provide standards for the use of ARVs among adults and adolescent living with HIV in the Philippines. cAaDCE

III. Scope and Limitation

This guideline is intended for physicians from government and private health facilities managing PLHIVs with established referral networks to Department of Health (DOH) — designated treatment hubs. Management of HIV infections among pregnant women and children will be discussed in a separate guideline.

IV. Definition of Terms

1. Adherence counseling — Includes provision of information on HIV, manifestations of the disease, and benefits and side-effects of ARVs; discussion on how the medications should be taken stressing on the importance of not missing any doses as well as risks associated to poor adherence, assessment of adherence to include identifying obstacles to adherence, and treatment planning to enhance adherence.

2. Antiretrovirals (ARVs) — Drugs that are given to people living with HIV infection to improve or maintain their immune function.

3. HIV and AIDS Core Team (HACT) — A multi-disciplinary team composed of doctors, nurses, pharmacists, social workers, and other health care providers that implements prevention, treatment and care services for HIV and AIDS in the hospital setting. Its specific functions are described in the Administrative Order Number 18 s. 1995 (Revised Guidelines in the Management of HIV/AIDS Patients in the Hospital).

4. HIV Counseling and Testing — A confidential process that enables individuals to examine their knowledge and behavior in relation to their personal risks of acquiring or transmitting HIV. Counseling helps an individual decide on whether or not to undergo HIV testing and provides support to an individual receiving his or her test result.

5. Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) — A spectrum of clinical signs and symptoms resulting from the restored ability of an individual's immune system to mount an inflammatory response and this is associated with immune recovery during ART. Also defined as paradoxical clinical worsening due to a subclinical and unrecognized opportunistic pathogen or previously known treated opportunistic pathogen in a setting of adequate response to ART.

6. Opportunistic infections — Illnesses caused by various organisms, some of which usually do not cause disease in persons with healthy immune systems. Persons living with advanced HIV infection may suffer opportunistic infections of the lungs, brain, eyes and other organs.

7. People Living with HIV (PLHIV) — Refers to people living with HIV infection. With proper management and provision of ART, these individuals can continue to live well and be productive for many years. ECcDAH

8. Treatment Hub — A hospital facility with an established HIV/AIDS Core Team (HACT) providing prevention, treatment, care and support services to People Living with HIV (PLHIV) including but not limited to HIV Counseling and Testing, clinical management, patient monitoring and other care and support services. ARVs can only be accessed through these facilities. Refer to annex for the complete list of treatment hubs in the country.

V. Implementing Guidelines

A. Determine if Anti- Retroviral (ARV) is indicated

The decision to start a patient on ARV will be based on the clinical findings and/or CD4 level determination as shown in table 1. The benefits, toxicity, adherence issues and costs of the treatment must be a component of counseling.

Table 1. Criteria for Initiating Anti-retroviral Therapy (Adopted from WHO ART for HIV Infection in Adults and Adolescent 2006)

Criteria for Initiation of ARVs

WHO Clinical Staging
CD4 Testing
CD4 Testing
 
Not Available
Available
     
I — Asymptomatic Do not treat Treat if CD4 cells is below 200
II — Mild Do not treat cells/mm3)
     
III — Advanced Treat Consider treatment if CD4 is below
    350 cells/mm3 and initiate treatment
    before CD4 falls below 200
    cells/mm3
     
IV — Severe Treat Treat irrespective of CD4 count

B. Perform Adherence Counseling

HIV can develop resistance to ARVs. The success of ARV therapy largely depends on patient's adherence to treatment. A 95% adherence rate is required to prevent the development of drug resistance. Adherence counseling should always be done prior to and while on treatment.

References and training on adherence counseling for anti-retroviral treatment (ART) will be provided by the DOH to participating physicians.

C. Get Laboratory tests prior to initiating ARV treatment

1. Complete Blood Count (CBC) aSTcCE

2. Chest x-ray, sputum Acid Fast Bacilli (AFB) and sputum culture to rule out active tuberculosis

3. Pregnancy test for females of reproductive age

4. Baseline urinalysis, fasting blood sugar, liver function tests, creatinine, and lipid profile when indicated

D. Choose initial ARV Regimen

Recommended regimen (see annex for dosages)

a. First line regimen: NNRTI-based (2 NRTI + 1 NNRTI)

i. First line NRTIs: Zidovudine (AZT) + Lamivudine (3TC)

Alternative first line NRTI:

a. Tenofovir (TDF) + Lamivudine (3TC)

b. Stavudine (d4T) + Lamivudine (3TC) — when TDF and AZT are contraindicated

ii. First line NNRTI:

Nevirapine (NVP)

Alternative first line NNRTI:

Efavirenz (EFV) — for patients with hypersensitivity to nevirapine and/or taking rifampicin. EFV is contraindicated in pregnant patients.

b. Second line regimen: 2 NRTIs + Lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/r)

 AZT + 3TC + LPV/r if previously on TDF

 TDF + 3TC + LPV/r if previously on AZT or d4T

E. Monitor for ARV toxicity

1. For AZT + 3TC + EFV/NVP

a. CBC — every month for the first three months and every 4-6 months thereafter

b. SGPT, SGOT, alkaline phosphatase, amylase — after 1 month, after 6 months and every 12 months thereafter cSICHD

2. For TDF + 3TC + EFV/NVP

a. annual creatinine and urinalysis

b. SGPT, SGOT, alkaline phosphatase, amylase — after 1 month, after 6 months and every 12 months thereafter

3. For d4T + 3TC + EFV/NVP

a. annual CBC

b. SGPT, SGOT, alkaline phosphatase, amylase — after 1 month, after 6 months and every 12 months thereafter

c. Total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL — after 6 months and every 12 months thereafter

4. For PI-containing regimen (AZT/TDF + 3TC + (PI/r)

4.1 For TDF + 3TC + (LPV/r)

a. annual creatinine and urinalysis

b. Total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL — after 6 months and every 12 months thereafter

c. FBS — after 6 months and every 12 months thereafter

4.2. For AZT + 3TC + (LPV/r)

a. CBC — after 1 month, after 6 months and every 12 months thereafter

b. Total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL — after 6 months and every 12 months thereafter

c. FBS — after 6 months and every 12 months thereafter

4.3. For d4T + 3TC + (LPV/r)

a. annual CBC

b. SGPT, SGOT, alkaline phosphatase, amylase — after 1 month, after 6 months and every 12 months thereafter

c. Total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL — after 6 months and every 12 months thereafter ESDHCa

d. FBS — after 6 months and every 12 months thereafter

F. Monitor response to treatment

1. Clinical Response

Frequency of clinical monitoring will depend on patient's response to ART. Patients should be followed-up on the minimum, at 2, 4, 8, 12 and 24 weeks after starting ART and every six months once patient has been assessed to be stable. Evaluation for treatment failure, which includes reassessment of clinical stage, and assessment of symptoms of drug toxicities should be made during every visit.

Exacerbation of previously subclinical coexisting infections (e.g., TB) may occur, resulting in an apparent worsening of disease. This is not attributable to failure of the therapy but to its success and the resulting immune reconstitution. This is called Immune Reconstitution Inflammatory Syndrome (IRIS). In such cases, the switching of ART would be inappropriate.

Trial of therapy for at least 6 to 12 months should be given before concluding that an ARV regimen is failing. For patients with good compliance to ART, clinical response is recommended to be used together with CD4 count and viral load determination (whenever feasible) to detect treatment failure.

2. Immunologic Response

Patients who initiated therapy with very low baseline CD4 T cell count may have less response to therapy. As a general rule, new and progressive severe immunodeficiency as demonstrated by declining CD4 cell counts should trigger a switch in therapy. However, any measurement that may indicate the need to consider switching should be repeated and the low level confirmed before any change is implemented. Where resources are available, CD4 T cell count may be done every six months for monitoring.

Reasonable working definitions of immunological failure are:

(1) CD4 count below 100 cells/mm3 after six months of therapy

(2) a return to, or a fall below, the pre-therapy CD4 baseline after six months of therapy; or

(3) a 50% decline from the on-treatment peak CD4 value (if known).

3. Virologic Response

Since plasma viremia is a strong prognostic indicator of HIV disease progression, maximal suppression of viremia for as long as possible is a critical goal of antiretroviral therapy. One (1.0) log reduction is usually observed 4-8 weeks after initiation of therapy and falls below limit of assay detection after 4-6 months. Where resources are available, viral load assay may be done every 12 months. DCcTHa

G. Change of treatment regimen

1. Drug toxicity and side effects (see annex for specific side effects of ARVs)

Antiretroviral drugs are associated with side effects and long term toxicities. Although life threatening side effects had been reported, many side effects can be managed symptomatically. The ARV component causing toxicity should be identified and changed if necessary. The general principle is that single-drug substitution because of toxicity should involve drugs belonging to the same ARV class (e.g., TDF or d4T for AZT where anemia occurs, or NVP for EFV for CNS toxicity or in pregnancy).

It is also important to ask patients of intake of other medicines because ARVs may interact with these medications.

2. Treatment failure

It is very important to regularly assess patients for treatment failure, determine the reasons for these and institute appropriate management immediately. If poor compliance is the cause of treatment failure, counseling for adherence must be intensified and the current regimen continued. Determination of CD4 count should be performed after three months to reassess response to treatment.

Patients who are candidates for second-line ARVs must be managed in close coordination with the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine or San Lazaro Hospital.

H. Manage HIV and TB Coinfection

Treatment of TB among HIV patients do not differ from treatment of TB among non-HIV patients. Diagnosis and treatment will follow the National Tuberculosis Program (NTP) Guidelines.

ARVs for patients with active TB:

Recommended ARV Regimen

First line regimen: 2 NRTIs + EFV

Due to potential hepatotoxic effects of both ARV and anti-TB drugs, it is recommended when possible, to commence ARV after the intensive phase of TB treatment. Patients should be monitored closely for signs and symptoms of hepatotoxicity.

Initiating ART in HIV and TB Coinfection

1. If CD4<200cells/mm3, ART may be initiated after 2 weeks of TB treatment, and after patient is stabilized on the TB regimen. EaCSTc

2. If CD4 200-350cells/mm3, ART should be started after 8 weeks of TB therapy.

3. If CD4>350cells/mm3, ART may be deferred until after TB therapy is complete.

Management of HIV patients who are taking nevirapine or protease inhibitors and diagnosed with active TB should be done in consultation with physicians experienced in the treatment of these two diseases.

I. Manage HIV and Hepatitis B Coinfection

In situations where both HIV and HBV (Hepatitis B virus) require treatment, it is preferable to use 3TC and TDF together as both drugs have anti-HIV and anti-HBV activity. The use of TDF or 3TC as the only anti-HBV drug can result in more rapid development of resistance.

J. Manage HIV and Hepatitis C Coinfection

The initiation of ART in HIV/HCV coinfected patients should follow the same principles and recommendations as for the initiation of ART among HIV patients without HCV infection. However, the patients should be followed up more closely because of the major risk of drug-related interactions of some ARVs with anti-HCV drugs.

Major drug-drug interactions have been observed for the following combinations anti HCV drugs and ARVs:

1. Ribavirin with didanosine (ddI) — pancreatitis and lactic acidosis; these drugs should not be given concomitantly

2. Ribavirin and zidovudine (AZT) — anemia; avoid combination if possible; needs close monitoring

3. Interferon and efavirenz (EFV) — severe depression; needs close monitoring

VI. Roles and Responsibilities

1. National Center for Disease Prevention and Control (NCDPC) shall:

a. convene the technical working group for HIV and regularly review this guideline through wide consultation with clinicians, representatives from the treatment hubs and the PLHIV;

b. disseminate this guideline to the treatment hubs, private medical practitioners, professional medical societies thru the Centers for Health Development (CHD) NASPCP coordinators; aTIAES

c. forecast centrally ARV needs of PLHIV and ensure timely procurement and distribution of ARV to treatment hubs;

d. develop manual of procedures for treatment of PLHIV, including monitoring tools, within six months upon approval of this A.O.;

e. create and support a monitoring team composed of STI coordinators, treatment hub staffs and PLHIV groups to ensure compliance to this guideline

2. Center for Health Development (CHD) shall:

a. disseminate this guideline and other related reference materials to DOH - retained hospitals and private DOH - accredited tertiary medical centers;

b. establish system of referrals from various health facilities to DOH - designated treatment hubs;

c. participate in the regular monitoring activities organized by NDCPC.

3. Treatment Hubs through its HIV AIDS Core Team (HACT) shall:

a. provide treatment and clinical monitoring of patients under ART;

b. provide technical assistance to other health facilities and community-based organizations in need of professional trainings on the clinical management of HIV infection;

c. respond accordingly to referrals from various health facilities

d. submit report to NCDPC for programme utilization.

4. Research Institute of Tropical Medicine shall:

a. act as the designated training center on clinical management of HIV infection in coordination with NCDPC and Health Human Resource Development Bureau;

b. provide NCPDC annual accomplishment reports.

5. Civil Society Organizations for Treatment, Care and Support — shall work in coordination with the members of HACT in treatment hubs in providing care and support for PLHIV especially those on ART. aEDCSI

VII. Financing

1. The Infectious Disease Office shall allot funds for procurement of ARVs annually based on NASPCP — IDO forecasting.

2. The NCDPC along with the PNAC Secretariat and the PLHIV shall continuously advocate to the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PHIC) for the development of benefit package for PLHIV in need of treatment and care.

VIII. Repealing Clause

Provisions from previous issuances that are inconsistent or contrary to the provisions of this order are hereby rescinded and modified accordingly.

IX. Effectivity

This order shall take effect immediately upon approval.

(SGD.) FRANCISCO T. DUQUE III, MD, MScSecretary of Health

ANNEX 1

WHO Clinical Staging of HIV Disease in Adults and Adolescents (2006)

CLINICAL STAGE 1

Asymptomatic

Persistent generalized lymphadenopathy

CLINICAL STAGE 2

Unexplained moderate weight loss (under 10% of presumed or measures body weight)

Recurrent upper respiratory tract infections (sinusitis, tonsillitis, otitis media, pharyngitis)

Herpes zoster

Angular cheilitis

Recurrent oral ulceration

Papular pruritic eruptions

Seborrheic dernmatitis

Fungal nail infection

CLINICAL STAGE 3

Unexplained severe weight loss (over 10% of presumed or measured body weight) HTScEI

Unexplained chronic diarrhea for longer than one month

Unexplained persistent fever (intermittent or constant for longer than one month)

Persistent oral candidiasis

Oral hairy leukoplakia

Pulmonary tuberculosis (current)

Severe bacterial infections (e.g., pneumonia, empyema, pyomyositis, bone or joint infection, meningitis, bacteremia, severe pelvic inflammatory disease)

Acute necrotizing ulcerative stomatitis, gingivitis or periodontitis

Unexplained anemia (below 8g/dl), neutropenia (below 0.5 x 109/1) and /or chronic thrombocytopenia (below 50 x 109/1)

CLINICAL STAGE 4

HIV wasting syndrome

Pneumocyctis pneumonia

Recurrent bacterial pneumonia

Chronic herpes simplex infection (orolabial, genital or anorectal or more than one month's duration or visceral at any site)

Esophageal candidiasis (or candidiasis of trachea, bronchi or lungs)

Extrapulmonary tuberculosis

Kaposi sarcoma

Cytomegalovirus infection (retinitis or infection of other organs)

Central nervous system toxoplasmosis

HIV encephalopathy

Extrapulmonary cryptococcosis including meningitis

Disseminated non-tuberculous mycobacteria infection

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy

Chronic cryptosporidiosis

Chronic isosporiasis

Disseminated mycosis (coccidiomycosis or histoplasmosis)

Recurrent septicemia (including non-typhoidal Salmonella)

Lymphoma (cerebral or B cell non-Hodgkin) HScAEC

Invasive cervical carcinoma

Atypical disseminated leishmaniasis

Symptomatic HIV-associated nephropathy or HIV-associated cardiomyopathy

ANNEX 2

Antiretroviral Drugs and Doses, Instructions on Administration, and Important Adverse Reactions

Drug  
Dose
Administration
Important Adverse
   
 
 
Reactions
Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NRTIs)    
       
Zidovudine (ZDV or 300 mg PO every 12 Take without regard to Anemia, leukopenia
AZT)* hours meals.  
        Lactic acidosis (rare)
300 mg tablets      
       
Lamivudine (3TC) * 150 mg PO every 12 Take without regard to Well-tolerated
    hours or meals.      
150 mg tablets      
    300 mg PO once daily    
       
Stavudine (d4T) 30 mg PO every 12 Take without regard to Pancreatitis
    hours irrespective of  meals.  
30 mg tablets body weight   Lactic acidosis
        Severe hepatomegaly
        with steatosis
        Rapidly progressing
        ascending
        neuromuscular
        weakness
       
Didanosine (ddI) Body weight: >60kg Must be taken on an Pancreatitis
    400mg PO once daily empty stomach  
200 mg EC capsules With TDF:   Lactic acidosis
250 mg EC capsules 250mg PO once daily    
         
    Body weight: <60kg    
400 mg EC capsules 250mg PO once daily    
    With TDF:    
    200mg PO once daily    
     
Nucleotide Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NRTI)       
       
Tenofovir (TDF) * 300 mg PO once daily Take without regard to Nephrotoxicity
      meal  
300 mg tablet      
   
Non-Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NNRTIs)  
       
Efavirenz (EFV) * 600 mg PO once daily Take on an empty Rash
      stomach and before  
600 mg tablets   bedtime as severe Hepatitis
      dizziness is possible  
      upon initiation of  
      therapy that resolves  
      or becomes tolerable  
      after a few days  
       
Nevirapine (NVP) * As severe Take without regard to STOP if any one is
    hypersensitivity may meals. observed:
200 mg tablets develop during   1. Fever or feverish
    initiation, trial period Not recommended to be sensation
    should be done by co-administered with 2. Flu-like symptoms
    giving 200 mg once a rifampicin. such as muscle or
    day x 14 days   body pains
    together with the full   3. Disseminated
    dose of NRTI. If there   macular or
    is no sign of    maculopapular or
    hypersensitivity, then   urticarial rashes
    give full dose at 200    
    mg every 12 hours   In case of mild skin
        rashes such as
        discreet papular or
        nodular rashes that
        are limited in
        number, without
        other signs, continue
        NVP and observe for
        any progression.
        Serious hepatic
        events have been
        reported among
        treatment-naive with
        prenevirapine CD4
        counts >250
        cells/mm3 or in
        treatment-naive male
        patients with
        prenevirapine CD4
        counts >400
        cells/mm3.
Protease Inhibitors (PIs)      
       
Indinavir (IDV) * 800 mg PO every 12 For RTV-boosted IDV Nephrolithiasis
    hours to be given with take with or without  
400 mg capsules ritonavir 100 mg PO food  
    every 12 hours    
      Take with plenty of  
      water to avoid  
      nephrolithiasis.  
         
      Not recommended to  
      be co-administered  
      with rifampicin  
Ritonavir (RTV) * 100 mg PO every 12 For RTV-boosted IDV Hepatitis
    hours to be given with — take with or without  
100 mg capsules indinavir 800 mg PO food. Lipodystrophy
    every 12 hours or    
    saquinavir 1000 mg For RTV-boosted SQV  
    every 12 hours Take within 2 hours of  
      a meal  
         
      Not recommended to  
      be co-administered  
      with rifampicin  
       
Lopinavir/ritonavir 2 tablets PO every 12 Take without regard to GI intolerance
(LPV/r) * hours meals.  
Lopinavir 200 mg/     Lipodystrophy
ritonavir 50 mg tablets   Not recommended to  
      be co-administered  
      with rifampicin  
       
Nelfinavir (NFV) 1250 mg PO every 12 Take with meal or GI intolerance
    hours or snack.  
250 mg tablets or 625 750mg PO every 8   Lipodystrophy
mg tablets hours Not recommended to  
      be co-administered with  
      rifampicin  
       
Saquinavir (SQV) 1000 mg PO every 12 Take within two hours GI intolerance
    hours to be given with of a meal.  
500 mg tablets ritonavir 100 mg PO   Lipodystrophy
    12 hours Not recommended to  
      be every co-  
      administered with  
      rifampicin  
     
Fixed drug combinations    
       
Lamivudine (3TC) + 1 tablet PO every 12 Take without regard to See lamivudine and
stavudine (d4T) * hours meals. stavudine above.
       
3TC 150 mg + d4T 30      
mg tablets      
       
Zidovudine (ZDV) + 1 tablet PO every 12 Take without regard to See zidovudine and
lamivudine (3TC) * hours meals. lamivudine above.
       
ZDV 300 mg + 3TC      
150 mg tablets      
       
Zidovudine (ZDV)+ 1 tablet PO every 12 Take without regard to See zidovudine,
lamivudine (3TC)+ hours meals. lamivudine and
nevirapine (NVP)     nevirapine above.
      Not recommended to  
ZDV 300 mg + 3TC   be co-administered with  
150 mg + 200 mg   rifampicin  
tablets      
       
Emtricitabine (FTC)+ 1 tablet PO OD Take on an empty See tenofovir and
tenofovir (TDF)+   stomach and before efavirenz above.
efavirenz (EFV)   bedtime Emtricitabine —
        minimal toxicity,
FTC 200mg + TDF     rare cases of lactic
300mg + EFV 600mg     acidosis
tablets      
* Currently available in the Philippines    

 

ANNEX 3

List of Treatment Hubs in the Philippines

Treatment Hub
Address
Contact Details
Point Person
       
LUZON      
       
San Lazaro Hospital (SLH) Quiricada St., Sta. Cruz, (02) 7438301 local 6000 HACT Leader
  Manila    
Research Institute for Department of Health (02) 8072628 local 208; HACT Leader
Tropical Medicine (RITM) Compound, FILINVEST 5668807  
  Corporate City, Alabang,    
  Muntinlupa City    
Philippine General Hospital Taft Ave., Manila (02) 5673394 HACT Leader
(PGH)     HACT Leader
Ilocos Training and Regional San Fernando City, La (072) 2421143 local 122 HACT Leader
Medical Center (ITRMC) Union    
Baguio General Hospital and BGHMC Compound, (074) 442-2012; HACT Leader
Medical Center (BGHMC) Baguio City 4423165  
Bicol Regional Training and Legaspi City, Bicol (052) 4830015 HACT Leader
Teaching Hospital (BRTTH)      
Cagayan Valley Medical Tuguegarao City, (078) 846-7240 HACT Leader
Center Cagayan Valley 844-3789  
Jose B. Lingad Memorial San Fernando City, (045) 961-3921 HACT Leader
Medical Center Pampanga 961-3380  
       
VISAYAS      
       
Vicente Sotto Sr. Memorial B. Rodriguez St., Cebu (032) 2537564 HACT Leader
Medical Center (VSSMMC) City    
Western Visayas Medical Mandurriao, Iloilo City (033) 3212841 to 50 HACT Leader
Center (WVMC)      
Corazon Locsin Montelibano Lacson St., Bacolod City (034) 4351591 local HACT Leader
Memorial Regional Hospital   226; 4332697  
(CLMMRH)      
       
MINDANAO      
       
Davao Medical Center J.P. Laurel Ave., Davao (082) 2244915/ HACT Leader
  City 2221347  
Zamboanga City Medical Dr. Evangelista St., Sta. (062) 9910573 HACT Leader
Center Catalina, Zamboanga    
  City