THE Department of Health (DOH) on Saturday said antiretroviral (ARV) medications are free for people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), including minors, emphasizing the importance of early diagnosis and treatment. According to the DOH, 30 percent of HIV cases in the country fall under the age group 15 to 25.In a radio interview, Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa stated that minors who are afraid of disclosing their HIV status to their parents can access treatment through “proxy consent.”A proxy consent for a minor can be provided by social workers from the Department of Social Welfare and Development, or health care providers, when needed.Under the law, minors typically require parental consent to receive medical treatment, including ARV. However, the DOH noted that many young individuals hesitate to disclose their HIV status to their parents due to fear of stigma or rejection.“There might be teenagers listening; they might be afraid to go for a screening. You can go to the treatment hub and ask for consent from the social worker or the doctor,” Herbosa explained, urging teenagers living with HIV to seek help.This has led to cases where minors delay or avoid treatment, resulting in advanced HIV complications.Herbosa urged individuals not to resort to purchasing ARV medication from unauthorized sources, as counterfeit medications are a growing concern.“They might get scammed online. It’s illegal under the FDA (Food and Drug Administration),” Herbosa said, reminding the youth to abstain from any sexual activity until they reach the legal age.“I feel like you should abstain and just study. Your life will be destroyed if you are 15 years old. Senior high, before senior high, you are already positive. That’s for life. So very important, let’s delay gratification to a later date,” he urged the youth.He appealed to the youth to channel their energy into physical activities such as dancing, sports or the arts.“Let’s divert that energy into your hormones,” he said.The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) provides an Outpatient HIV/AIDS Treatment Package for those already undergoing treatment, covering up to P58,500 per patient annually.The DOH has also established 338 HIV care facilities across the country to provide comprehensive care for PLHIV. These services include free HIV screening, confirmatory tests, counseling and access to ARV. Of the total, 186 facilities are located in Luzon, 77 in the Visayas and 75 in Mindanao.“What will happen to us if the number of people living with HIV increases? I don’t think that the Philippines can handle it. So it’s important to control the number of people living with HIV,” Herbosa said, urging the public to get tested.