DOH-MMCHD offering free medicines for mental health conditions

MANILA, Philippines, December 21 ------ The Department of Health – Metro Manila Center for Mental Health Development (DOH-MMCHD) is offering free medications for selected mental health conditions.

According to the DOH-MMCHD, Valproic Acid (250mg/5ml, 120ml bottle) medicines are available at their unit as of December 2025. “To take care of your mind, we have free mental health medicine na Valproic Acid 250mg/5ml, 120 ml bottle sa MMCHD,” it said in a Facebook post.

DOH-MMCHD said that those with updated prescriptions can avail themselves of the free medicines. They must email a copy of their prescription to mapmhmmchd@gmail.com and wait for confirmation. Meanwhile, DOH-MMCHD urged the public to stay away from bad habits such as eating unhealthy food, drinking alcoholic beverages, and using vaping and cigarettes in public places. “We should not destroy our health because of bad habits every Christmas and New Year. The real essence of Christmas is not measured in excessive food and vices, but in safety, discipline, and compassion with each other” DOH-MMCHD Regional Director Lester Tan said in a separate statement written in Filipino.

According to the DOH-MMCHD Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Section, their data from the fourth quarter of 2024 showed that 50,502 adults in National Capital Region were assessed to have hypertension; 16,279 adults had Type 2 Diabetes; 110,613 adults had obesity; 37,936 were binge drinkers; and 25,577 were smokers.

Source: inquirer.net