NATIONAL RARE DISEASE WEEK 2026
Message of the DOH Secretary
On behalf of the Department of Health, I extend my warmest greetings to the Philippine Society for Orphan Disorders (PSOD), Inc. as it commemorates the 17th National Rare Disease Week!
Institutionalized through Presidential Proclamation No. 1989, this annual observance is a solemn reaffirmation of our shared responsibility, to see, to hear, and to champion the lives of every Filipino living with a rare disease. Though each condition may touch only a handful, together they reach more than 300 million people worldwide, among them countless Filipinos whose courage and quiet strength continue to inspire us all.
The theme for this year, “More Than You Can Imagine,” calls upon each of us to look beyond diagnosis and prognosis, and to behold the full humanity of the person behind the condition – their dreams, their dignity, their irreplaceable place in our society. Rare disease is defined not by its rarity, but by the extraordinary resilience of those who carry it, and the extraordinary responsibility of those entrusted to serve them.
Through Republic Act No. 10747, the Rare Disease Act, we enshrined in law every patient’s right to accurate diagnosis, quality care, and life-saving treatment. This commitment has extended beyond our shores, as the Philippines co-sponsored the Rare Disease Resolution at the 78th World Health Assembly, standing as a strong advocate for rare disease recognition, equity, and solidarity. We are equally guided by the Universal Health Care Act, affirming that no Filipino shall be left behind, and that those with the most enduring health burdens deserve the fullest measure of our care.
I offer my deepest admiration to PSOD for your unyielding advocacy. May this week not only celebrate how far we have come, but galvanize us toward all that still must be done.
Rare is Strong. Rare is Many. Rare is Proud.
Dahil sa Bagong Pilipinas, Bawat Buhay Mahalaga!
DR. TEODORO J. HERBOSA
Secretary
Department of Health