Getting tested for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is now made more convenient, more affordable, and more discreet through a new service offered by the KonsultaMD app. The integrated digital healthcare platform and now the biggest telehealth company in the country on August 6 formally signed an agreement with Faberco Life Sciences and Southstar Drug that would more easily bring HIV testing to more Filipinos.
It is now possible to order for delivery or pickup an FDA-approved HIV self-testing kit through the KonsultaMD app, which now has over 3 million registered users across the country. To place an order, simply go to the homepage of the KonsultaMD app, tap the ‘Pharmacy’ tile and search for ‘HIV self-testing kit.’ Choose the kit, add to the cart, and proceed to checkout. You would then be asked to enter your delivery address then make the payment and confirm the order. Each self-testing kit costs ₱800.
The self-test kits can be ordered for delivery (guaranteed directly and discreetly) or for pick-up at the purchaser’s preferred Southstar Drug store location. The idea is to empower users to be able to know their status at the comfort and privacy of home in as fast of just 15 minutes.
This move is aligned with KonsultaMD’s broader mission to provide inclusive and judgment-free healthcare for Filipinos. Through the app, users can also seek guidance on HIV prevention and awareness by consulting with online doctors who are trained in HIV 101 and motivational counseling.
The KonsultaMD pharmacy even provides access to PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis), which can help prevent HIV infections if taken properly and with guidance from doctors who are also available through the app’s consultation feature.
“This is a real and growing crisis, and we believe that healthcare must meet people where they are, with empathy, with dignity, and with urgency,” said Rina Tadiar, Head of Consumer at Metro Pacific Health Tech. “As the first telehealth app in the Philippines to offer HIV health services, KonsultaMD is making prevention and support more accessible, more compassionate, and more personal than ever. This is about making it easier to get tested, easier to seek help, and easier to feel safe doing so.”
“Our partnership with KonsultaMD furthers our mission to make healthcare more accessible by promoting HIV awareness and access. Through our online store, we now offer safe and discreet HIV self-testing kits that help break stigma and encourage early action,” said Southstar Drug General Manager Thaddeus L. Sanchez
“We at Faberco Life Sciences are honored to be part of this groundbreaking partnership with KonsultaMD and Southstar Drug to make HIV Self-Test Kits more accessible to Filipinos. Through this collaboration, we are harnessing the power of health technology to break barriers in HIV testing. As the official license holder of the FDA-registered Mylan HIV Self- Test Kit, Faberco is proud to contribute our expertise in access and public health to help turn the tide of the country’s growing HIV epidemic,” said Faberco Life Sciences Inc. Head of Business Ivan Gerome Bacud.
Currently, the Philippines has the fastest-growing number of recorded HIV cases in the Asia-Pacific region, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). There are at least 57 recorded new cases of HIV infection daily, accounting to a whopping 550% jump in volume from 4,400 in 2010 to 29,600 in 2024. This year (2025), it is estimated that about 252,800 Filipinos are living with HIV, with projections that the number will further double to more than 500,000 by 2030.
Thus, there is an obviously urgent need for accessible and judgment-free healthcare especially as many individuals still avoid getting tested out of fear, share or perceived lack of privacy.
KonsultaMD reiterates that it aims to help build a future wherein every Filipino can manage health without judgement or fear through combined education, self-testing, and compassionate care.