The Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD) convened experts and advocates on 26 March 2026 for its PolicyRx webinar series, focusing on Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and its impact on women’s health. The episode entitled, “SheSpeaks Science: Advancing Responsive Policies for Women’s Health,” underscored how local research and lived experiences can guide responsive health policies in the Philippines.

Ms. Marie Sheine Consorte of the University of the Philippines (UP) Manila presented her study on women diagnosed with PCOS in the City of Manila. The research revealed that many women delay medical consultations due to limited awareness and the normalization of symptoms. Ms. Consorte emphasized that PCOS should be recognized not only as a hormonal disorder but as a chronic health condition shaped by social expectations, economic constraints, and systematic gaps in healthcare. She recommended stronger public awareness campaigns, structured training for health professionals in patient-centered communication, expanded financial support systems, and improved access to women’s health services.

Dr. Junice Demeterio-Melgar of Likhaan Center for Women’s Health highlighted persistent patterns of neglect in women’s health concerns within public discourse and service delivery. She noted that reproductive health conditions often received unequal recognition in health systems. Meanwhile, Dr. Zashka Alexis M. Gomez of the Department of Health (DOH) emphasized the importance of strengthening primary care, where many women first seek assistance. She stressed the need for both clinical competence and communication approaches that allow patients to feel heard and respected.

With growing attention to women’s health issues, DOST-PCHRD Executive Director Dr. Jaime C. Montoya emphasized the urgency of tackling reproductive and metabolic conditions affecting women. He highlighted the need for greater awareness, stronger health services, and policies that are both evidence-based and responsive to the lived realities of Filipino women.

The session closed with a call to continue linking PCOS-related studies and community experiences to policymaking spaces, ensuring that women’s voices and research findings inform future directions in health services and policy development.

The PolicyRx: Prescribing Science for Better Decisions is a quarterly webinar series organized by the DOST-PCHRD to enhance awareness and appreciation of health research among policymakers, healthcare professionals, and the public through podcasts, webinars, and interactive dialogues.