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By Teodoro B. Padilla
With more patients in need of help to access treatments, advocates welcome the recent announcement of the Department of Health (DoH) that it would allocate at least a P700-million annual budget to the cancer assistance fund. During the “Cancer Conversations: From Policy to Meaningful Action” webinar held in partnership with the
BusinessWorld, Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III reaffirmed the government’s commitment to implement the National Integrated Cancer Control Act (NICCA).
“Historically, the budget trend for the cancer control program has been fluctuating and frankly, insufficient. By having NICCA in place and indicated in the draft Administrative Order on Cancer Assistance Fund, the annual budget for the Cancer Supportive Care and Palliative Care Medicines Access Program will now be at least 700 million pesos. This will allow us to cover more priority cancer types and allow us to give larger numbers of patients in minimizing, if no
February 23, 2021 | 8:31 pm Font Size
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A LAWMAKER urged the Department of Health (DoH) to fast-track the guidelines on how cancer patients can avail themselves of a -million government fund.
In a statement Tuesday, Quezon City Rep. Alfredo Paolo “Alfred” D. Vargas III said the rules under Republic Act 11215 or the National Integrated Cancer Control Act (NICCA) would help Filipino cancer patients who have a hard time paying for treatment.
“Your favorable support for the proper implementation of NICCA, particularly the cancer assistance fund, will institutionalize the government’s support and protection for families who are heavily affected by this public health emergency,” he said.
Cancer control legislation in the Philippines a step in the right direction to improve childhood cancer management
Cancer control legislation in the Philippines a step in the right direction to improve childhood cancer management 17 February 2021
Cancer is among the leading causes of death and disability in the Western Pacific. It affects people across different age groups, with children among the most vulnerable. In the Philippines, where an estimated 107 million people live, over 4700 children (aged 0 to 19 years) are expected to be diagnosed with cancer each year, with leukemia accounting for approximately 49% of childhood cancers. Other cancers affect the brain and nervous system (9.7%), lymph nodes (9%), retina (7.5%), kidney (3.4%), and bone and soft tissues, gonadal, and germ cell sites. Deaths from childhood cancer are estimated at 1700 each year.
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The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in many patients deferring regular checkups and treatment sessions with their doctor. These interruptions in healthcare have been affecting the health and quality of life of our cancer patients.
Early this month, the Cancer Coalition Philippines (CCPh) and members of the Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP) together with the Department of Health (DoH) held the first of a series of virtual fora in order to put a spotlight on the current plight of cancer patients in the country.
“Cancer Conversations: Navigating Cancer with Patients” aimed to give patients important information such as what to do when one is diagnosed with cancer, what the support systems available are under the National Integrated Cancer Control Act of 2019 (NICCA), and where to source funding support, among others.