In time for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, cancer patient groups are urging the House of Representatives to finally pass the National Integrated Cancer Control Act before the session ends this December.
They are hoping the passage would serve as an early Christmas gift to millions of Filipino patients and families dealing with the growing burden of cancer treatment and care.
The National Integrated Cancer Control Act—which aims to make cancer treatment and care more equitable and affordable for all cancers, all ages, all stages across all genders—was recently approved by the Senate on second reading, under Senate Bill 1850.
“Now, we hope that the House would do the same, to prioritze this Act, as its passage is long overdue. More and more Filipino families are going deep into poverty because of this disease,” Paul Perez, spokesperson of the Cancer Coalition of the Philippines, said in a statement Friday.
For her part, Philippine Cancer Society executive director Dr. Rachael Rosario said, “Neoplasms or cancer is the second leading cause of mortality in the country.
This is according to the latest data published by the Philippines Statistics Authority. So delays in the passage of the Cancer Control Act would risk more lives.
Patients are suffering all the more not only due to the effects of the disease, but also due to financial constraints. We cannot deprive them of treatments and the opportunity to live.
The Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives amended and approved last Sept. 26 a still unnumbered substitute consolidated bill, which is now being prepared for committee report that has reached almost 200 co-authors.
“We are grateful for this development, hoping that this would swift the passage of the National Integrated Cancer Control Act. But we are still calling on our congressmen and senators to pass this Act soon, before it’s too late for some of our countrymen who are enduring theburden of this disease,” added Perez.
To which Dr. Rosario seconded, “It’s critical for our congressmen to push and maintain cancer as a national health priority in the country.Together, we can fight cancer by getting involved and helping
push for the passage of Cancer Control Act now.”
The National Integrated Cancer Control Act seeks to expand efforts to strengthen cancer control policies, programs, systems, interventions, and services at all levels of the health care delivery systems.
It envisions to scale up essential cancer programs by increasing investments for higher awareness, robust prevention of cancer, better screening, early detection, prompt and accurate diagnosis, timely and optimal treatment, responsive palliative care and pain management, effective survivorship care and late effects management and rehabilitation.
The law empowers the State to make cancer treatment and care more equitable and affordable for all cancers, all ages, all stages across all genders.