Former Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito called for government funding of the National Integrated Cancer Control Act or Republic Act No. 11215 in a bike run recently held as part of the month-long activities for the breast cancer month.
The law which he sponsored as chairman of the Senate committee on health and signed by President Duterte last year aims to ramp up essential programs and increase investments to battle cancer.
The landmark health legislation seeks to provide access to more responsive and affordable health care services for cancer patients, support the recovery and reintegration to society of cancer survivors, and mandates the implementation of assistance programs for economically challenged cancer patients.
“We need to campaign for funding of the National Integrated Cancer Control Act. This is needed more than ever during the coronavirus pandemic as cancer patients are immunocompromised and are more vulnerable to COVID,” said Ejercito.
“It is our fervent hope that programs for the prevention and control of all types of cancer for all ages and stages will not be put in the back burner, again.
The spread of cancer did not stop on the occurrence of the pandemic. In fact, cancer patients experienced more difficulties in getting treatment and medicines during the implementation of community quarantine,” Ejercito said.
Health advocates are urging legislators to honor the mandate under the laws’ implementing rules and regulation Section 32 stating that an amount should be in the national expenditure program as a basis for the General Appropriations Act.
Philippine Cancer Society Executive Director Dr. Rachel Rosario said, “Now more than ever, adequately funding the cancer law and the government cancer program is of utmost necessity as the pandemic affected cancer patients on many levels thus catching up on their treatment and management is necessary.”
“Cancer patients are now suffering not only from their affliction but also from the challenges to diagnosis and treatment brought about by the COVID pandemic. Funding the NICCA is urgently needed so we don’t create another health crisis in our midst,” Dr. Rosario said.
“It is our collective hope therefore that avoidable deaths from cancer will be reduced and unnecessary suffering will be eliminated thru adequate budget appropriations. Thus, we respectfully appeal that a separate line item will be included in the DOH Budget for 2021 for the Cancer Assistance Fund.” Cancer Coalition of the Philippines president Paul Perez said.
The cancer awareness bike run was organized thru the collaboration of cancer survivors and advocates including Labor Undersecretary and Head of the Blas Ople Policy Center and Training Institute Susan “Toots” Ople, former Comelec Commissioner Gregorio “Goyo” Larrazabal, Cancer Coalition of the Philippines, Philippine Cancer Society, CitizenWatch Philippines, and the Office of Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso.