The Senate and Congress Bicameral Committee’s approval of an additional PHP620M budget for cancer brings timely and significant help for cancer patients nationwide.
In the Philippines, cancer is the second leading cause of death[1]. The top 5 causes of death from cancer are lung, liver, breast, colon, and leukemia. The Philippines’ has the highest prevalence of breast cancer in Asia and the 9th highest in the world today. [2] With the advent of COVID-19, focus has also been on those with lymphoma, who are considered to be at higher risk for infection according to the Philippine Society of Medical Oncology.
The Economist Intelligence Unit, one of the largest and most experienced analyst teams in the world[4], revealed that the country ranks last for cancer preparedness among ten countries in the Asia-Pacific region in its report “Cancer preparedness in Asia-Pacific: Progress toward universal cancer control” (ICP).
Based on the ICP, widening and updating the cancer treatments covered by national insurance schemes and including palliative care services are areas that need improvement on a continuous basis. Ongoing efforts for universal enrolment should be pursued and healthcare expenditure sustained to meet international standards and to reduce out-of-pocket spending. The additional budget for cancer is a step towards answering the call for supporting cancer services implementation with financial resources together with a cancer registry, implementation and monitoring frameworks, and strong leadership. At the time of COVID, the Cancer Assistance Fund which was put in place by the National Integrated Cancer Control Act (NICCA) and given substance in the Bicameral Committee, supports the patients journey towards survival and productive life.
“We would like to acknowledge the efforts of former Senator JV Ejercito, the principal author and sponsor of the National Integrated Cancer Control Act, together with the members of the Cancer Coalition of the Philippines, and the different patient and advocacy groups and medical professional organizations who continuously and tirelessly advocate to fund and implement the landmark legislation. We also appreciate the efforts of the members of the 18th Congress who ensured that cancer programs will be funded in the 2021 National Budget. We hope that this support will continue in the succeeding years”, says Mr. Paul Perez, President of the Cancer Coalition of the Philippines.
The NICCA was well-cited in the ICP, showcasing the Philippines to be the only lower-middle income country with a comprehensive cancer control plan, as defined in the recent National Integrated Cancer Control Program instituted through the NICCA. The NICCA was also well-noted for the way it was developed with an inclusive set of stakeholders that included patient advocacy groups, medical societies and civil society.
Signed into law in February 2019, the NICCA ensures the provision of quality health services and financial risk protection to cancer patients by increasing assistance among families that cannot afford to fund basic medical care from their own pockets through the expansion of PhilHealth packages.
Key provisions under NICCA Law include the creation of the Philippine Cancer Center to promote and encourage cancer research, provide training to medical professionals, and house the population-based cancer registry.
It also mandated the creation of the National Integrated Cancer Control Council, a multi-sectoral and multi-stakeholder body that will act as the policy making, planning, and coordinating body on cancer control, headed by the Secretary of Health.