Cancer is one of the leading causes of mortality in the country.  Statistics show that four Filipinos die from cancer EVERY HOUR.

According to the 2018 Global Data on Cancer, more than 140,000 new cancer cases and more than 80,000 cancer deaths are expected in the Philippines every year. A study conducted by the University of the Philippines’ Institute of Human Genetics, National Institutes of Health, finds that 89 of every 100,000 Filipinos are afflicted with cancer (source: www.pna.gov.ph “Finding Options vs. Cancer”).

Cancer patients, being immuno-compromised, are among the most vulnerable especially these days during this pandemic, they have less access to healthcare, and their families are affected emotionally, psychologically, and financially as cancer treatment usually results to financial catastrophe.

Filipino cancer patients, whose quality of life have been greatly affected by the pandemic situation, urgently need support with their treatment and critical care, among other items. These are provided for by law under the National Integrated Cancer Control Act (NICCA), which was signed on February 14, 2019.

This landmark health legislation was designed to provide cancer patients with quality health care services and provide their families with financial risk protection, among other cancer relevant items. The NICCA institutionalizes these items spanning the entire cancer care continuum for patients, their families, and their loved ones who collectively fight the battle against cancer.

However, the law IS STILL NOT FULLY IMPLEMENTED within the PhilHealth system alone. Meantime, as Filipinos await that time of full implementation, cases in cancer treatment – and worse, death – continue to increase.

The provisions of the NICCA will help to mitigate the impact of cancer in the country. It ensures the provision of quality health services and financial risk protection to cancer patients. It emphasizes cancer prevention and improvement of survivorship, by improving related health services and care while including additional funding for cancer programs.

In particular, we are hoping that at least these four key provisions of the NICCA will be implemented immediately:

1.     The classification of cancer patients as PWDs as soon as formally diagnosed. This will be instantaneously felt by all Filipinos to alleviate the cost of cancer treatment.

2.     Nationwide, coordinated efforts to have cancer primary healthcare at the community level, aimed at early detection. This will effectively “detour” the path of would-be patients away from the path leading to financial catastrophe because of middle- to late-stage very expensive treatments.

3.     Mandatory cancer policies in the workplace. This will trigger a multi-sectoral initiative, consistent with NICCA’s framework.

4.     The enhancement of cancer research, and the inclusion – and prioritization, whenever appropriate – of innovative therapies aimed at treating/curing the disease and improving the patient’s quality of life.

These provisions can save hundreds of lives and bring comfort to cancer patients and their families who are going through this battle. The NICCA needs to be fully implemented NOW.

We, the petitioners, want to bring the NICCA Law to its full potential by shining the light on these important issues. Join us in this petition and help save more Filipino lives. HFW will bring your petition to lawmakers, the DOH, and other decision makers in the government to show them the groundswell of support for cancer patients, their families, and their loved ones.

Let’s light the way for better cancer care in the Philippines. Sooner, rather than later.