Lawmaker commends gov’t for hiking budget for cancer control, patient support
A lawmaker has commended the administration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Romualdez Marcos Jr. for increasing the budgetary allocation to cancer control and assistance to cancer patients in 2024.
Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman had earlier announced that the Marcos government is allotting over P2 billion to aid Filipino cancer patients under the national budget for next year.
The amount is P500 million higher than the current allocation for the government’s cancer control and assistance programs.
House Deputy Minority Leader Bernadette Herrera called the budget increase “a commendable step forward in the pursuit of accessible and compassionate healthcare for all Filipinos.”
The representative of Bagong Henerasyon (BH) praised President Marcos and Pangandaman for their commitment to addressing the pressing healthcare needs of Filipinos, especially those grappling with the challenges of cancer.
“It underscores the government’s dedication to alleviating the burden of cancer on affected individuals and their families, bringing hope and healing to countless lives,” she added.
In a recent statement, Pangandaman announced that an allocation of P1.024 billion under the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases will provide support to over 18,000 cancer patients nationwide.
This funding will cover the procurement of essential cancer commodities such as Trastuzumab 600 mg/5mL, Docetaxel 40 mg/mL, and Paclitaxel 6 mg/mL.
She said that an additional P1 billion has been designated for the Cancer Assistance Fund (CAF) to sustain medical aid for 6,666 registered cancer patients spread across 31 cancer access sites nationwide.
The CAF will play a crucial role in financing both outpatient and inpatient cancer control services, encompassing therapeutic procedures and vital cancer medications.
The fund aims to address the financial gap in cancer diagnostics and laboratories not covered by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation.
On average, Filipino families spend roughly P150,000 per patient on these treatments.
