Romero seeks creation of Nat’l Cancer Center
TO better attend to the needs of cancer patients, a lawmaker has filed a bill seeking to establish the National Cancer Center of the Philippines, which would cater primarily to the poor and marginalized Filipinos.
“Cancer is recognized as one of the leading causes of death in the country, and it’s the government mandate to make cancer treatment and care more equitable and affordable for all,” 1PACMAN Party-list Rep. Mikee Romero said.
House Bill (HB) No. 340 seeks to establish the National Cancer Center of the Philippines. This hospital specializes in cancer and will truly envision the purpose of the recently enacted law from an accurate diagnosis to timely and optimal treatment.
Romero noted that while there were provisions stipulated in the National Integrated Cancer Control Act to establish cancer centers at the regional healthcare level, there is a need to develop a specialty hospital at the national level to further enhance the noble undertaking of the government and likewise complement the said cancer control law.
Republic Act (RA) No. 11215, or the National Integrated Cancer Control Act, provides that cancer is recognized as one of the leading causes of death in the country and that the government should provide an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development which includes the strengthening of integrative, multidisciplinary, patient and family-centered policies, programs, systems, interventions and services at all levels of existing health care delivery system and make cancer treatment and care more equitable and affordable for all, especially the poor Filipinos.
“However, a dedicated institute should be established to cater to and ensure the treatment and care of cancer patients. This proposed measure seeks to create the National Cancer Center of the Philippines, a hospital that specializes in cancer which will truly envision the purpose of the recently enacted law from an accurate diagnosis to timely and optimal treatment, and responsive palliative care and pain management up to late effects management and rehabilitation of cancer patients,” Romero said.
