Make cancer assistance fund more accessible, DOH told

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos has ordered the Department of Health (DOH) to make the cancer assistance fund (CAF) more accessible to patients who need to receive timely and adequate support.

Marcos on Friday directed the DOH to intensify information campaign on the CAF, to ensure that more cancer patients are aware of and able to access the program.

The program provides up to P150,000 for the treatment and diagnostic tests of a patient.

“We aim to have more of our countrymen in need receiving help from the cancer assistance fund,” Marcos said during the inauguration of the Region 1 Medical Center (R1MC) Cancer Institute in Dagupan City.

In the maiden episode of the BBM Podcast on Monday, the President said he was saddened by a survey showing respondents expressing hope for the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. to include in the PhilHealth coverage 10 most common diseases in the country.

Marcos said a majority of cancer patients do not avail themselves of the CAF because they do not know that the assistance exists.

To ensure that patients can avail themselves of the CAF, Marcos directed Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa to release a list of hospitals where the assistance can be availed of.

Cancer patients can use the CAF in 34 DOH-accredited hospitals nationwide, including the R1MC, by presenting their medical abstracts, doctor’s prescriptions and treatment plans.

A social worker or a personnel is assigned in each 34 DOH-run hospitals to assess a cancer patient’s condition.

Among hospitals where the CAF is available are the Philippine General Hospital and Tondo Medical Center in Metro Manila, Baguio General Hospital, Bicol Medical Center, Vicente Sotto Medical Center in Cebu, Eastern Visayas Medical Center in Tacloban, Zamboanga City Medical Center and Amai Pakpak Medical Center in Marawi.