Multi-sectoral partnership seen as an effective method on cancer prevention and control
CANCER continues to be one of the top medical issues among Filipinos, with breast cancer being the most common among women in the Philippines. The Philippine Foundation for Breast Care, Inc., through its website Kasuso.org, citing data from the Philippine Statistics Authority and the Department of Health (DOH), noted that three out of every 100 Filipinas will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. It further noted that according to the Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society, the country had the highest incidence of breast cancer among 197 countries around the world back in February 2017.
This is why a multi-sectoral group composed of public and private sector organizations gathered and launched a data-digital infrastructure project that aims to support breast cancer control programs in the country.
The Circle of Life
JUST like any other disease, cancer, in this case breast cancer, remains totally preventable, if only it is detected and diagnosed early, and that access to timely and quality care is provided. This was the vision of the community-based Ating Dibdibin program launched in 2008 by breast cancer advocacy group Icanserve Foundation that advocated for early of breast cancer detection and diagnosis, access to timely and quality care, supportive and palliative care, and patient navigation.
A collaboration between the Icanserve Foundation, the local government of Taguig City, local health-care software startup Dashlabs, and Novartis, the Circle of Life Data and Digital Infrastructure project aims to support the Ating Dibdibin program, one of two inaugural winners of the 2022 Alliance and Partnerships for Patient Innovation and Solutions (APPIS) Innovator Program, which supported the development and implementation of the project.
Through Circle of Life, analytics can be generated to help identify gaps in cancer care and enhance its monitoring and evaluation. With available data, local governments are thus empowered to make data-driven decisions and use it to support requests for healthcare-related funding at the local and national levels.
Kara Magsanoc-alikpala, Founding President of Icanserve Foundation and Vice President for Internal Affairs of Cancer Coalition Philippines, said that by building the Ating Dibdibin data and digital infrastructure in Taguig City, the project’s pilot area, it will generate analytics to help identify gaps in cancer care and enhance monitoring and evaluation. This, in turn, helps empower the local government to make datadriven decisions and use the data to support their request for health care-related funding at the local and national levels.
“I believe with good data we can eventually overcome every barrier to quality and timely care for breast cancer. Data and knowing how to interpret it can help us identify problems, including those challenges that have yet to surface. Data can guide us to design targeted interventions and solutions. Nowadays, it’s a necessary investment in saving lives,” she explained.
For her part, Ruth Kuguru, Region Head, Patient Engagement and Communications, Innovative Medicines Novartis, said the APPIS Innovator Program supports patient organizations across Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa that have found innovative ways to elevate and amplify patient voices. “It enables patient organizations to grow and scale existing patient programs and take these to the next level to improve health outcomes.”
Meanwhile, Maria Laarni Cayetano, Taguig City Mayor, said the project is a great leap forward in breast cancer response and advancement of healthcare services in the city and the country. “We see the potential for more effectiveness and efficiency heralded by the Circle of Life. As another pioneering project, this will enhance what we already have at Ating Dibdibin. May we continue to integrate systems that would elevate our advocacy and push for quality health care that leaves no one else behind.”
Integrated approach, data and digital
FORMER DOH Secretary Dr. Paulyn Jean Rosell-ubial also emphasized that an integrated approach through multistakeholder collaboration is key in cancer prevention and control. This is why, she said, the National Integrated Cancer Control Act (NICCA) adopts a whole-of-society, whole-ofgovernment approach.
As a company that provides technology for automation and optimization of laboratory processes and operations, Dashlabs.ai expressed gratitude in being part of the project to help save lives. “We are grateful for the opportunity to contribute to scaling this project up through technology. We hope that we can together uncover insights and improve the lives of Filipinos throughout the country,” according to Bryan Giger, Dashlabs Chief Executive Officer and co-founder.
Finally, Novartis reiterated that going data and digital in the country’s healthcare system will help lower costs for more efficient monitoring of patients for early detection and timely consult at the primary care level, and help reduce late diagnosis that requires specialist care and more advanced diagnostics and treatments. “Disease education can also be more effective based on data and evidence from the system. Novartis aims to collaborate with stakeholders to help reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases such as breast cancer,” according to Christine Fajardo, Communications and Engagement Head, Philippines and Asia Aspiring, Innovative Medicines Novartis.