Cervical cancer diagnostic, treatment fund pushed

MAGDALO party-list Rep. Gary Alejano is seeking the creation of a National Cervical Cancer Diagnostic and Treatment Fund to provide financial assistance to indigent patients.

Alejano laments that 12 Filipino women per day die from cervical cancer due to late detection and lack of awareness of the disease among Filipino women.

“In 2014, 12 Filipino women per day died from cervical cancer. Because cervical cancer is often detected in its late stages, the mortality rate is high. According to World Health Organization (WHO), in the Philippines, cervical cancer ranks as the second most common cancer in women between the ages of 15 to 44, next to breast cancer, “he said.

Alejano filed House Bill 7669 seeking the creation of the diagnostic and treatment fund to provide financial aid for the medical care of indigent patients.

The bill provides for the composition and administration of the fund, the covered services, eligibility of patients, and the disbursement of funds, he said.

“It is hoped that this measure would alleviate the struggle of women and their families who have to cope with the life threatening disease,” he said.

Alejano branded HB 7669 as a proactive measure that would encourage women to undergo screening to protect them from such disease.

Under HB 7669, the fund shall be comprised of money appropriated to the fund by the Legislature, the national government and all other sums designated for deposit in the fund from any source, public or private.