Davao cancer specialists welcome new Integrated Cancer Control Law

THE MEDICAL community in Davao Region welcomes the signing into law RA 11215 or the Integrated Cancer Control, a day before celebrating International Childhood Cancer Day last Feb. 15.

“We in the Southern Philippines Medical Center received this new law as a beautiful gift for our cancer patients. This is very meaningful to us”, pediatric oncologist Dr. Mae Dolendo bared during Kapihan sa PIA at NCCC Mall.

Dolendo said the law will open up many devel- opments for the cancer community as it won’t just cover treatment but also survivorship and rehabilitation.

“This will harmonize government efforts and will even encourage private sector partnership as the law would enable the preparation of a roadmap for an integrated approach in dealing cancer,” she said.

With just few days fresh, the law is yet to have an implementing rule and regulations (IRR) which will put into details activities and policies consistent to its provisions.

Dolendo shared that RA 11215 will allow for the establishment of infrastructures like a Philippine Cancer Center similar to the other specialized medical centers like Lung Center and the National Kidney Transplant Institute.

Nothing is concrete yet as to how to proceed with activities after the signing of the law, however, she said the law will open further development in terms of curriculum development that would entice and increase the number of oncologists in the re-

gion as well as trainings for other experts, in other disciplines, like nurses and medical technologists are also need to be trained specifically for cancer treatment procedures.

Dolendo also welcomes the signing into law the Universal Health Care, another law that provides health care coverage for all Filipinos.

“The law provides all Filipinos access to basic health care. The government will take care of the health insurance coverage of Filipinos who are not capable to pay for their premium. We are happy because this only shows that the government is standing up not just for the basic health care of every citizen”, she added. (PIA 11/ Frances Mae Macapagat)