Second ‘Cancer Conversations’ series slated

Coming on the heels of the celebration of World Cancer Day, the Cancer Coalition Philippines (CCPh), members of the Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP) as well as the Department of Health (DoH), joined hands to inspire action for a cancer-free future through a series of online forums aimed at mapping the path forward to strengthen cancer control in the Philippines.

The first of the series, “Cancer Conversations: Navigating Cancer with Patients,” centered on discussions on the plight of cancer patients and their families during the pandemic, and how they could access crucial information, funding and healthcare.

The forum also highlighted the importance of the full implementation of the National Integrated Cancer Control Act (NICCA) in providing quality, affordable, and accessible healthcare to all cancer patients.

In the second series, “Cancer Conversations: From Policy to Meaningful Action,” picks up on the policies and programs under NICCA that will help address gaps in the current continuum of cancer care, help better facilitate cancer treatment, and eliminate the various challenges on patients, people living with cancer, survivors, and their families.

“The National Integrated Cancer Control Act is a milestone for all cancer patients and their families. Major progress has been made, but there are also areas that require our concerted action. For example, we need to be assured that the Cancer Assistance Fund would be sustainably funded according to patient needs. We aspire for better cancer care now through the full implementation of the NICCA so that we could protect patients and their families from the long-term impact of the pandemic on the vulnerable,” said CCPh president and Project: Brave Kids founder Paul Perez.

Perez stressed that cancer screening, care and treatment has been disrupted mainly due to fears of Covid-19 exposure and for the majority of cancer patients who lack financial capacity, treatments were discontinued because funding assistance were also halted.

The CCPh is composed of I Can Serve Foundation, Philippine Cancer Society, Cancer Warriors Foundation, Philippine Society of Oncologists, Project: Brave Kids, Carewell Community Foundation, and the Philippine Society of Medical Oncology.