Cancer Assistance Fund open to cancer patients, survivors
Cancer patients and survivors can now avail of the Cancer Assistance Fund which aims to provide support for patients living with cancer and for cancer survivors, the Department of Health announced Monday.
In an advisory, the DoH said the CAF shall cover outpatient and inpatient services including but not limited to diagnostics, therapeutic procedures, medicines, treatment and management services, and other care-related components of cancer.
“The CAF is designed to complement existing financial support mechanisms in public and private facilities,” it added.
The eight identified priority cancer types eligible to be financed by the CAF include breast cancer, childhood cancer, gynecologic cancer, liver cancer, adult blood cancers, head and neck cancers, lung cancer, and prostate, renal, and urinary bladder cancers.
To avail of the CAF, patients and/or carers must submit the requirements to identified access sites where CAF services are made available, according to the agency.
“Required documents including prescriptions, treatment protocols, and medical abstracts shall first undergo evaluation prior to approval and availment of services,” it added.
Health Officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said the implementation of the CAF, which is in accordance with the National Integrated Cancer Control Act and pursuant to Special Provision 13 of the agency, is part of the full implementation of the Universal Health Care.
“As part of our efforts towards realizing Universal Health Care, the CAF was developed and implemented to increase the accessibility of specialty cancer care services to many of our kababayans afflicted with this disease,” Vergeire said.
“To our patients, please remember that the Department of Health is always ready to provide aid and health services to every Filipino who is affected by this disease,” she added.
Likewise, the Health official underscored that strengthening the county’s health infrastructure and increasing its accessibility will be necessary for mitigating the impact of future pandemics.
Vergeire cited the crucial role of hospital administrators in ensuring that the expansion of hospitals and health facilities follows the Philippine Health Facility Development Plan to maintain the rational allocation of investments in the development of specialty centers throughout the country, which in turn will make healthcare services more accessible to the public.
She also noted the importance of healthcare provider networks and specialty care access, as well as establishing the Philippine Center for Disease Control and Prevention ang the Virology and Vaccine Institute of the Philippines, adding that shifting from crisis mitigation to institutional and infrastructure strengthening and resilience will enable the healthcare system to address challenges that will beset the country’s health system.
“Guided by our health sector strategy which focuses on system strengthening aligned with our Universal Health Care objectives, at syempre sa tulong ng ating mga kaalyado, like AHAPGSI, we will be able to address the long-standing gaps in the health sector,” she said.