Duterte signs Cancer Control Bill into law

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has signed into law a bill that seeks to implement a national framework to fight cancer.

Duterte signed Republic Act 11215 or the National Integrated Cancer Control Act on February 14, 2018, a copy of which was issued to media on Tuesday.

The new law “shall adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development which includes the strengthening  of integrative, multidisciplinary, patient, and family centered cancer control policies, programs, systems, interventions and services at all levels of the existing health care delivery system.”

It also aims to establish the National Integrated Cancer Control Program which seeks to prevent deaths from cancer by providing “affordable and accessible” medical treatment.

Data from the Department of Health’s Philippine Cancer Facts and Estimates showed that the incidence of cancer was up to eight deaths per day for childhood cancer and up to 11 new cases and seven deaths per hour for adult cancer. /je