DBM releases P500-million cancer aid fund for 2023

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) on Monday said it has already released to the Department of Health the P500-million 2023 Cancer Assistance Fund (CAF).

The DBM said the amount is part of its comprehensive fund releases at the start of the year.

The CAF aims to complement and supplement existing financial support mechanisms for various cancer care and control services that are not yet covered by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation and are only partially covered by the Malasakit Program.

DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said the release of the funds affirms the government’s commitment to boost the health and welfare of cancer-stricken Filipinos.

“For many years, cancer has been one of the leading causes of death in the country. Sadly, Filipino families, even those in the upper-income brackets, are vulnerable to catastrophic health spending due to high treatment costs and limited coverage of cancer care under public programs,” she said in a statement.

“Based on 2019 estimates, around 60% of the total public cancer expenditures comes from out-of-pocket payments and private insurance. Naiintindihan kong mabigat ‘yon sa bulsa at balikat ng ating mga kababayan,” she added.

(We understand that it is a burden to a lot of Filipinos.)

The DBM chief added that with the fund, she hopes every Filipino with cancer  would be given a “fighting chance.”

According to the DBM, the fund will defray outpatient and inpatient cancer control services, including but not limited to diagnostics, therapeutic procedures, and other cancer medicines needed to treat and manage cancer and its care-related components.

The CAF also includes funding the needed diagnostics and laboratories in relation to eight priority cancer types, which are:

-breast cancer

-childhood cancers

-gynecologic cancers

-liver cancer, including colorectal and other digestive tract cancers

-adult blood cancers

-head and neck cancers, including thyroid

-lung cancer

-prostate, renal, and urinary bladder cancer

In 2022, the DBM released P529.2 million for the CAF, of which the DOH utilized P230.8 million.

The balance of P298.4 million may still be used until the end of 2023.

The execution of the 2023 CAF will be based on the new guidelines to be released soon by the DBM and the DOH, the agency said.

gsg/abc