Cancer survivor appeals to President Marcos

A cancer survivor has called on President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos to recognize the physical, emotional and financial burden of cancer and extend government assistance to present and future patients, particularly those suffering from cervical cancer.

“Please heed our plea that you also give importance to cancer, so that there would be fewer women who would suffer or go on years-long battle with this disease,” Reggie Drilon said in her Feb. 12 open letter to Mr. Marcos.

The 49-year-old Drilon heads the Cancer Survivors Organization at the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital. She battled cervical cancer but lost her sister to the deadly disease.

Her letter came in time for the fifth anniversary of the enactment of Republic Act No. 11215, or the National Integrated Cancer Control Act (Nicca), and the observance of National Cancer Awareness Month every February.

Cervical cancer is the second deadliest cancer among Filipino women, killing 11 every day.

Drilon called on the government to make vaccination more accessible, especially for immunization-preventable diseases, including cervical cancer, as well as provide expanded screening and sufficient support for patients struggling to manage the disease.

Her appeal was aligned with the global initiative for cervical cancer elimination devised by the World Health Organization, which provides that 90 percent of girls should receive the Human Papillomavirus vaccine upon reaching 15 years of age by 2030.

The Philippines should also target that 70 percent of women be given a high-performance test when they reach age 35, followed by a second screening when they reach 45. Another goal is for 90 percent of women identified with cervical disease to receive treatment.

In the 10 years that Drilon fought cervical cancer, she said the disease took a toll on her and her family, not only physically and emotionally. It also left them financially drained.

“I am just one of the many who are counting on the benefits of the Nicca. We are hopeful that there will be a New Philippines for us cancer patients through this law,” Drilon added.

Financial support

The Nicca created the Cancer Assistance Fund (CAF), which aims to complement and supplement existing financial support mechanisms exclusive to cancer patients, persons living with cancer and cancer survivors.

This year, the government allotted P1 billion for the fund to subsidize the continuous medical assistance for 6,666 cancer patients registered across 31 cancer access sites nationwide.

The CAF will partially finance outpatient and inpatient cancer control services, including therapeutic procedures and other cancer medicines needed to treat and manage the disease and its care-related components.

The fund aims to fill the financial gap in cancer diagnostics and laboratories, which the current benefit packages of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. do not cover. On average, Filipino families spend approximately P150,000 per patient for these treatments.

The landmark RA 11215—making the Philippines among the eight countries worldwide with a law on addressing cancer—also established the Cancer and Supportive-Palliative Medicines Access Program by providing free medicines.

It likewise supports cancer specialty centers identified in the Philippine Health Facility Development Plan that provide comprehensive cancer care, along with primary care facilities that are given the role of prevention, screening and early detection.

Currently, 35 access sites nationwide offer 61 medicines for the most common cancers.