Launching of the Philippine Cancer Center’s National Cancer Research Agenda 2024-2028 on Wednesday, November 27, 2024 at Century Park Hotel in Malate, Manila. (Photo by Dianne Sampang/INQUIRER.net)
MANILA, Philippines – The launching of the National Cancer Research Agenda for 2024-2028 on Wednesday underscores the key role of unified cancer prevention strategies and efforts, the Philippine Cancer Center (PCC) said.
PCC Interim Executive Director Dr. Alfonso Nuñez III said their study found out that while cancer research is being carried out by many hospitals and health experts in the country, it has no unified focus.
“Nakita namin na para magkaroon ng kakaisang isip, isang pananaw kung paano magiging tutukuyin sa cancer, naglaunch kami ng National Cancer Research Agenda,” Nuñez said in an ambush interview in Malate, Manila.
(To have a collective mindset and principle on how to tackle and detect cancer, we launched the National Cancer Research Agenda.)
PCC, the country’s center of excellence for cancer care and treatment, was created through Republic Act No. 11215 or the National Integrated Cancer Control Act which was signed by then-president Rodrigo Duterte in 2019.
Further, Nuñez noted that the cancer agenda will serve as the “guidance” of how cancer research should be done in the country and how lawmakers and other government agencies can extend assistance and support causes against cancer.
“Itong National Cancer Research Agenda ang magbibigay ng pinakaguidance sa lahat ng ospital at lahat ng grupong gustong gumawa ng cancer research na magfocus sa 12 temang ito para makapag-contribute sa cancer research sa Pilipinas,” Nuñez added.
(This National Cancer Research Agenda will serve as the guidance for all hospitals and groups who want to conduct cancer research and focus on the 12 themes to contribute to cancer research in the Philippines.)
Ribbon-cutting for the presentation of the 12 themes of the National Cancer Research Agenda 2024-2028 (Photo by Dianne Sampang/INQUIRER.net)
Unveiling the 12 themes of the agenda
The cancer agenda is anchored on 12 themes, which Nuñez said underwent a rigorous process and formulation among PCC, government agencies, interested groups and even the World Health Organization.
PCC Medical Officer V Dr. Carol Villegas-Narra presented the themes as follows:
- Cancer Treatment Outcome
- Health Systems Strengthening
- Health Promotion, Prevention, and Early Detection
- Data Management and Sharing
- Epidemiological Research on Cancer Burden
- Multidisciplinary and Holistic Care
- Palliative and Survivorship Care
- Human Resources for Health
- Technological Innovations and Interventions
- Traditional, Complimentary, and Integrative Medicine
- Personalized Medicine and Multi-omics Research
- Cancer Biology
Department of Health (DOH) Undersecretary Dr. Ermie Liza Perez-Chiong said that the agenda will help the DOH address the prevalence of cancer cases in the country.
“Tamang-tama na with the 12 agenda [themes], para hindi nagcaclash yung ating researches, alam natin kung saan i-uunder… We will be able to come up with the prevalence kung anong cancer ang matindi at this age group… How do we prevent it kasi we also want the people to know,” Perez-Chiong said in the an ambush interview.
(The 12 agendas [themes] are appropriate so the researches will not clash against each other, and we know where they will be filed under… We will be able to come up with the prevalence of cancer at a certain age group… How do we prevent it, because we also want the people to know.)
Perez-Chiong also noted that cancer is the third leading cause of death in the country, with breast cancer being most prevalent among women, and lung cancer among men.
Receiving help and support
Villegas-Narra said that many officials from key institutions involved in cancer research extended their commitment through various ways.
“Their commitment ranged from strategic policy, initiatives, funding, technical assistance, capacity-building activities, continuous updates on cancer registry, focus on cancer screening and early detection, treatment and management as well as investigating safety and cost effectiveness of cancer treatments,” Villegas-Narra said in her speech during the launching of the cancer agenda.
She added that some partners extended their support through financial grants for research proposals and monitoring and evaluating projects.
Further, the launching was also welcomed by key health officials, including Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, who delivered his message through Perez-Chiong, saying that the agenda will serve as a “commitment in advancing cancer care, improving patient outcomes, and strengthening our healthcare systems.”