President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday urged the Department of Health (DOH) to make the government’s cancer assistance fund more accessible to patients, emphasizing the need to ensure that those battling the disease receive timely and adequate support.
President Marcos Jr. also directed the DOH to launch an intensified information campaign on the government’s Cancer Assistance Fund (CAF) to ensure more cancer patients are aware of and able to access the program, which provides up to PhP150,000 in assistance for treatment and diagnostic tests.
“Layunin din natin na mas maraming kababayan pa ang mabigyan ng tulong [na] hatid ng Cancer Assistance Fund,” President Marcos said during the inauguration of the Region 1 Medical Center Cancer Institute in Dagupan City.
Earlier in the maiden episode of the BBM Podcast, the President said he felt saddened by a survey in which respondents expressed hope for the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to cover the top 10 most common diseases in the country.
President Marcos said many patients did not know about the CAF, so they could not avail themselves of the assistance.
To ensure many cancer patients would be able to avail of the CAF, the President said, “Si Secretary Ted Herbosa ng DOH po ay maglalabas ng impormasyon ng kumpletong listahan ng mga ospital na ito para mas maraming kababayan natin ang makinabang.”
“Inaasahan ko na palalawigin ng DOH pa ang impormasyon ukol dito,” the Chief Executive added, further ordering concerned hospitals to expedite the processing of a patient’s request for CAF.
Cancer patients can use the CAF in 34 DOH-accredited hospitals nationwide, including the R1MC, by presenting their medical abstract, doctor’s prescription, or treatment plan.
The president said a social worker or personnel is assigned to each of the 34 DOH hospitals to assess a cancer patient’s situation.
Once their request is approved, patients can use the financial aid from the CAF in the hospital.
President Marcos also urged the DOH to make the CAF available in more hospitals.
“Madagdagan pa sana ang mga ospital na maaaring matakbuhan ng ating kababayan para sa programang ito,” the President said.
Accredited DOH hospitals where the CAF is available include the Philippine General Hospital and Tondo Medical Center in Metro Manila; Baguio General Hospital; Bicol Medical Center; Vicente Sotto Medical Center in Cebu; Eastern Visayas Medical Center in Tacloban City; Zamboanga City Medical Center; and Amai Pakpak Medical Center in Marawi City. | PND
