Good day, everyone.
First, I would like to thank the Philippine College of Surgeons Cancer Commission Foundation and the Cancer Coalition Philippines for having me today.
It is an honor to be part of an event that provides an avenue to put oncology financing in the spotlight amid the myriad challenges that our national health system is facing.
I would also like to extend my sincerest appreciation to our health advocates and champions who have been continuously pushing for quality healthcare for Filipinos, especially our cancer patients.
For many years, cancer has been one of the leading causes of death in the country. And as you may know, many 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. Based on 2019 estimates, around 60 percent of the total public cancer expenditures comes from out-of-pocket payments and private insurance.
As such, we should discuss public oncology financing through the advancement of the implementation of the National Integrated Cancer Control Act or NICCA with sustainability in mind. Through this, we can provide our fellow Filipinos quality and affordable cancer-related healthcare that would last for many generations.
Passed into law in 2019, the NICCA mandates the creation of the National Integrated Cancer Control Program, the Philippine Cancer Center, the Cancer Assistance Fund, and the National Integrated Cancer Control Council, as well as the expansion of the benefit packages of PhilHealth for cancer-related tests and treatments.
I am very proud to share with all of you that we have already established all these, including sustainable financing mechanisms such as public-private partnerships and tax reforms—keeping the legislation's promise of hope for cancer patients, survivors, and their families.
With the new administration comes renewed and better hope for the health sector in general, as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. puts a premium on boosting the health of Filipinos and strengthening the capacity of our healthcare system. We can see this from the Php 327.2 billion budget allocation for the Health sector which represents a 17 percent increase from its 2022 level.
Under this budget, we have allocated Php 1.06 billion for the National Integrated Cancer Control Program (NICCP) to provide funding and support for cancer control activities; increase public awareness about cancer, its causes, and its prevention; and promote healthy lifestyles to reduce the risk of developing cancer.
Meanwhile, some Php 500 million is allotted for the Cancer Assistance Fund (CAF) which shall complement existing financial support mechanisms like the PhilHealth coverage and Malasakit funds to address increasing cancer requirements.
Further, Php 100.2 billion is allocated for the National Health Insurance Program (NHIP) in which Php 21.17 billion, or more than 21 percent, will be used for the enhancement of the PhilHealth Z benefit packages.
Supplementing this is Php 32.63 billion for Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially-Incapacitated Patients needing consultation, rehabilitation, and examination in government hospitals.
Acknowledging the importance of health infrastructure and technology in giving our fellow Filipinos quality healthcare, some Php 26.81 billion will be used for the Health Enhancement Facilities Program which will fund capital expenditures such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Positron Emission Tomography-Computed Tomography (PET-CT) used for cancer diagnosis.
Just this month, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board chaired by the President also approved the Php 6 billion UP-PGH Cancer Center which will house 300 beds, providing a bigger facility with better technologies for cancer patients.
The UP-PGH Cancer Center is the first Public-Private Partnership project under the Marcos Jr. administration, attesting to its commitment to prioritizing healthcare. The President further hopes to mirror this project with the creation of regional specialty hospitals nationwide.
Vital to the provision of quality healthcare is ensuring that our health workers receive adequate government support as well. Thus, we have allocated some Php 16.95 billion for the implementation of the National Health Workforce Support System.
In addition, the Philippine government has proactively implemented measures for cancer prevention, as cancer studies show that prevention is still better than cure. These include vaccination against cancer-causing pathogens such as HPV and Hepatitis B, as well as earmarking revenues collected from taxes on tobacco and alcohol products.
Further, some Php 29.12 billion will be used for the procurement of drugs, medicines, and vaccines for distribution to government health care facilities. Of which, eighty percent, or Php 23.30 billion, will go to provinces, in line with the administration's goal of providing accessible and inclusive healthcare for all Filipinos.
Moreover, an estimate of Php 313.24 billion generated from the Sin Tax Reform will be used to sustainably fund initiatives for universal healthcare. More than its economic benefit, the Sin Tax Reform was reported to have resulted in 6 million less smokers in 2022, equivalent to 60,000 lives saved, proving its effectiveness as a protective health policy reform.
However, these measures and strategies only function when social and economic conditions, infrastructure, and the public health and medical systems work in synergy.
As such, we have established the said sustainable financing mechanisms and taken significant steps towards the advancement of the implementation of the NICC Act. Yet we have a long way to go and a longer list of things to hope for such as better funding for cancer research and development in the country; possibly a National Research and Development Program for Cancer Control; and more facilities and better technologies for screening, early detection, diagnosis, control, and care.
For this reason, it is imperative that members of different sectors—public, private, academic and research institutions, non-governmental, and civil society organizations engage in today’s event. Your commitment to the cause and active community participation will be our key to realizing these aspirations.
And so we continue to hope that we may one day soon have a future that is cancer-free. And seeing all the initiatives and actions being taken towards this makes me believe that it is possible.
Rest assured that the Department of Budget and Management is one with you in realizing our aspirations for a cancer-free Philippines. NEVER LOSE HOPE. Let us all be allies in giving our fellow Filipinos hope and courage—a fighting chance—to avoid and beat cancer.
Para sa malusog, inklusibo, at masaganang Pilipinas, mabuhay po tayong lahat! Maraming salamat po. Assalamu alaikum.
