A proposal seeking to set aside P10 billion for cancer care aims to ease the financial strain faced by poor Filipino patients who struggle to afford life-saving treatment.
Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada filed Senate Bill No. 1057, which calls for the creation of a Cancer Medicine and Treatment Assistance Fund designed to shoulder major medical expenses for indigent and underprivileged patients diagnosed with cancer. The fund is intended to cover diagnostics, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgical procedures, and maintenance medicines.
According to the measure, the assistance program would be implemented by the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. through its accredited government hospitals across all congressional districts, allowing patients to access support within their own communities rather than travel to centralized facilities.
The bill assigns PhilHealth the task of identifying eligible beneficiaries in coordination with the Department of Health, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government. It also directs the agencies involved to ensure that only qualified patients receive assistance.
In explaining the intent of the proposal, Estrada pointed to the compounded hardship faced by poor families dealing with cancer. “When you are poor and have cancer, the burden you bear is doubled. We often hear of our poor countrymen begging for financial assistance to provide for their relatives who are suffering from cancer,” he said.
He added that the measure seeks to provide immediate relief to families overwhelmed by treatment costs. “Through this bill, they will be assured of immediate assistance in the treatment of their loved ones. They will be given hope of recovery because there will be funding for their expenses,” Estrada said.
The proposed legislation requires the formulation of clear eligibility rules, a simplified application process, and regular audits to protect public funds. It also mandates that the assistance fund be replenished annually through the national budget.
“This (measure) is about giving every Filipino — regardless of income — a fair chance at survival and recovery. Cancer should not be a death sentence for the poor,” Estrada said.
