House bill seeks to create National Cancer Center

MANILA, Philippines — With the growing number of cancer patients nationwide, a senior administration lawmaker has filed a bill in the House of Representatives that seeks to establish a National Cancer Center of the Philippines (NCCP).

“Cancer is recognized as one of the leading causes of death in the country, and it’s the government’s mandate to make cancer treatment and care more equitable and affordable to all,” said Rep. Mikee Romero, author of House Bill 340.

Romero, who chairs the House committee on poverty alleviation, said such a medical facility could better attend to the needs of cancer patients, especially indigent ones, since this would be specific to their concerns that include accurate diagnosis as well as timely and optimal treatment.

In filing HB 340, Romero noted that while there were provisions stipulated in the National Integrated Cancer Control Act or Republic Act 11215 to establish cancer centers at the regional health care level, there is a need to establish a specialty hospital at the national level to further enhance this government undertaking.

“This proposed measure seeks to create the NCCP, a hospital that specializes in cancer which will truly envision the purpose of the recently enacted law from accurate diagnosis, to timely and optimal treatment and responsive palliative care and pain management up to late effects management and rehabilitation of cancer patients,” Romero added.