Fund for indigent cancer patients reaches P1.25 billion

MANILA, Philippines — Senators and congressmen have approved a substantial increase in this year’s budget allocation for indigent cancer patients, or the Cancer Assistance Fund (CAF), in the hope of helping more Filipinos to be healed from the killer disease.

Makati City District 2 Rep. Luis Campos Jr., vice chairperson of the House of Representatives committee on appropriations, said the P500-million CAF fund in 2023 has nearly been tripled by Congress, to as much as P1.25 billion this year, or an increase of 150 percent.

“The new money for the CAF is P1.25 billion. This is itemized in the 2024 national budget. The amount is 150 percent higher than the P500 million for the CAF in 2023,” Campos said.

“The CAF will directly benefit cancer patients, persons living with cancer, cancer survivors and high-risk individuals,” he added.

The CAF will pay for the cost of cancer screening, early detection, diagnosis, treatment and its care-related components, including the required diagnostics and laboratories for eight priority cancer types, according to the lawmaker.

He credited Speaker Martin Romualdez for the increase in CAF money.

“The P1.25 billion for the CAF is on top of the P1 billion earmarked this year for the National Integrated Cancer Control Program,” Campos said.

The CAF may be availed through Department of Health-run hospitals.

The DOH has identified the eight priority cancer types: breast cancer; childhood cancers; gynecologic cancers; liver cancer, including colorectal and other digestive tract cancers; head and neck cancers, including thyroid; lung cancer; and prostate, renal and urinary bladder cancer.