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Philippines ranks last for cancer preparedness in Asia-Pacific region–report


The Economist Intelligence Unit has reported that the Philippines ranks last for cancer preparedness in the Asia-Pacific region with an overall score of 42.5 out of 100.

In the cancer preparedness report, the Philippines ranked last on policy and planning and care delivery, while it ranked second to the last on health system and governance domains.

In the overall result the country ranked last after Australia (92.4), South Korea (83.4), Malaysia (80.3), Japan (78.1), China (69.7), Thailand (65.2), Indonesia (57.4), India (51.6), and Vietnam (44.5).

Additionally, it stated that as of 2017, cancer was the third cause of death in the Philippines. 

According to the press release, Asia-Pacific had an estimated 8.8 million new cases and 5.5 million cancer deaths in 2018.

The Philippines, however, was recognized as the only lower middle income country with a comprehensive national cancer control plan with its National Integrated Cancer Control Program.

The report said the country had also shown “remarkable progress towards increasing financial protection among the poor and previously uninsured population.”

Despite these developments, it said the Philippines still faced challenges in improving “coverage and quality of their data.”

The report also suggested that the country should “focus its efforts in closing persistent access gaps and ensuring quality of services across the cancer continuum through better infrastructure and service supply while prioritizing effective policies on tobacco control and healthy lifestyle promotion.”

According to research, there is a strong association found between income level and overall cancer preparedness as measured by the Index of Cancer Preparedness.

The report said, “high-income countries outperform upper- and lower-middle income countries” in cancer preparedness.

Meanwhile, 70 percent of cancer cases in low- and middle-income countries in Asia are diagnosed at a late stage.

This information emphasized the need for “preventive services and moving from opportunistic to population-based screening.” – Jannielyn Ann Bigtas/RC, GMA News

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