First PH hospital dedicated to cancer care inaugurated by Marcos

President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. on Friday vowed accessible cancer care for Filipinos during the inauguration of the Healthway Cancer Care Hospital (HCCH) in Taguig City, the first hospital in the Philippines dedicated to cancer care.

Marcos said that the new hospital will go a long way in improving access to quality cancer care for many Filipinos, given that cancer ranks third among the top causes of death in the country.

“With the help of the HCCH, we can revolutionize the cancer care service industry in the Philippines through modern, state of the art equipment coupled with leading medical professionals and oncologists. With facilities such as this, we will allow the main weapon that we have in combating cancer: early detection,” Marcos said.

“We therefore encourage all Filipinos to get regular checkups, now that we have the facilities, by going to community health centers,” Marcos added.

Marcos said that the government has also made available primary care services where patients may consult for early detection of cancer, while the state-run Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) Konsulta Primary Care Team also provides free diagnostic examinations and laboratory tests.

For cancer treatment, Marcos said that the government has designated 25 specialty centers for cancer care in select DOH hospitals nationwide.

“[And] so, I encourage the public to maximize these programs, services, and facilities for cancer care, prevention and treatment as the government strives to bring healthcare closer to the people,” Marcos said.

Marcos also cited the recently established P500 million cancer assistance fund under the national budget which will pay for the cost of cancer diagnostics and laboratories not covered by PhilHealth. 

“As we establish a more accessible, efficient and responsive healthcare system, I urge all public and private stakeholders to support the Philippine health facility development plan and invest in building more health facilities similar to the HCCH,” Marcos said.

“Rest assured that the government remains committed to nurturing an environment that upholds the total wellbeing of our people, of course, with the continued support of our private partners and investors in healthcare,” Marcos added.

The HCCH medical facility was established also through the efforts of Ayala Healthcare Holdings, in partnership with the Department of Health (DOH) and the Food and Drug Administration. —VAL, GMA Integrated News