PH doctor orgs ink MOU for equitable cancer care on World Cancer Day 2026

Four doctor organizations signed Wednesday a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to streamline the equitable delivery of cancer care in the Philippines, an event held in Quezon City on the occasion of World Cancer Day 2026.

Representatives from the Philippine Medical Association (PMA), Philippine Cancer Society, Philippine Society of Medical Oncology (PSMO), and the Philippine Society of Oncologists (PSO) inked the memorandum at the PMA office.

The agreement seeks to establish a framework for enhancing cancer care access and support services by integrating national health policies into local community programs.

In her speech during the signing event, Department of Health (DOH) Assistant Secretary Gloria Balboa emphasized the role of stakeholders and the private sector in assisting the government to control cancer.

She shared that although the DOH has been taking steps towards strengthening prevention, early detection, treatment, survival, and palliative care nationwide, there was still a need for cooperation to fully realize the advocacy of truly accessible cancer care.

"I invite each of you to reflect on one simple question. What can we do starting today to help close the care gap? Every action matters, and together, real change happens. So our government is longing for our new Philippines where every life is important," Balboa said.

PMA President Hector Santos Jr. also emphasized the importance of adapting a "strong, universal healthcare" to achieve equitable access to quality cancer care.

Among the efforts being conducted by PMA and other stakeholders is the ACT NOW campaign, which is a 30-day cancer screening to treatment program. It is designed to address critical delays in diagnosis and treatment through public awareness, local government policy support, and community engagement.

"We recognize that a strong universal healthcare, through a relevant and effective primary healthcare, is the key to providing equitable access to affordable, timely, and high-quality cancer care. We hope that through primary care physicians and the frontliner medical practitioners, we will be able to educate to prevent cancer, diagnose early, and with proper patient navigation to oncologists and cancer centers, we will get a better survival rate and effectively control cancer in the Philippines," Santos said.

The PMA, the umbrella organization of doctor societies in the country, also launched the ACT NOW start-up operations manual, which was created to provide healthcare workers with a comprehensive guide to lessening intervals between screening, confirmed diagnosis, and treatment efforts.

Rising cancer cases

Doctor Herdee Luna, oncology manager of the Philippine Cancer Society's Executive Action Team, said several studies indicate a 47% predicted increase in global cancer cases from 19.3 million in 2020 to a projected 28.4 million by 2040.

The Philippines, categorized as a low human development index country with limited healthcare infrastructure and resources, is expected to face a heavy burden with cancer care.

"We need to act now… Ang fino-focus dito ay ang awareness at mabilis ng reference system... Kailangan natin pagtulong-tulungan ng buong komunidad, hindi lang ng mga specialist ng doktor at mga gobyerno opisyal," shared Luna.

(We need to act now… The focus here is awareness and a fast reference system… The entire community needs to cooperate, not just the doctors and the local government.)

She noted that several factors impede early diagnosis, which is why community-based screenings are often the first best step for cancer healthcare.

Step by step

In response to addressing such gaps, Luna said the ACT NOW start up operations manual aims to set a "step-by-step" blueprint for local communities to implement 30-day screening-to-treatment targets and increase the survival rates of Filipino cancer patients.

"Ang target natin ay itaas ang survival rate ng mga Pilipino mula sa 44% tungo sa 80% o higit pa. Hindi ito bago, ngunit kailangan natin pagtulungan ang isa't isa na prioritizing ang cancer control… Mahalaga rin ang adbokasiya para makaroon tayo ng mga local ordinances na susuporta sa program in its long term," she said.

(Our target is to increase the survival rate of Filipinos from 44% towards 80% or more. This isn't new, but we need to help each other in prioritizing cancer control… The advocacy is also important for us to have local ordinances that will support the program in its long term.)

"Ang goal natin dito is no patient faces cancer alone… (Our goal here is that no patient faces cancer alone...) Together, united by teams,  we will strengthen local cancer control networks and transform cancer care in the Philippines," she added.

The ACT NOW campaign initially began as a program to raise awareness and support for breast cancer under the initial ACT NOW Prime Care for Breast Cancer Program by the PCS.

The campaign currently aims to extend cancer screenings nationwide by bringing medical services such as mobile bus screenings for several types of cancers to every barangay. — VDV, GMA Integrated News