AstraZeneca Philippines is creating a network of lifesavers, after initiating several collaborations to increase disease awareness and management. Recently, AstraZeneca Philippines entered a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Cancer Coalition of the Philippines (CCPH), and the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) to amplify “Screen to Beat Lung Cancer,” a program aimed at early detection of lung cancer using artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted chest X-ray technology through the screening of at least 500,000 Filipino patients until next year.
Lung cancer is the number one cause of death among cancer types in the Philippines, and this collaboration aims to eliminate it by shaping an end-to-end lung cancer ecosystem solution with a shift towards earlier diagnosis and equitable access to cancer care.
Lung cancer’s high mortality rate and low survival rate, both mainly determined by the stage at diagnosis, is a challenge to Filipino patients having low access for early screening. In fact, 60 percent of lung cancer cases are already in the advanced setting, significantly decreasing the five-year survival to 2.9 percent. The earlier the disease gets diagnosed, the better the survival rate becomes.
Lotis Ramin, AstraZeneca Philippines country president, said, “AstraZeneca is committed to creating value for society beyond the impact of our life-changing medicines through early detection, education, treatment, and post-treatment support. As lung cancer remains one of the deadliest cancer types, we are steadfast in providing better chances at cure and equitable cancer care through our collaboration with PBSP and CCPH.”
For its part, PBSP has been helping companies and organizations reduce morbidity and mortality, improve nutrition, and achieve universal health coverage among poor families. PBSP will co-lead with CCCPH for the development of relations and coordination with government stakeholders in advocating Screen to Beat Lung Cancer program.
CCPH will provide technical expertise in the development and implementation of the program specifically in patient management and referral, for specialty care, and public awareness activities for prevention, early screening, and proper management of lung cancer. The Screen to Beat Lung Cancer program is particularly relevant in the Philippines, where lung cancer is often misdiagnosed as tuberculosis (TB) due to their similar presentation such as coughing, chest pain, difficulty breathing, and common X-ray findings.
This misdiagnosis can lead to delayed diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer, which can greatly reduce a patient’s chances of survival. By incorporating lung cancer screening into PBSP’s existing TB screening initiatives and using AI-assisted chest X-ray technology, this program aims to improve the accuracy of diagnosis and save more lives through early detection.
Aligned with its global Lung Ambition Alliance goals, AstraZeneca Philippines will provide technical and financial assistance in the development and implementation of Qure. AI’s qXR, while PBSP will provide their existing TB screening modalities, including mobile clinics with digital x-ray machines, to incorporate lung cancer screening. CCCPH will further develop early lung cancer detection and patient awareness and education programs with AstraZeneca Philippines.
Another partnership that AstraZeneca Philippines sealed is the one spearheaded by Diabetes Philippines Inc. (DP), where it joined forces with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Philippine Association of Diabetes Educators (PADE), Association of Diabetes Nurse Educators of the Philippines (ADNEP), Philippine Diabetes Support Group (PDS), Dialysis Philippines (DPH), and Kidney Transplant Association of the Philippines (KITAP) to amplify ACT NOW Program (Addressing Complications Today through Network of Warriors) against the cardio-renal complications of Diabetes and Hypertension.
One Filipino develops chronic kidney disease (CKD) every 40 minutes, and one Filipino CKD patient progresses to dialysis every hour. Impaired kidney function remains one of the highest causes of death and disability in the Philippines according to recent data and CKD has been identified as a leading cause of premature death among Filipinos.
“There is a crucial need for early CKD detection and treatment in the country to prevent progression of CKD to dialysis and mortality. Creating awareness and education will provide better, quality life for diabetes and hypertensive patients, including their families,” said Dr. Francis Pasaporte, immediate past president of Diabetes Philippines. “This joint initiative with the public and private sector will help us bring this message across more Filipinos .”
“At AstraZeneca, we are committed to addressing the needs of patients across the full continuum of CKD care, most especially early screening, detection and treatment.” Lotis continues, “We are one with the government and our partners in wanting to achieve better health outcomes for Filipino CKD patients.”
The 2018 data report also showed that out-of-pocket spending on healthcare was almost double the allotted government healthcare expenditure, emphasizing the need for support among Filipinos in renal care. Renal dialysis across the Philippines have steadily climbed over the past few years, with Diabetes and Hypertension as leading causes of kidney failure. According to Philhealth data in 2022, Hemodialysis procedure tops the number and the amount of claims for year 2022, which sums up to P17 billion.