President Marcos is optimistic that the opening of the first cancer care hospital in the Philippines will go "will go a long way" in improving the access to quality cancer care in the country.
Marcos expressed this as he led the inauguration of the Healthway Cancer Care Hospital (HCCH) in Taguig City on Friday, Nov. 24.
"The opening of the HCCH will go a long way in improving access to quality cancer care for many Filipinos," Marcos said in his speech during the event.
"All of this is geared towards our goal of universal healthcare. 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," he added.
The President also said that the new development "will certainly positively reflect on the country’s growing potential as a leading healthcare destination in Asia."
He cited that cancer still remains as one of the most dreaded illnesses in the country being the number 3 in terms of mortality for the general populace.
He, however, said that with facilities such as the HCCH, the country would utilize early detection as the main weapon in combating cancer.
Marcos also said that the endeavor highlights the government's strong partnership with the private sector in improving its healthcare system, which is aligned with the Philippine Health Facility Development Plan and the Integrated Cancer program.
Build more
In his speech, Marcos committed that the government would follow suit and build more facilities like the HCCH.
He urged all public and private stakeholders to support the Philippine health facility development plan and invest in building more health facilities similar to the HCCH.
"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," he said.
Get regular checkup
Emphasizing that early detection is "the best chance in fighting this disease,"the Chief Executive encouraged Filipinos to get regular checkups.
"Early detection— this allows for patients the best chance in fighting this disease. We therefore encourage all Filipinos to get regular checkups, now that we have the facilities by going to community health centers," he said.
He cited that the government has made available primary care services where patients can consult for early detection of cancer.
"Our PhilHealth Konsulta Primary Care Team is also available to provide free diagnostic examinations and laboratory tests. For cancer treatment, we have designated 25 specialty centers and cancer care in select DOH hospitals nationwide," he said.
"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," he added.
Recognizing the "great financial burdens" to cancer treatments, Marcos said the government has established a cancer assistance fund, which will pay for the cost of cancer diagnostics and laboratories not covered by PhilHealth.
The HCCH is a premier healthcare institution that offers a wide and comprehensive range of cancer services from screening, diagnosis and treatment to post-cancer care.
These include radiation oncology, surgery, chemotherapy and palliative care. Its primary goal is to provide Filipinos with quality medical services through state-of-the-art equipment and dedicated medical practitioners, among others.
The HCCH was established through the partnership of the Ayala Healthcare Holdings with the Department of Health (DOH) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).