The country’s top lung cancer experts, patient groups, and health advocates have issued the Philippine Declaration on Lung Cancer Diagnostics and Treatment Access, urging the government to immediately roll out a comprehensive PhilHealth Lung Cancer Benefit Package and strengthen nationwide systems for early detection, diagnosis, and equitable treatment.

In a statement, Lung Health Alliance of the Philippines (LungHAP) president Engr. Emer Rojas said the declaration underscores the urgency of addressing lung cancer.

“Lung cancer remains the deadliest of all cancers in the country, claiming more than 20,000 Filipino lives in 2022 alone. Behind every number is a family, a story, a life cut short, many of them preventable,” he said.

LungHAP Chairman Atty. Arnel Mateo said the declaration signals a unified appeal for stronger action, stressing that lung cancer remains the country’s leading cause of cancer deaths and that no patient should face the disease alone.

Medical oncologist Dr. Kenneth Samala emphasized the role of expanded PhilHealth coverage, noting that many patients are diagnosed at late stages. 

“Adequate funding and insurance are essential to ensure timely access to diagnostics, treatment, and specialized care across the country,” he said.

Philippine Cancer Society President Dr. Corazon Ngelangel said AI-assisted screening can help stretch limited diagnostic resources.

“Using AI, we can triage only high-risk cases for LDCT, optimizing resources and supporting non-expert radiologists in the community,” she explained.

Lung Center of the Philippines oncologist Dr. Guia Ladrera said public awareness must also improve, while Healthway Lung Nodule Clinic Philippines Director Dr. Michael Agustin pointed to gaps delaying treatment. 

The declaration outlines five priority reforms: immediate implementation of a PhilHealth Lung Cancer Package; wider access to LDCT screening, biomarker testing, and precision oncology; strengthened regional cancer centers; expanded public-private partnerships; and stigma reduction with strong patient empowerment efforts.

These reforms echo the ASPIRE Consensus Document’s call for prevention, early detection, equitable treatment access, and sustained investment across Asia-Pacific health systems.