Lung cancer patients and health advocates have launched a nationwide petition urging the government to institutionalize a PhilHealth Z Benefit Package for lung cancer, saying thousands of Filipino families continue to face delayed diagnosis and costly treatment due to the absence of a dedicated coverage program.

The call was made by the Lung Health Alliance of the Philippines (LungHAP) during the Philippine National Cancer Summit, where patient leaders stressed the urgent need for comprehensive financial protection for those battling the country’s deadliest cancer.

Representing the patients’ voice, Engr. Emer Rojas, the president of LungHAP, is leading a Change.org petition titled “LUNG CANCER can affect anyone. ACTION can save everyone,” calling on the government to immediately establish the benefit package.

“87.53% of patients are expected to die of lung cancer,” Rojas said.

“Without decisive action, it will continue to claim lives at an alarming rate.”

Based on 2022 estimates from the Global Cancer Observatory (Globocan), lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer deaths in the Philippines, claiming more than 20,000 lives each year.

However, Filipino patients said there is still no dedicated PhilHealth Z Benefit Package that provides comprehensive financial protection for lung cancer care from diagnosis to treatment.

Treatment for lung cancer is often complex and costly, involving diagnostic imaging, biomarker testing, surgery, radiotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy, which many Filipino families struggle to afford.

PhilHealth President and CEO Dr. Edwin Mercado, represented by Dr. Albert Philip De Dios, said cancer pushes many households into poverty.

“Under Universal Health Care, the essential aim is financial protection for all,” he said.

He added that lung cancer has been identified as a priority under PhilHealth’s benefit development program.

“We are moving in that direction.”

But patient advocates said reforms must happen faster to prevent more families from falling into financial hardship while seeking treatment.

Nearly half of healthcare spending in the Philippines still comes directly from patients’ pockets, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority’s 2023 National Health Accounts.

Advocates said a dedicated Z Benefit Package would provide structured coverage across the full patient journey, from early detection and diagnosis to treatment and supportive care, helping reduce delays and shield families from catastrophic medical expenses.

“We know where the system breaks because we have lived through the fractures,” Rojas said.

“We are not just beneficiaries of healthcare; we are its heartbeat and conscience.”