THE SENATE on Monday passed on third and final reading Senate Bill No. 1850, institutionalizing the national integrated cancer control program in the Philippines. Senator Joseph Victor G. Ejercito, the bill’s sponsor and the chairman of the Senate committee on health demography, said the bill seeks to address the various gaps in cancer treatment and to integrate policies for its prevention, detection, treatment and palliative care, pain management, and survivorship. A National Integrated Cancer Control Council will be established under the bill. The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) is also mandated to expend the benefit packages to include screening, detection, diagnosis, treatment assistance, supportive care, survivorship follow-up care and rehabilitation, and end-of-life care for all types and stages of cancer in both adults and children. Cancer-related absences from work of member employees as well as voluntary members shall be covered by the sickness benefits of the Social Security System (SSS) and the disability benefits of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS). The proposed measure also establishes the Philippine Cancer Center under the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) for the treatment and accommodation of cancer patients. The proposed center will also conduct research together with other universities, hospital, and institutions for cancer prevention and cure. A “Cancer Assistance Fund” is also created to support the program. — Camille A. Aguinaldo

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