Cancer remains as the second leading cause of mortality in the country, according to the latest data published by the Philippines Statistics Authority.
As previously noted by the Philippine Cancer Society, more than 80 percent of Filipino families are not capable of out-of-pocket expenses needed for basic medical care.
This is exactly why various cancer patient groups are now calling on the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office to immediately recall the directive of significantly reducing the amount of support provided via the Individual Medical Assistance Program, as thousands of cancer patients are at the risk of dying due to the inability to sustain their treatments.
This call comes amidst budgetary issues within the PCSO, which have forced it to reduce the amount of financial assistance of several beneficiaries availing of cancer treatments.
The assistance was cut down from an average of P80,000 to P20,000 to P14,000.00.
“More and more Filipinos are relying on medical assistance programs such as that of the PCSO because, to put it simply, cancer treatments are expensive. Sad to say, most of the time, the patients couldn’t afford the treatments, which is why they need programs like IMAP to help them afford it, to live longer,” said Rod Padua, president of Touched by Max Inc., a group composed of leukemia and cancer patients who are highly dependent on support programs such as the IMAP to continue with their treatment.
Padua added that since the amount of support was reduced, a number of the group’s patients have expressed deep concern with growing uncertainty of being able to resume their treatment.
“Some of our patients are even dying and we don’t want to see them leave this world, just because they have no means to afford the treatments. They have the right to live and let’s give them options and the chance to do so,” he continued.
For her part, Malu Cortez, chairwoman of the Philippine Foundation on Breast Care Inc. (KASUSO), said, “In recent years, stakeholders like DOH, pharmaceutical companies and medical professionals have put together a plan to help patients receive timely, quality, affordable, and accessible treatment. “However, this plan is now compromised due to shortage available through IMAP. Patients who are in the midstream of their treatment program are now at risk of dropping out.”
