Tingog Partylist and Roche (Philippines) Inc. signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) To raise awareness of breast and cervical cancer and boost the capability of the government to give care and treatment to more women nationwide.
The MOA cements a private-public sector partnership in support of the goals of the National Integrated Cancer Control Act (NICCA) and the Universal Healthcare Law (UHC), as 2030 Mission Leapfrog aims to improve healthcare outcomes in the Philippines, specifically those for breast and cervical cancer, through components such as education, screening, diagnostics, and treatment accessibility.
The parties formally signed the memorandum at the Office of Tingog Partylist at the House of Representatives in Quezon City through Tingog Partylist Rep. Rep. Jude Acidre; Dr. Diana Edralin, General Manager of Roche (Philippines) Inc.; and Dr. Ma. Teresa Dioko, Healthcare Ecosystems Chapter Lead of Roche (Philippines) Inc.
With the MOA, Tingog and Roche hope to speed up the transformation of healthcare outcomes in the country by improving the referral system from screening to treatment, through the lens of a breast or cervical cancer patient and through key partner local government units (LGUs).
“With this agreement, we mark the beginning of a transformative journey with the 2030 Mission Leapfrog Project,” said Tingog Partylist Rep. Yedda Marie K. Romualdez in her message delivered by Rep. Acidre.
“At the heart of Tingog Partylist's mission is a steadfast commitment to championing the health and well-being of our people. Our core agenda has always been focused on fostering healthcare development that directly benefits the lives of those we serve,” she added.
“Our partnership with Roche (Philippines) Inc. signifies a pivotal step towards realizing this vision. Roche’s global expertise in healthcare innovation, combined with Tingog’s deep understanding of the local landscape, creates a powerful synergy. Together, we are poised to make significant strides in improving the diagnosis and treatment of breast and cervical cancer, thereby enhancing the quality of life for countless individuals,” Rep. Romualdez said.
“Today marks a significant leap forward in our shared commitment to transforming health care outcomes, particularly in the realm of breast cancer and cervical cancer,” Rep. Acidre said.
“Mission Leapfrog embodies a noble mission to accelerate the journey towards improved healthcare systems, focusing on the pivotal experiences of breast and cervical cancer patients. This initiative aims to revolutionize the landscape of women’s health,” he added.
“We thank Tingog Partylist and Reps. Yedda Romualdez and Jude Acidre for partnering with us in ensuring teachers, mothers, daughters, pillars of our society have access to life-saving medicines and diagnostics ,” said Dr. Edralin, who is also President of the Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP).
“We also thank House Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez for helping us at Roche address the anxiety and confusion around breast and cervical cancer and empower women to take charge of their health through better education and prevention, and lessen the fear of the financial impact of cancer through government and private funding support,” added Dr. Dioko.
Under the collaborative agreement, Tingog and Roche will help advance breast and cervical cancer education, people gathering, diagnosis, and treatment support for the women in the Mission Leapfrog LGU sites, as they champion policies supporting cancer program prioritization and funding.
Roche will also bring in partners from various stakeholders who will support and develop the MLP, and help map out avenues to care and financing to minimize the out-of-pocket expenses of patients.
Apart from helping provide access to mammogram and breast ultrasound services to high- risk women identified by the Mission Leapfrog Program, Tingog will also help provide funding support for breast and cervical cancer diagnosis and cancer treatment.
