Cancer Medicine and Treatment Fund for Filipinos

,C17." TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES AUb -6 P2:33 First Regular Session SENATE 1057 S. No. _ Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada AN ACT ESTABLISHING A CANCER MEDICINE AND TREATMENT ASSISTANCE FUND FOR INDIGENT AND UNDERPRIVILEGED FILIPINOS EXPLANATORY NOTE Cancer remains one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the Philippines. Each year, thousands of Filipinos are diagnosed with various forms of cancer, many of whom come from low-income and marginalized backgrounds. The high cost of cancer treatment-including diagnostics, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery, and maintenance medicines-places a significant financial burden on patients and their families, often pushing them into debt or forcing them to forgo treatment altogether. Despite government efforts to provide healthcare support, many cancer patients- especially those who are indigent or underprivileged-continue to face insurmountable barriers to accessing timely and adequate care. The existing public health programs are often overstretched and underfunded, leaving a critical gap in life-saving assistance for those most in need. This bill aims to address this urgent healthcare concern by establishing a Cancer Medicine and Treatment Assistance Fund, dedicated specifically to supporting indigent and underprivileged Filipinos undergoing cancer treatment. This measure will

institutionalize a targeted funding mechanism to ensure that no Filipino battling cancer is left without access to essential therapies due to poverty or lack of resources. Filed by Senator Cynthia A. Villar in the 19th Congress, this bill reaffirms the State's duty to uphold the right to health and social justice for all citizens. It underscores the government's evolving role in ensuring equitable access to specialized healthcare services and recognizes the need for responsive policies that prioritize vulnerable sectors in times of grave medical crisis. Key provisions of the bill include: 1. The creation of a Cancer Medicine and Treatment Assistance Fund under the Department of Health (DOH), to be used exclusively for subsidizing the cost of cancer diagnostics, treatment, and maintenance medications for indigent and underprivileged patients; Coordination with public hospitals, cancer centers, and local government units to implement and monitor the distribution of funds; 3. The formulation of clear eligibility guidelines and a streamlined application process to ensure transparency and accessibility; Regular reporting and auditing mechanisms to safeguard the proper use of public resources; The annual appropriation of funds in the General Appropriations Act to 5. ensure sustainability of the program. This proposed legislation embodies a compassionate and inclusive vision for healthcare one where the fight against cancer is not limited by economic status, and where every Filipino is given a fair chance at survival and recovery. In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA

TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 25 AUG -6 P2:34 First Regular Session SENATE RECEI: S BY S. No. 1057 Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada AN ACT ESTABLISHING A CANCER MEDICINE AND TREATMENT ASSISTANCE FUND FOR INDIGENT AND UNDERPRIVILEGED FILIPINOS Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Cancer Medicine and

2 Treatment Fund for Filipinos".

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby a policy of the State to protect and

promote the right to health of the people and to adopt and implement a system of 5 effecting the delivery of free medicine and free treatment to indigent and underprivileged cancer patients.

Sec. 3. Establishment of a Php 10 Billion Cancer Fund and Free Medicine

8 Assistance Program. - There is hereby created a Ten Billion Cancer Fund that can be 9 availed by indigent and underprivileged cancer patients. For the purpose, a Cancer Treatment Program, hereinafter referred to as the "Program," is established and to be administered by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) through its accredited government hospitals in each particular congressional district, to be known as the health district. The program shall be limited to indigent and underprivileged cancer patient 15 beneficiaries to be identified by the PhilHealth in close coordination with the

1 Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Department of Health 2 (DOH) and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG). The PhilHealth, jointly with the DSWD, DOH and DILG and the relevant private groups including the association of hospitals and medical institutions and groups of patients, shall prescribe such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the provision of this Act within six (6) months from the effectivity hereof.

Sec. 4. Appropriations, - There is hereby appropriated the sum of Ten billion

pesos (P10,000,000,000.00) for the implementation of the Program. The National Government shall subsequently include in the budget of the Department of Health in the General Appropriations Act such amount as may be necessary to carry out the objectives of this Act.

Sec. 5. Repealing Clause. - All provisions of laws, orders, decrees, including

rules and regulations inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed and/or modified accordingly.

Sec. 6. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete

publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. Approved,