Sapat na pondo para sa cancer control ipinangako

IPINANGAKO ni House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco na magkakaroon ng sapat na pondo sa Republic Act 11215 or the National Integrated Cancer Control (NICC) Act of 2019 upang puksain ang nakatatakot na sakit ng cancer sa bansa sa ilalim ng panukalang P4.506-trilyong budget para sa 2021.

“The importance of this law and its full implementation cannot be overstated. We have to make sure that it is sufficiently funded so it could effectively serve its purpose of strengthening government efforts to combat cancer and increasing the fighting chance of patients to overcome the disease,” ani Velasco.

Sinangayunan ni Velasco ang pananaw ni Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo “Pulong” Duterte, na nauna nang naghangad ng mas malaking pondo para sa NICC law.

“Congressman Pulong and I want to make sure that cancer treatment and care will be more equitable and affordable for all, especially for the underprivileged, poor and marginalized Filipinos as envisioned in the NICC law,” ani Velasco na nagsabing magastos ang paggamot ng cancer.

Sinabi ni Velasco, isa sa mga pangunahing sanhi ng pagkamatay sa bansa ay cancer.

Binanggit ni Velasco ang pag-aaral ng University of the Philippines Institute of Human Genetics na 189 sa bawat 100,000 Filipino ay may cancer at 96 dito ay namamatay kada araw.

Anang speaker, namumulubi ang pamilyang Filipino na may cancer dahil sa sobrang mahal ng “diagnosis and treatment” nito.

Ayon sa Cancer Coalition Philippines, ang breast ultrasound ay nagkakahalaga ng P600 hangang P3,000 depende sa ospital. Ang colonoscopy naman ay nagkakahalagang P1,500 hangang P14,000 maliban sa bayad sa doctor.

Depende sa klase ng cancer, ang chemotherapy ay maaaring magkahalaga ng P20,000 hangang P120,000 kada gamutan.

“Certainly, the economic burden of cancer care and treatment is overwhelming and it has the potential to drive Filipino families deeper into poverty,” ani Velasco.

Ang NICC Act, na pinirmahan ni Pangulong Duterte noong Pebrero noong nakaraang taon ay nagtatag ng National Integrated Cancer Control Program na magsisilbing gabay para sa lahat na “cancer-related activities of the government.”

Layunin nitong pababain ang pangkalahatang “mortality and impact of all adult and childhood cancer; lessen the incidence of preventable cancer in adults and children; and prevent cancer recurrence, metastasis and secondary cancer among survivors and people living with cancer.”

Kasama sa batas ang pagbibigay ng agarang lunas sa mga cancer patients; at gawing abot kaya ang mga gamot.

Nauna ng iminungkahi ni congressman Duterte kay Speaker Velasco at House Committee on Appropriations Committee chair Rep. Eric Yap na siguraduhing may sapat na pondo ang batas para matulungan ang mga pasyenteng may cancer.

Ang nanay ni Duterte ay isang breast cancer survivor at ngayon ay breast cancer advocate.

“My Mom is cancer survivor. Diagnosed in 2016 and successfully recovered more than a year after treatment and long-term survivorship transitions. It is our duty to provide help to every fellow citizens to our best. Give them a second chance to live,” ayon sa nakababatang Duterte.

Gerry Baldo