DOH to set up cancer centers in 7 hospitals

MANILA, Philippines – To make quality radiation therapy services more accessible to cancer patients, especially those outside Metro Manila, the Department of Health (DOH) will establish cancer centers in strategically located hospitals around the country. 

​”Given that cancer is one of the top causes of death and sickness in the Philippines, the establishment of cancer centers in strategically located hospitals will help ensure access to radiation therapy for our cancer-stricken patients, especially those who live far from ​Metro Manila,” DOH Secretary Janette Garin said in a statement on Monday, April 25.

​The following hospitals will have a linear accelerator, treatment planning system, CT simulator, and brachytherapy units:

• Southern Philippines Medical Center (Davao City)
• Cagayan Valley Medical Center (Tuguegarao ​City, Cagayan)
• Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center
• Bicol Medical Center (Naga City, Camarines Sur)
• Zamboanga City Medical Center
• Lung Center of the Philippines (Quezon City)
• Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (Cebu City)

A linear accelator machine, used for external beam therapy, destroys cancer cells by using high-energy x-rays customized to conform to a tumor’s shape, avoiding damage to surrounding normal tissue.

A brachytherapy unit, meanwhile, is used for internal beam therapy, where a protected radiation source is placed near the tumor site without damaging healthy tissues.

The DOH said that the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) offers the following benefit packages for radiation therapy, with costs varying depending on the procedure requested:

• radiotherapy (P3,000.00/session)
• chemoradiation with cobalt and brachytherapy (low dose) for cervical cancer stage IA1, IA2 – IIA1 (P120,000.00/case)
• ​​chemoradiation with linear accelerator and brachytherapy (high dose) for cervical cancer (P175,000.00/case)
• radiotherapy using linear accelerator for rectal cancer stage II-III (P400,000/case)
• radiation therapy for breast cancer stage 0 to III-A (P100,000.00/case)
• low to intermediate risk prostate cancer (P100,000.00/case)

The DOH added that ​PhilHealth Sponsored Program members and indigents identified by the social welfare department are entitled to the no-balance billing scheme when they avail of the services. – Rappler.com

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