The national government’s P529.2 million Cancer Assistance Fund (CAF) may still be used until Dec. 31 this year, the Department of Budget and Management announced.
This came following the DBM and the Department of Health’s release of a joint memorandum circular prescribing the guidelines for the fund.
According to the DBM, the provision of P529.2M is anchored on Special Provisions 13 of the DOH budget under the 2022 General Appropriations Act, which requires, among others, the issuance of the joint memorandum circular as a pre-requisite for the use of the fund.
The CAF is a mechanism under Republic Act 11215 or the National Integrated Cancer Control Act, which seeks to provide integrated and holistic support to cancer treatment and management.
It aims to complement and supplement existing financial support mechanisms exclusive for cancer patients, persons living with cancer, and cancer survivors.
Pursuant to the circular, the CAF will also fund outpatient and inpatient cancer control services, including but not limited to diagnostics, therapeutic procedures, and other cancer medicines needed for the treatment and management of cancer and its care-related components.
“Malaking tulong po para sa ating mga kababayan itong nakalaang pondo for cancer assistance na maaari na pong magamit sa mga DOH hospital access sites at iba pang health facilities sa bansa ,” DBM Sec. Amenah Pangandaman said.
“We hope that it will ease the burden of many cancer patients, as we know that cancer is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among Filipinos,” she added.
Earlier, DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said the CAF would be downloaded to different cancer hubs or cancer care centers nationwide providing cancer patients diagnostics, medications, treatment, and other needs. – PNA
April 27, 2024
