For healthcare professionals, subcutaneous administration reduces healthcare professional’s time to prepare and administer the drug which can be translated to more patients seen and treated
Since the National Integrated Cancer Control Act was signed into law about five years ago, this landmark legislation to enhance cancer prevention, improve survivorship, and provide quality healthcare services for cancer patients is still in the first phase of its implementation.
Despite the expected operational, funding gaps, and the pandemic crisis causing delays, significant milestones have already been achieved.
Among these are: the creation of the DOH Division of Cancer Control, the Cancer and Supportive-Palliative Medicines Access Program to cover other cancers and additional hospital sites has been expanded, the Cancer Assistance Fund has been established as regular line item in the national budget, operations of the Philippine Cancer Center and plans for cancer research have begun, diagnosed cancer patients now receive PWD benefits, there is now a separate DOH budget line item for cancer control, and resources available for monthly cancer awareness campaigns.
Another notable development is the 1400 percent increase in the “Z-benefit” package for breast cancer from P100,000 to P1.4 million which is the most substantive increase that the Philippine Health insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) will implement.
This will greatly help cancer patients with much needed financial support for laboratory examinations, operating room fees, hospital room and board , in-hospital medications, and professional fees.
According to published statements by Dr. Corazon Ngelangel, president of the Philippine Cancer Society and a member of the National Integrated Cancer Control Council, there is urgency to fully implement the NICCA as delays will worsen the country’s high cancer mortality rate which has catastrophic economic consequences not just to the families of cancer patients but to the country’s economy.
In her presentation during the recent Philippine National Cancer Summit on the “Impact and Opportunity: The Case for Investing in Women’s Cancers in the Asia Pacific and Philippines,” she cited the Economist’s Impact Project commissioned by the APAC Women’s Cancer Coalition and supported by Roche which raises focus on the most urgent issues in breast and cervical cancer in the region.
Dr. Ngelangel pointed out that to align with the WHO’s global strategy of cervical cancer elimination and global breast cancer initiative targets, the accessibility of early detection programs is key.
For the Philippines to meet the WHO’s “90-70-90” cancer elimination target, 90 percent of girls should receive HPV vaccine by the age of 15; 70 percent of women should be screened with high performance test by age 35 and again at age 45; and provide treatment for 90 percent of women identified with cervical disease including precancer and invasive cancer.
For breast cancer, at least 60 percent should be diagnosed and treated as early stage disease; diagnose breast cancer within 60 days of initial presentation and starting treatment within 3 months, and ensuring at least 80 percent of patients complete recommended treatments.
These strategies hope to avoid 300,000 yearly cervical cancer by 2030 and achieve a 2.5 percent decrease in breast cancer mortality which translates to saving 2.5 million lives in the next 20 years.
In another session on “Advancing Integrated Cancer Care Systems for Filipinos,” Dr. Mary Claire Soliman, Medical Oncologist of the East Avenue Medical Center, stated that based on studies, “subcutaneous formulation helped patients spend less time in the hospital and in the clinic. It allows the healthcare providers to see more patients and attend to their other tasks. And third, it saves time and resources for the healthcare systems.”
Furthermore, studies found that subcutaneous administration is faster and more convenient for the patients.
Most patients receiving cancer treatment generally prefer subcutaneous administration to intravenous infusion and reported better “health-related quality of life” because of the convenience and less disruption to their work life which is important to sustain their income.
For healthcare professionals, subcutaneous administration reduces healthcare professional’s time to prepare and administer the drug which can be translated to more patients seen and treated.
“At the end of the day, the overall cost savings with subcutaneous preparation versus IV administration may be potentially lower than those reported for the anti-cancer biologics with the introduction of IV vial similar leading to a decrease in related cost,” Dr. Soliman said.
As a co-convenor of Universal Health Care Watch, we will continue to work with the DOH, policy makers, healthcare professionals, patient groups, and all healthcare stakeholders to ensure that the full implementation of UHC and NICCA and its vision for a healthy and productive Philippine society.