DOH working on fast-tracking Cancer Assistance Fund

This is in total agreement with and in full support of the editorial “Implement cancer control law” (4/11/21).

Cancer patients amid COVID-19 times are in real danger of dying during these lockdown periods. They are helpless because they cannot follow up with their attending physicians and oncologists right away. The mandatory travel restrictions, full occupancy of hospitals, the lack of public transportation, and the long preliminary unnecessary requirements prior to consultation are some of the unfortunate things that cancer patients experience. As immune-compromised patients, they are definitely at risk of being afflicted with COVID-19, and the fear of being the next victim can be a harrowing experience.

To be fair, the Department of Health, through the Cancer Control Division, is regularly meeting and goading the concerned agencies to fast-track ways to immediately implement the Cancer Assistance Fund. A 10-year strategic planning effort, through consultations with the different stakeholders, is being done and discussed and soon will be forwarded to higher authorities. The cancer council has likewise been created.

Cancer has to be stopped, or at least its morbidity and mortality reduced to an acceptable degree. It is indeed an overwhelming onslaught of the C’s: cancer, COVID-19, and, add to this, climate change. We hope our longstanding, ever-reliable C, our Christian faith centering on our Christ, will miraculously put an end to these afflictions.

GIL M. VICENTE,MD, FPSOHNS, FPSO, FICS
President
Philippine Society of Oncologists Inc.
gmvicentemd@yahoo.com