Go hails Philippines first dedicated cancer hospital

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Bong Go lauded the establishment of the Healthway Cancer Care Hospital (HCCH), the Philippines’ first dedicated cancer care facility.

The hospital, inaugurated by President Marcos in Taguig City on Friday, stands as a testament to collaborative efforts in improving health services.

“With the help of the HCCH, we can revolutionize the cancer care service industry in the Philippines through modern, state of the art equipment coupled with leading medical professionals and oncologists. It will certainly positively reflect on the country’s growing potential as a leading health care destination in Asia,” said Marcos during the inauguration.

Go, chair of the Senate committee on health, acknowledged the importance of such initiatives. “This is a huge step toward improving access to quality cancer care for many Filipinos.”

His commitment to improving health care in the Philippines, particularly in the area of specialized health care, is further evidenced by the enactment of Republic Act 11959, also known as the Regional Specialty Centers Act, of which he was principal sponsor and one of the authors in the Senate.

This law, signed by President Marcos on Aug. 24, is a strategic move towards decentralizing specialized health care in the country and bringing critical medical services closer to the people.

This legislation mandates the creation of Regional Specialty Centers within the existing framework of Department of Health regional hospitals. It is a crucial step in ensuring that specialized health care services, similar to those provided by the HCCH, are accessible in various regions across the country.

Go further lauded the continuing efforts of both the government and the private sector in promoting the health and well-being of Filipinos.

The HCCH offers comprehensive services, including radiation oncology, surgery, chemotherapy and palliative care.

Meanwhile, Go emphasized the importance of allocating sufficient funds for specific health care programs, especially for cancer which is one of the top causes of death in the country.

He pointed out that the Cancer Assistance Fund for this year was set at P500 million through the collective efforts of lawmakers last year.

Go proposed for this to be doubled to P1 billion for the next year so that government can provide sufficient support and assistance, particularly to indigent cancer patients.