MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) has launched the Cancer Assistance Fund (CAF) to provide financial aid to cancer survivors and cancer patients, including coverage of both inpatient and outpatient care.
It was also established to supplement the Malasakit program and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation in their provision of cancer care and control services for which funding was previously inadequate.
The CAF will include outpatient and inpatient services, including diagnostics, therapeutic procedures, medications, treatment and management services, and other cancer-related care components.
“As part of our efforts towards realizing Universal Health Care, the CAF (Cancer Assistance Fund) was developed and implemented to increase the accessibility of specialty cancer care services to many of our kababayans (countrymen) afflicted with this disease.”
DOH Officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire
“The eight (8) identified priority cancer types eligible to be financed by the CAF include breast cancer, childhood cancer, gynecologic cancer, liver cancer, adult blood cancers, head and neck cancers, lung cancer, and prostate, renal, and urinary bladder cancers,” the DOH added.
Currently, several public health initiatives supporting cancer control services are in place, including health promotion, primary care early screening and detection interventions, hospitalization benefits, and free cancer medication access.