Manila Bulletin
Philippines
Solon reminds DOH: Don't forget about the other dreaded disease - cancer
Philippines
Solon reminds DOH: Don't forget about the other dreaded disease - cancer
Solon reminds DOH: Don't forget about the other dreaded disease - cancer
Published Apr 23, 2020 12:00 am
By Ben Rosario
Quezon City Rep. Alfred Vargas appealed to the Department of Health (DOH) and the Inter-Agency Task for for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) Thursday to pay equal attention to other dreaded diseases like cancer even while the country is battling the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Quezon City Rep. Alfred Vargas
(Alfred Vargas official Facebook page / MANILA BULLETIN) “Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, treatments have been postponed as going to hospitals for chemotherapy, radiation, and even ordinary consultations poses greater risks for cancer patients,” said Vargas, vice chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations. The QC lawmaker urged the DOH and the IATF to strongly consider the recommendation of health professionals and civil society organizations dealing with the treatment and management of cancer. “But more than a month and a-half under ECQ, some protocols need to be established as cancer treatment sessions cannot be postponed indefinitely,” Vargas said. Vargas stressed that his concern should not be misconstrued as a proposal to relax the government’s anti-COVID response, saying that under the current public health condition of the country, the coronavirus disease should remain a priority. However, Vargas said cancer patients should also be given attention by restructuring existing hospitals with cancer care facilities and designating certain hospitals and clinics to be dedicated for cancer treatment and care, with stringent measures to be COVID-19 safe; establishing guidelines by which these cancer care facilities can minimize the risk of exposure and infection of cancer patients to COVID-19; ensuring the availability and access to medicines for cancer care including palliation and pain management; and providing transportation support/assistance, and travel clearance to and from residence to point of care and back. “The plight of cancer patients and their families is no joke, financially, socially, medically…everything. The emotional stress is just too much when one sees a loved one suffer, and suffer more because of delayed treatment. It is further totally unacceptable when, with extreme lockdowns, the problem of transporting the patient to and from the residence adds on to their already difficult situation,” he added. During the 16th Congress, Vargas was one of the legislators who authored and strongly pushed for the passage of Republic Act 11215, the National Integrated Cancer Control Act. According to the University of the Philippines’ Institute of Human Genetics, National Institutes of Health, four Filipinos die of cancer every hour or 96 cancer patients every day.
Quezon City Rep. Alfred Vargas(Alfred Vargas official Facebook page / MANILA BULLETIN) “Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, treatments have been postponed as going to hospitals for chemotherapy, radiation, and even ordinary consultations poses greater risks for cancer patients,” said Vargas, vice chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations. The QC lawmaker urged the DOH and the IATF to strongly consider the recommendation of health professionals and civil society organizations dealing with the treatment and management of cancer. “But more than a month and a-half under ECQ, some protocols need to be established as cancer treatment sessions cannot be postponed indefinitely,” Vargas said. Vargas stressed that his concern should not be misconstrued as a proposal to relax the government’s anti-COVID response, saying that under the current public health condition of the country, the coronavirus disease should remain a priority. However, Vargas said cancer patients should also be given attention by restructuring existing hospitals with cancer care facilities and designating certain hospitals and clinics to be dedicated for cancer treatment and care, with stringent measures to be COVID-19 safe; establishing guidelines by which these cancer care facilities can minimize the risk of exposure and infection of cancer patients to COVID-19; ensuring the availability and access to medicines for cancer care including palliation and pain management; and providing transportation support/assistance, and travel clearance to and from residence to point of care and back. “The plight of cancer patients and their families is no joke, financially, socially, medically…everything. The emotional stress is just too much when one sees a loved one suffer, and suffer more because of delayed treatment. It is further totally unacceptable when, with extreme lockdowns, the problem of transporting the patient to and from the residence adds on to their already difficult situation,” he added. During the 16th Congress, Vargas was one of the legislators who authored and strongly pushed for the passage of Republic Act 11215, the National Integrated Cancer Control Act. According to the University of the Philippines’ Institute of Human Genetics, National Institutes of Health, four Filipinos die of cancer every hour or 96 cancer patients every day.