Wazzup Pilipinas!?
The Philippines’ leading lung cancer experts, patient groups, and policymakers have issued the Philippine Declaration on Lung Cancer Diagnostics and Treatment Access, calling for the immediate rollout of a comprehensive PhilHealth Lung Cancer Benefit Package and stronger nationwide systems for early detection, diagnosis, and equitable treatment. The declaration signals a united push to address one of the country’s deadliest and most costly health burdens, aligning with the ASPIRE Asia-Pacific Lung Cancer Policy Consensus that urges governments to act decisively against surging lung cancer rates.
A worsening national burden
For the Lung Health Alliance of the Philippines (LungHAP), the declaration is both urgent and long overdue.
LungHAP President Engr. Emer Rojas underscored the scale of the crisis. “Lung cancer remains the deadliest of all cancers in the country, claiming more than 20,000 Filipino lives in 2022 alone. Behind every number is a family, a story, a life cut short, many of them preventable.”
LungHAP Chairman Atty. Arnel Mateo added that the declaration represents a collective call to action. “Lung cancer is not just another health challenge. It is the leading cause of death among all cancers in the Philippines. Let us make this declaration a powerful step toward a future where no Filipino faces lung cancer alone.”
Medical oncologist and ASPIRE lead researcher Dr. Kenneth Samala emphasized that comprehensive PhilHealth coverage could dramatically improve outcomes, especially since more than half of Filipino lung cancer patients are diagnosed at late stages, when treatment options are limited and expensive.
“Adequate funding and insurance are essential to ensure timely access to diagnostics, treatment, and specialized care across the country,” he said.
Diagnostic gaps limit early detection
One of the declaration’s core priorities is expanding access to reliable and affordable diagnostic tools.
Dr. Corazon Ngelangel, President of the Philippine Cancer Society highlighted how AI-assisted chest X-rays can help stretch limited resources, especially for regions without low-dose CT (LDCT) facilities. “Using AI, we can triage only high-risk cases for LDCT, optimizing resources and supporting non-expert radiologists in the community,” she explained.
Adult pulmonologist and medical oncologist at the Lung Center of the Philippines Dr. Guia Ladrera stressed that early detection also requires stronger public awareness.
She noted that social media has become an effective platform for educating Filipinos about symptoms and risk factors.
Meanwhile, Dr. Michael Agustin, pulmonologist and critical care specialist and Director of the Healthway Lung Nodule Clinic Philippines pointed out persistent gaps that delay timely treatment.
“It’s not enough to have templates and diagnostics; the timing and coordination must be optimized. We must narrow gaps in the care pathway—from screening to biopsy, pathology, and treatment.”
The Declaration: A unified push for equity, access, and reform
The Philippine Declaration on Lung Cancer outlines a roadmap anchored on five urgent priorities:
• Immediate implementation of a comprehensive PhilHealth Lung Cancer Benefit Package
• Improved access to LDCT screening, biomarker testing, and precision oncology
• Regional cancer centers equipped for multidisciplinary care
• Partnerships across public and private sectors to accelerate investments
• Stigma reduction, awareness-building, and patient empowerment
These priorities echo the ASPIRE Consensus Document, which calls for prevention, early detection, equitable treatment, and sustained investment across Asia-Pacific health systems.
A call to protect every Filipino
The experts reiterated that investing in lung cancer care is not only lifesaving, it is economically sound.
As Dr. Samala noted, “Investing in early detection and comprehensive treatment not only saves lives, it allows patients to return to society as productive contributors. Through collaborative action, policy support, and sustainable investment, we can transform lung cancer care in the Philippines.”
Public involvement is key
LungHAP and partner organizations are urging the public to support the declaration and push for PhilHealth coverage that fully protects Filipino patients.
Add your voice to the movement: Sign the petition: https://www.change.org/p/lung-cancer-can-affect-anyone-action-can-save-everyone.
PHOTO CAPTION: United under the convening of LungHAP, medical experts and patient advocates come together at the ASPIRE Lung Summit to push forward the Philippine Declaration on Lung Cancer, urging comprehensive PhilHealth support and equitable access to essential diagnostics and treatment.
(L-R: Dr. Maricar Sabeniano, Oncology Manager for Navigation and Cancer Registry at the Philippine Cancer Society, Dr. Guia Ladrera, pulmonologist and medical oncologist at the Lung Center of the Philippines and Dr. Michael Agustin, pulmonologist and critical care medicine specialist and Director of the Healthway Lung Nodule Clinic Philippines). Cancer experts emphasize the importance of partnerships, multidisciplinary teams, and sustainable investment in closing the gap from detection to treatment for lung cancer patients.
(L–R: Engr. Emer Rojas, President of LungHAP; Dr. Kenneth Samala, medical oncologist and ASPIRE lead researcher; Dr. Corazon Ngelangel, President of the Philippine Cancer Society; Dr. Guia Ladrera, pulmonologist and medical oncologist at the Lung Center of the Philippines; and Dr. Michael Agustin, pulmonologist, critical care specialist, and Director of the Healthway Lung Nodule Clinic Philippines). A distinguished panel of medical experts and patient advocates discusses lung cancer risks, prevention, and strategies to expand access to timely, life-saving diagnostics and treatment for all Filipinos.
Ross is known as the Pambansang Blogger ng Pilipinas - An Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Professional by profession and a Social Media Evangelist by heart.
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