EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
of tl)r j&ccrctflrp
)
SENATE 
S. No. 1481
20 MAY-4/ P3 29,
Introduced by Senator Grace Poe
RECEIVED
AN ACT
TO ASSIST INDIGENT CANCER PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES, 
ESTABLISHING FOR THE PURPOSE A CANCER ASSISTANCE FUND AND FOR 
OTHER PURPOSES
Explanatory Note
Claiming thousands of lives each year, and amounting to several billions of 
pesos in healthcare and treatment cost, cancer has become a serious public health 
issue as well as an economic burden.
In the Philippines, cancer is the third leading cause of death as it afflicts 189 
per 100,000 and kills four Filipinos every hour or 103 every day. The incidence and 
mortality rate of cancer in the Philippines has been increasing in the past three 
decades. This trend is expected to continue if organized and sustained specialized 
cancer is not initiated.
The cost of chemotherapy and radiation treatments for cancer patients may 
reach up to Phpl00,000 per session. Even examination by Magnetic Resonance 
Imaging (MRI) is burdensome even to middle-income patients and often beyond the 
reach of the poor.
This is why cancer has gained a reputation as the disease for the rich even 
though it can afflict anybody regardless of economic status.
The Constitution provides for the right to health of the people. It is time for 
the less fortunate to get the opportunity to fight cancer despite lack of resources.
For this reason, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
* r a GRACE POl


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EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
of t!jc #S>?cretari>
SENATE
20 MAY-4
Introduced by Senator Grace Poe
AN ACT
TO ASSIST INDIGENT CANCER PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES, 
ESTABLISHING FOR THE PURPOSE A CANCER ASSISTANCE FUND AND FOR 
OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
Section 1. Short Title.- This Act shall be known as the "Cancer Assistance
Act".
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is a declared policy of the State to protect 
and promote the right to health of the people. For this purpose, the State shall 
implement a system of providing premium care and assistance to indigent cancer 
patients and their families.
Sec. 3. Assistance to Indigent Cancer Patients. - Every year, the State shall 
automatically appropriate the amount of One Billion Pesos (Phpl, 000,000,000.00) 
to support the cancer medicine and treatment assistance program to be 
administered by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth). The 
Program shall prioritize indigent and underprivileged cancer patient beneficiaries to 
be identified by the PhilHealth in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare 
and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Interior and Local Government 
(DILG).
Sec. 4. Rules and Regulations. - The PhilHealth, in consultation with the 
DSWD and DILG and the representatives from hospital association, medical


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practitioners and civii society representing peasant and/or the marginalized sector
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shall formulate relevant rules and regulations within six (6) months from the
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approval of this Act.
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Sec. 5. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following
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its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two newspapers of general
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circulation.
Approved,