Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
 First Regular Session 
House Bill No.  3868
INTRODUCED BY: HON. STEPHEN JAMES T. TAN 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
A growing number of patients are diagnosed with cancer each year. As cancer 
incidence rises, health expenditure in cancer therapy increases. This results in variable 
access and clinical outcomes predominantly affecting low- to middle-income countries 
wherein government funding for cancer care is limited. When public access to high-value 
therapy is inadequate, anticancer treatment is often delayed, prematurely terminated, or 
in some cases never started due to financial toxicities imposed by rising cancer drug 
prices.1 
Indeed, despite considerable progress in the discovery and development of new 
cancer drugs, there are significant disparities in both the availability and timeliness of 
these medicines worldwide, with poorer countries missing out. Few new cancer drugs 
were launched in lower-middle or low income countries, and the gap between rich and 
poor nations widened over the three decades. Such inequities may help explain poor 
cancer outcomes in many countries, particularly those on the lower end of the income 
scale.2 
Moreover, the Philippines is still dependent on sourcing cancer medicines from 
abroad due to the unavailability of local cancer medicines and the exclusion of some 
cancer medicines to the national formulary, thus, making antineoplastic drugs expensive 
since these drugs are made and formulated abroad. 
In this regard, this bill seeks to alleviate the foregoing predicament by providing 
an automatic or expedited licensing and registration of cancer and related care medicines 
while ensuring their availability at affordable prices. Foregoing considered; the passage 
of this Bill is earnestly sought.  
HON. STEPHEN JAMES T. TAN 
Representative, First District of Samar 
1 Fernandez, Rey Arturo & Ting, Frederic Ivan. (10 May 2023) Achieving health equity in cancer care in the 
Philippines. PubMed Central. hGps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ (Last accessed August 15, 2025) 
2 Global analysis reveals dispariNes in access to new cancer drugs. News-Medical.Net. Global analysis reveals 
dispariNes in access to new cancer drugs (Last accessed August 15, 2025) 
August 20, 2025
12:23 pm


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
 First Regular Session  
House Bill No.  3868 
INTRODUCED BY HON. STEPHEN JAMES T. TAN 
AN ACT INCREASING ACCESS TO CANCER AND RELATED CARE MEDICINES 
BY MANDATING AN AUTOMATIC OR EXPEDITED LICENSING AND 
REGISTRATION 
PROCESS 
OF 
ANTINEOPLASTIC 
DRUGS 
SOURCED 
OVERSEAS, WHILE ENSURING THEIR AVAILABILITY AT AFFORDABLE 
PRICES, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE 
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11215, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS "NATIONAL INTEGRATED 
CANCER CONTROL ACT" 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in the Congress 
assembled:  
SECTION 1. 
Short Title. This Act shall be known as the “Increased Access to Cancer 
and Related Care Medicines Act”. 
SECTION 2. 
Section 25 of RA 11215, is hereby further amended to read as follows: 
“Section 23. Cancer and Related Supportive Care Medicines. - The DOH, and 
other concerned government agencies shall implement reforms supporting 
early access to essential medicines, innovative medicines and health 
technologies, to ensure highest possible chance of survival among people 
with cancer. The reforms include facilitating quick access to drugs for 
compassionate use and developing a more responsive system for effectively 
addressing emergency cases. 
The FDA shall create a dedicated and streamlined process for the 
AUTOMATIC licensing AND REGISTRATION of innovator and generic 
cancer medication prepared in the Philippines as well as including in the 
national formulary antineoplastic drugs sourced overseas, subject to 
appropriate quality checks and compliance with minimum standards, such 
as, but not limited to, being approved and used for cancer treatment in 
other countries. Said overseas antineoplastic drug or “onco-drugs” are 
currently being prescribed to cancer patients in the Philippines due to its 
effectiveness in treating cancer patients. 


MOREOVER, THE DOH SHALL ENSURE SUFFICIENT SUPPLY AND 
AVAILABILITY OF SAID MEDICINES AT REGIONAL, DISTRICT, 
PROVINCIAL, CITY AND MUNICIPAL HEALTH CENTERS AT 
AFFORDABLE PRICES” 
 
 
SECTION 3. 
Implementing Rules and Regulations. Within sixty (60) days from the 
promulgation of this Act, the Department of Health (DOH), and other relevant agencies 
and stakeholders shall issue such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out 
the purpose of this Act. 
 
SECTION 4. 
Appropriations. For the initial implementation of this Act, the amount 
necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act shall be included in the annual budget 
from the current year’s appropriations of the DOH. Thereafter, the amount necessary for 
the continued implementation of this Act shall be included in the General Appropriations 
Fund. 
 
SECTION 5. 
Separability Clause. If any provision of this Act shall be declared 
unconstitutional or invalid, all other remaining provisions not otherwise affected shall 
remain effective. 
 
SECTION 6. 
Repealing Clause. All other laws, decrees, executive orders, 
proclamations, rules and regulations, and other issuances or parts thereof that are 
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or amended, accordingly. 
 
SECTION 7. 
Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication 
in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
  
Approved,