As country celebrates 3rd anniversary of Cancer Control Act on February 14
Multi-stakeholder groups from government, healthcare and advocacy organizations, and the country’s research-based pharmaceutical sector will hold a forum to highlight the crucial role of innovations in cancer care in transforming health outcomes for patients, their families and communities.
With the theme “Transformative Innovations in Cancer Care—The Way Forward,” the forum will discuss how innovations can have massive impact on extending lives as well as in improving the health and well-being of patients, their families and communities.
The forum also seeks to celebrate the country’s wins and expand the gains in cancer care in time for the 3rd anniversary of the National Integrated Cancer Control Act (NICCA) on Feb. 14, and will commence at 3:30 p.m. The forum will likewise discuss ways to accelerate momentum towards the full implementation of the Cancer Control Act through collaborations with local governments, the healthcare community, and the private sector.
The virtual forum is being organized by the Department of Health (DOH), Cancer Coalition Philippines (CCPh), Philippine Alliance of Patient Organizations (PAPO), Medicines Transparency Alliance (META), Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF), CitizenWatch, Galing Pook, Philippine Cancer Society, AC Health, Philippine Society of Medical Oncology (PSMO), Philippines Graphic, BusinessMirror, and the Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP) and its Members.
The forum is also being co-presented by PHAP Members MSD, Roche, Pfizer and Takeda, in cooperation with Novartis Healthcare, and with support from AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson and Otsuka.
Forum speakers to share insights on transformative cancer care
Galing Pook Executive Director Georgina Hernandez Yang will serve as forum host and will pave the way for the talk of Representative Alfred Vargas (Quezon City, 5th District), one of the principal authors of NICCA, on the topic “NICCA: A Gift to the Filipino Family and Communities.”
DOH Secretary Francisco T. Duque III will be invited to speak about “Why the Other C Remains on the Agenda” while Dr. Clarito Cairo, Jr., DOH Program Manager for Cancer, will discuss the topic “NICCA: What’s in it for Filipinos and When?”
Dr. Diana Edralin, PHAP President and General Manager of Roche Philippines, will provide an update on “Innovations in Cancer Therapy: Transforming the Disease” which will tell the story on the pharmaceutical industry’s aspiration to transform cancer into just another chronic illness, shifting the paradigm to that which sparks hope.
Michelle Erwee, Global Head of Access to Medicines at Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd., will deep dive into the topic on “Innovation is Nothing Without Access” which will outline models and best practices in making innovative medicines accessible to patients.
Dr. Marife Yap, Senior Technical Advisor of Thinkwell Philippines, will present a study on “Health Financing Models for the Philippines.”
Tolosa, Leyte, Mayor Dr. Maria Ofelia Alcantara, will share how her municipality successfully implemented NICCA at the grassroots level in a low-resource setting with her topic on “NICCA sa Laylayan.”
Carmen Auste, member of the National Integrated Cancer Control Council, will share her insights on “Moving the NICCA Forward in an All-of-Society, All-of-Government, Patient-Centered Integrated Approach.”
Dr. Anthony Faraon, ZFF Deputy Executive Director, will moderate the plenary discussion with esteemed panelists namely PCS President Dr. Corazon Ngelangel, PAPO President Fatima “Girlie” Lorenzo, CitizenWatch Convenor Orlando Oxales, MeTA Philippines Country Coordinator Cecilia Sison, Healthway Cancer Care Center’s Medical Advisory Council Chairman Dr. Conrado Lorenzo III, and Dr. Josephine Contreras-Tolentino who is Council Member of the PSMO.
Paul Perez, CCPh President, will provide the closing message focusing on “Greater Hope and Relenting Action Amidst Challenges.”
The virtual forum is open to the public and will be livestreamed on the Facebook pages of DOH Healthy Pilipinas, PHAP and forum partners. To register, please visit
https://roche.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_gTwyuWaSS1SpfaG6xD_IPQ.
Started in 1927, the Philippines Graphic is the longest-running printed magazine of national circulation that provides relevant news and features and promotes Philippine literature.
