Cancer is among the leading causes of death and disability in the Western Pacific. It affects people across different age groups, with children among the most vulnerable. In the Philippines, where an estimated 107 million people live, over 4700 children (aged 0 to 19 years) are expected to be diagnosed with cancer each year, with leukaemia accounting for approximately 49% of childhood cancers. Other cancers affect the brain and nervous system (9.7%), lymph nodes (9%), retina (7.5%), kidney (3.4%), and bone and soft tissues, gonadal, and germ cell sites. Deaths from childhood cancer are estimated at 1700 each year.
With the eyes of the World on health, it is increasingly important to build on this momentum and ensure that every child has access to quality healthcare.
Progress has already been achieved in the Philippines thanks to tireless work from health advocates both within and beyond government. At the global level, the Philippines champions the inclusion of childhood cancer in the global health agenda as an actionable challenge. At country level, the passage of landmark health legislation—the National Integrated Cancer Control Act (NICCA), in February 2019, and the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Act in March that same year—has driven efforts to provide quality care, and reduce the burden on affected populations. Inherent in these legal tools are initiatives to strengthen the health system by building capacity in policy and research. The development of a national strategic action plan, creation of the Integrated Cancer Control Council, the establishment of the Philippine Cancer Center, and a sustainable Cancer Assistance Fund are just a few of the actionable touch points outlined.
These efforts are part of the commitment to providing equitable, quality and affordable care for people with cancer—not just for children, but across all age groups. These legal frameworks have aided childhood cancer control efforts in the country to better align with global initiatives, among them the WHO Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer in the Western Pacific Region, where the Philippines has initiated specific implementation steps in the Region. Recognizing the significantly increasing burden of childhood cancer that translates to lost potential, greater inequalities and economic hardship for the entire family, the Initiative seeks to achieve at least a 60% survival rate for children with cancer globally by 2030. The Philippines joins a host of nations committing to saving lives and reducing suffering.
The passage of these landmark laws is a vital first step in making an impact on the lives of children, their families and their support systems. Vital as they are, however, work remains to be done. Building on universal health coverage, the Philippines is strategically positioned to make bigger strides in ensuring better health for all children.