Administrative Order No. 2022-0012

SUBJECT: Rules and Regulations Governing the Licensure of Cancer Treatment Facilities in the Philippines

I. RATIONALE

       The 2020 World Health Organization (WHO) data from the International Agency
for the Research on Cancer (IARC) showed that global burden of cancer rose to 19.3 million
new cases with an estimated 10 million cancer deaths, making it the second leading cause of
death globally. The most common types of cancers are of the breast, lung, colorectum,
prostate, and stomach, liver and cervix uteri; while the most common cause of cancer
deaths are from cancers of the female breast, lung, colorectal, prostate and stomach.

       In the Philippines, despite cancer awareness and prevention campaigns, there were
153,751 new cases in 2020. The leading causes of new cancer cases are from the
following: breast 17.7%; lung 12.5%; colorectum 11.3%; prostate 5.4 %,liver 6.9%; and
other cancers 46.3 %. There were 92,606 reported deaths and 354,398 prevalent cases
(Globocan 2020). Among these new cancer cases in the country, 3,514 cases or 2.29% were
from the 0-14 age group (WHO 2020).

       Early detection and treatment are still the best strategies to reduce cancer mortality,
with surgery, and/or systemic therapy, and/or radiation therapy as the accepted modalities of
treatment. For low and middle-income families, a diagnosis of cancer poses challenges, not
only in the access to a health care provider and facility, but also in the resulting emotional
and economic impact on the patient and his/her family. Factors such as (a) lack of access, (b)
incorrect, delayed, or poor quality of treatment (due to distance, long queues, and waiting
time), and (c) expensive therapies, may result in premature death or unnecessary illness and
disability resulting in increased cost of treatment to patients, affecting not only their
families but the health care system and society as well.

       Section 11 of Republic Act No. (R.A.) No. 11215, titled “An Act Institutionalizing
a National Integrated Cancer Control Program and Appropriating Funds Therefor”,
otherwise known as the National Integrated Cancer Control Act (NICCA), states that “ in
accordance with Section 33 of this Act, the DOH, in the implementing rules and
regulations of this Act shall provide for the minimum required diagnostic, therapeutic,
research capacities and facilities, technical, operational, and personnel standards of these
centers, as well as the appropriate licensing and accreditation requirements, and
procedure for licensing in a timely manner.”

       Hence, this Administrative Order (A.O.) regulating cancer treatment facilities is
issued for a more patient-centered health system and to improve responsiveness to the
needs of cancer patients, making quality and safe health care accessible and affordable,
in alignment with the goals of R.A. No. 11223 or the Universal Health Care Act,
FOURmula OnePlus and the provisions of R.A. No. 11215

Read More -> Click Here