OFW Hospital cancer center seen

The construction of the Bagong Pilipinas Cancer Care Center at the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) Hospital is expected to be completed this year, according to the hospital’s officer-in-charge Dr. Patrick Maglaya.

Maglaya confirmed last 20 February that construction is already underway with support from the Department of Health (DoH) and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).

“We think that within this year, under the mandate of Secretary Cacdac, the building will be built,” Maglaya said.

The groundbreaking of the cancer care center was held last 15 December 2024 of last year. Upon its completion, it is expected to accommodate 64 patients and offer various treatment options, including chemotherapy, diagnostic and staging services, and surgical oncology.

Maglaya cited that a significant portion of the OFW Hospital’s patients are returning migrant workers who have spent almost a decade abroad.

“I noticed that 70 percent of our patients spend almost 10 years outside the country, and at that age, they go home at 40 or 50 years old,” Maglaya said.

To date, the OFW Hospital has already served approximately 90,000 patients, with almost 150 patients a day.

Aside from overseas workers, the hospital also provides medical services to OFWs’ spouses, children below 17 years old, and their parents, but they also cater to patients with no OFW affiliations.

For migrant workers who need medical repatriation, the hospital operates under the Integrated Medical Repatriation System Program, which follows a referral process.

“Hospitals abroad contact medical facilities in the Philippines and send emails. The OFW Hospital then issues what we call an acceptance letter,” Maglaya said.

Once the acceptance letter is processed, the worker’s relatives are informed, and the worker can be immediately transported to the hospital upon arrival to the Philippines.