Proposed law seeks free cancer screening for indigent, high-risk Filipinos

Former House Speaker and Leyte Representative Martin Romualdez has filed a measure aimed at reducing cancer deaths in the Philippines by institutionalizing early detection and risk-profiling programs at the grassroots level.

House Bill 7942, also known as the “Cancer Risk Screening and Awareness Act,” is co-authored by Tingog Partylist Representative Jude Acidre.

The bill seeks to establish community-based screening programs through the Department of Health (DoH) in partnership with local government units and barangay health workers.

Citing data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, Romualdez cited that cancer consistently ranks among the top three leading causes of mortality in the country.

He said a major factor contributing to this alarming reality is the late diagnosis of cancer cases, which reduces survival rates and imposes severe financial hardship on families.

Studies reveal that treatment of late-stage cancer can consume more than 30 percent of a household’s income.

The lawmaker pointed out that while high-income countries report higher cancer incidence, they see lower mortality rates due to robust prevention and early detection strategies.

Evidence shows that early detection significantly improves survival rates while reducing overall treatment costs, making it both a life-saving and cost-effective public health strategy, Romualdez added.

Under the proposal, initial screening efforts will focus on breast, cervical, colorectal, and prostate cancers. The DoH may expand this list upon the recommendation of the National Integrated Cancer Control Council.

Meantime, Acidre stressed that the bill would strengthen the role of barangay health workers by providing them with specialized training in cancer prevention, health navigation, and patient support.

By integrating grassroots health workers into systematic detection efforts, Acidre said the state fulfills its constitutional mandate to protect the right to health while complementing the National Integrated Cancer Control Act.

The measure mandates the Department of Health and local government units to establish a comprehensive cancer risk profiling system nationwide.

A municipality- or city-wide cancer risk registry would be created to record prevalence trends and screening results, with strict adherence to the Data Privacy Act of 2012.

The bill further provides for regular barangay-based cancer screenings that are free of charge or subsidized, with priority granted to indigent and high-risk populations. Health facilities conducting these screenings must establish a referral mechanism to higher-level facilities for confirmatory diagnosis and treatment, including linkage to PhilHealth benefits and other logistical support.