Philippine Declaration on Lung Cancer Demands Stronger PhilHealth Coverage as Cases Rise Even Among Non-Smokers
The Philippines’ top lung cancer experts, patient organizations, and policymakers have issued the Philippine Declaration on Lung Cancer Diagnostics and Treatment Access, calling for urgent action to address a disease that continues to claim thousands of Filipino lives, including many who have never smoked. The declaration reinforces the need for a comprehensive PhilHealth Lung Cancer Benefit Package and a nationwide push for earlier detection, accessible diagnostics, and equitable treatment, reflecting the priorities of the ASPIRE Asia-Pacific Lung Cancer Policy Consensus.
Lung cancer is no longer just “a smoker’s disease”
Although tobacco remains the leading cause of lung cancer, experts at the summit emphasized that up to 20 percent of Filipino lung cancer cases occur in non-smokers, a growing concern tied to indoor air pollution, secondhand smoke, genetic predisposition, and environmental exposures.
LungHAP President Engr. Emer Rojas stressed the broader impact of the disease:
“Lung cancer remains the deadliest of all cancers in the country. Behind every number is a family, a story, a life cut short, many of them preventable.”
LungHAP Chairman Atty. Arnel Mateo said the declaration serves as a national call to confront both traditional and emerging risk factors. “Lung cancer is not just another health challenge. Let us make this declaration a powerful step toward a future where no Filipino faces lung cancer alone.”
Medical oncologist Dr. Kenneth Samala, ASPIRE lead researcher, noted that late-stage diagnosis remains common across both smokers and non-smokers, making early detection and insurance coverage even more critical. He emphasized that PhilHealth must help dismantle financial barriers that prevent Filipino patients from accessing life-saving diagnostics and treatment.
Early detection remains limited, especially outside major cities
Dr. Corazon Ngelangel, President of the Philippine Cancer Society, pointed to the urgent need to expand diagnostic capacity. “Using AI, we can triage only high-risk cases for LDCT, optimizing resources and supporting non-expert radiologists in the community.”
Pulmonologist-oncologist at the Lung Center of the Philippines Dr. Guia Ladrera highlighted the role of public education in debunking misconceptions that lung cancer affects only smokers. Social media platforms, she noted, remain effective channels for reaching at-risk and underserved groups.
Clinician Dr. Michael Agustin stressed the importance of fixing bottlenecks that slow down diagnosis. “We must narrow gaps in the care pathway from screening to biopsy, pathology, and treatment.”
Inside the Philippine Declaration: A stronger push for nationwide reform
The Philippine Declaration on Lung Cancer outlines an expanded and more forceful agenda for national action. Its key commitments include:
1. Making lung cancer a national priority disease – Anchoring policymaking, budgeting, and planning around lung cancer’s high mortality and economic burden.
2. Fast-tracking the PhilHealth Lung Cancer Benefit Package – Ensuring coverage for essential diagnostics such as LDCT, biomarker testing, and pathology services, alongside modern treatment options including surgery, radiotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy.
3. Building regional centers of excellence – Establishing cancer hubs outside Metro Manila so patients—especially in the Visayas and Mindanao—can access comprehensive, multidisciplinary care without traveling long distances.
4. Strengthening early detection through evidence-based screening – Scaling AI-assisted chest X-ray programs and expanding LDCT access to reach both smokers and non-smokers who may be at risk.
5. Reducing stigma and empowering patients – Rejecting the false notion that lung cancer is self-inflicted and promoting public awareness campaigns that encourage timely consultations and screening.
These priority areas mirror the ASPIRE Consensus Document, underscoring the need for collaboration, cross-sector investment, and long-term sustainability in lung cancer care across Asia-Pacific.
A call to protect every Filipino
The experts emphasized that strengthening lung cancer care is not only life-saving, it is socially and economically vital. As Dr. Samala explained, “Investing in early detection and comprehensive treatment not only saves lives, it allows patients to return to society as productive contributors.”
Better survival means families remain intact, communities stay productive, and fewer Filipinos fall into financial hardship.
LungHAP and partner organizations are urging the public to support the declaration and advocate for PhilHealth coverage that fully protects lung cancer patients, including non-smokers who are often overlooked.
You can add your voice to the call for stronger protection:
Sign the petition: https://www.change.org/p/lung-cancer-can-affect-anyone-action-can-save-everyone.
