THE approval of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board for the establishment of the P6-billion, 300-bed capacity University of the Philippines (UP)-Philippine General Hospital (PGH) Cancer Center-Public Private Partnership (PPP) is a manifestation of the Marcos administration’s commitment to prioritizing the healthcare needs of Filipinos, a socioeconomic planning official said.
“The first PPP to be approved under the Marcos administration is iyong UP-PGH Cancer Institute na nag-usap nga kanina ni [Department of Transportation Assistant Secretary Leonel Cray De Velez] ASec. Leo, na ang ganda rin ng message that we are really prioritizing health. So, this will be the first of many, I hope,” NEDA Undersecretary Rosemarie Edillon said in a media forum on Saturday.
“Kasi ang gusto talaga natin, in the PDP [Philippine Development Plan], ang nailagay natin doon, mga Regional Specialty Hospitals. Na ‘yung mga kababayan natin na nasa mga malalayong probinsya, hindi kailangang pumunta pa all the way sa Manila para dito. So, of course the first among which would be the UP-PGH Cancer Institute,” Edillon explaindd.
The NEDA Board, chaired by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., approved seven high-impact projects during its third meeting Thursday in Malacañang, which included the UP-PGH Cancer Center.
According to NEDA, these projects will significantly contribute to achieving the administration’s social and economic transformation goal in the medium-term.
Dr. Jose Rafael Marfori, PGH Special Assistant to the Director, said that with the construction of the UP-PGH Cancer Center, the country could have a bigger and wider facility that will cater to the needs of cancer patients.
Once the Cancer Center becomes operational, medical professionals will have access to new technologies that can aid them in cancer detection and treatment, Marfori said, adding that doctors’ expertise and patient access are vital in health care.
