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Program Background

Program Background

     Advances in cancer diagnosis and treatment have now made long-term survival and cure a reality for many children with this disease.  This is particularly true in developed countries where survival rates for children with cancer reach as high as 80-90%.  Unfortunately, in developing countries where majority of childhood cancer are being diagnosed, less than 20% of those children survive.

     In the Philippines, it has been estimated that about 3,500 children will be newly diagnosed with cancer each year.  Childhood leukemia is the most common and accounts for about 60-70% of cancers seen among Filipino children.  Although multidisciplinary management is available and could potentially cure 80% of cases, only about 10-20% actually attains long-term survival.

     Thus, to help improve the cure and survival rates of children with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL) and alleviate their financial hardships in paying for costly cancer treatment the Department of Health began sourcing childhood chemotherapy drugs in partnership with PITC Pharma Inc. in 2009. The Program aims to lower the mortality and increase the survival rates of children with acute lymphocytic leukemia in the Philippines. The DOH ensured the procurement of ALL medicines and allowed the access to chemotherapy drugs for free for its identified beneficiaries undergoing treatment through identified government hospitals across the Philippines. DOH targeted the most cost-effective and commonly used chemotherapy for ALL among Filipino children.

Access Sites/Identified Hospitals

  1. Batangas Medical Center (BMC)
  2. Bicol Regional Training and Teaching Hospital (BRTTH)
  3. Cotabato Regional Medical Center (CRMC)
  4. Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMMRH)
  5. Davao Regional Hospital (DRH)
  6. East Avenue Medical Center (EAMC)
  7. Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center (ITRMC)
  8. Jose B. Lingad Memorial Regional Hospital (JBLMRH)
  9. National Children’s Hospital (NCH)
  10. Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC)
  11. Ospital ng Makati (OsMak)
  12. Philippine Children’s Medical Center (PCMC)
  13. Philippine General Hospital (PGH)
  14. Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC)
  15. Tarlac Provincial Hospital (TPH)
  16. Wetstern Visayas Medical Center (WVMC)
  17. Zamboanga City Medical Center (ZCMC)

Medicines Included in the CCMAP

Bleomycin 15 mg vial/amp (IM/IV/SC) (as sulfate)

Calcium Folinate (leucovorin calcium) 50 mg vial (IM,IV)

Carboplatin 150 mg vial (IV)

Carboplatin 450 mg vial (IV)

Cisplatin 50 mg powder vial (IV)

Cisplatin 10 mg powder vial (IV)

Cyclophosphamide 500 mg powder vial (IV)

Cyclophosphamide 1000 mg/1 gram powder for injection vial (IV)

Cytarabine 100 mg vial (IM/SC/Intrathecal)

Cytarabine 500 mg solution for injection vial (IV infusion)

Cytarabine 1 gram solution for injection (IV infusion)

Doxorubicin 10 mg powder for injection vial (IV) (as hydrochloride)

Doxorubicin 50 mg powder for injection vial (IV) (as hydrochloride)

Etoposide 20 mg/mL, 5 mL amp/vial (IV)

Filgrastim (G-CSF) 300 mcg/mL or 300mcg/1.2mL vial (IV,SC)

Ifosfamide 2 g (IV infusion)

Mercaptopurine 50 mg tablet

Mesna (sodium-2-mercaptoethanesulphonate) 100 mg/mL, 4 mL (IV)

Methotrexate (as sodium salt/disodium salt) 2.5 mg tablet (6 mm tablet size)                                              

Methotrexate (as sodium salt, preservative-free) 50 mg vial  (IM/IV/ intrathecal)

Methotrexate sodium 500 mg (IM, IV, Intrathecal)

Methotrexate sodium 1 gram (IM, IV, Intrathecal)

Vinblastine 10 mg powder vial (IV) (as sulfate)

Vincristine 1 mg/mL, 1 mL vial (IV)  (as sulfate)

Vincristine 1 mg/mL, 2 mL vial (IV) (as sulfate)                                                         

Program Updates/Milestones

     The program was enhanced in 2013 with the Philippine Children’s Medical Center (PCMC) designated as the National Collaborating Center for Childhood Cancer coordinating with the network of pediatric oncologists and hematologists practicing in government hospitals all over the country.    The program was also expanded to other common Solid Tumors in children and the provision of medicines to manage toxic complications of chemotherapy. In addition, the Patient Navigation Program was also incorporated to track and monitor patients in terms of treatment response, occurrence of adverse drug experiences, research, coordination with health care providers, assistance to patients and their family to overcome health barriers and provide psychosocial support.

Number of Enrollees in the DOH-Childhood Cancer Medicines Access Program (as of  December 2016)

Hospital

Cancer type

total no. of patients enrolled

Batangas Medical Center

Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia

130

Solid tumors

44

Bicol Training and Teaching Hospital

Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia

73

Solid tumors

10

Davao Regional Hospital

Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia

39

Solid tumors

8

East Avenue Medical Center

Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia

20

Solid tumors

142

Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center

Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia

70

Solid tumors

17

Jose B. Lingad Memorial Regional Hospital

Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia

55

Solid tumors

25

National Children’s Hospital

Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia

279

Solid tumors

88

Northern Mindanao Medical Center

Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia

121

Solid tumors

26

Ospital ng Makati

Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia

33

Solid tumors

18

Philippine Children’s Medical Center

Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia

656

Solid tumors

494

Philippine General Hospital

Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia

421

Solid tumors

549

Southern Philippines Medical Center

Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia

273

Solid tumors

371

Western Visayas Medical Center

Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia

40

Solid tumors

38

Zamboanga City Medical Center

Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia

47

Solid tumors

47

Tarlac Provincial Hospital

Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia

48

Solid tumors

16

Total

4,212