More Filipinos battling cancer can now access government financial assistance after the Department of Health (DOH) expanded its Cancer Assistance Fund (CAF) network to 36 hospitals across the country.
The DOH on Monday, July 6, announced the addition of two new CAF access sites: Oriental Mindoro Provincial Hospital in Mimaropa (Region 4-B) and Democrito O. Plaza Memorial Provincial Hospital in Caraga.
More Hospitals to Provide Financial Aid
The Cancer Assistance Fund helps ease the cost of treatment by providing financial support for cancer patients, survivors, and individuals at high risk who need immediate medical care.
The DOH said expanding the program is part of the government's continuing effort to make cancer services more accessible and reduce the financial burden on Filipino families.
CAF Sites Spread Across the Country
With the latest expansion, Luzon now has 23 CAF access sites, including the Philippine General Hospital, Lung Center of the Philippines, and Bicol Medical Center.
The Visayas has five participating hospitals: Western Visayas Medical Center, Angel Salazar Memorial General Hospital, Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital, Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, and Eastern Visayas Medical Center.
Mindanao has eight CAF hospitals: Zamboanga City Medical Center, Davao Regional Medical Center, Southern Philippines Medical Center, Northern Mindanao Medical Center, Amai Pakpak Medical Center, Democrito O. Plaza Memorial Provincial Hospital, Cotabato Regional and Medical Center, and Cotabato Sanitarium.
Cancer Still Among the Deadliest Diseases
The expansion comes as cancer remains one of the leading causes of death in the Philippines.
Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that neoplasms, or cancers, claimed 70,668 lives as of December 2025, making them the country's second leading cause of death. Ischemic heart diseases remained the top killer, with 122,339 recorded deaths.
