Marcos-led NEDA Board OKs ₱6B cancer hospital in Manila

A ₱6-billion cancer center project expected to provide high-quality and affordable services got the green light from the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board headed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 3) — A ₱6-billion cancer center project expected to provide high-quality and affordable services got the green light from the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board headed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

The government said the hospital, with a lot area of 3,000 square meters, will be located inside the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) campus in Manila and will be the Marcos administration’s first private-public partnership project.

“The NEDA Board approved the solicited build-operate-transfer (BOT) proposal for the cancer center which will offer comprehensive, high-quality oncology care services while helping pay for itself for over 30 years,” NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisacan told reporters in a Palace briefing on Friday.

Under a BOT arrangement, the government enters a deal with a private partner which will finance, build, and operate the project over a specified period, during which it is allowed to charge facility users.

The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) explained that the state-owned UP-PGH will provide the site at no cost, transfer its existing equipment to the cancer institute, provide clinical services to non-paying charity patients, assume all associated costs of clinical manpower, drugs, and consumables, as well as undertake clinical teaching and research.

After the fixed term, the private entity then transfers the facility to the government.

“The project will upgrade the existing PGH capacity of 300 beds plus outpatient care to be integrated in a new dedicated cancer hospital that will modernize UP-PGH health infrastructure,” Balisacan said.

According to the PCO, the hospital will provide a “full range” of cancer treatments, including radio oncology (radiotherapy), imaging, medical oncology, and support for the UP-PGH’s teaching and research activities.

It added that the building will have 15 to 20 floors, 150 “charity beds” for the UP-PGH area and 150 other beds for the private area, 350 parking spaces, 1,000 square meters of commercial space, and an area for three linear accelerator bunkers.

Based on the Philippine Statistics Authority’s (PSA) report, neoplasms – commonly known as cancer — was the third leading cause of death in the country from January to September 2022, accounting for 42,497 recorded fatalities.

The PSA said the top cause of death during the period were ischemic heart diseases, followed by cerebrovascular diseases.

Link from CNN Philippines: https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2023/2/3/neda-board-cancer-hospital-manila.html