Bacolod City – The city has been chosen as a pilot area for the recent launching of Project BrIDGE (Breast Cancer Integrated Disease Solutions in Guideline-Driven Ecosystem) for having the highest incidence of breast cancer in the whole Philippines and also in the whole of Asia.
Dr. Richie Jara-Lazaro, regional pathologist of Roche Diagnostic Asia Pacific, said that in a 2019 report, Bacolod City recorded 47 breast cancer patients compared to 32 out of the hundreds of thousands of patients in the Philippines.
Lazaro, a Bacolodnon, said Project BrIDGE is an opportunity provided by Roche for improving breast cancer services in Bacolod City.
It was a project that won first runner-up in an internal Roche competition called Dxtic Strategy World Cup participated in by 31 countries last year, because of the proposed solutions, over-all stakeholder partnership, and the uniqueness of the project. “With the funding we were awarded, we are now able to co-create with the doctors and breast cancer patients of Bacolod solutions that we can implement in the city’s healthcare system,” she said.
Lazaro said Project BrIDGE not only aims to bridge the gap between patients and doctors but also between the different specialties of cancer specialists – the oculists, surgeons, radiologists and pathologists.
The goal of the project is to elevate, upgrade, and improve breast cancer care, as well as upscale laboratory services in Bacolod City. They are partnering with Riverside Medical Center to upscale its laboratory to become a center of excellence in Bacolod and equip it with complete panel of breast cancer biomarkers that will result in faster turnaround time, she said.
They will also roll-out a website and the GabayKa app in partnership with Kadughan Breast Cancer Foundation to help cancer patients access educational resources, get guidance in their cancer journey, connect them with doctors, help patients find resources where they can get subsidy, and at the same time connect them to a support group, Lazaro said.
Since 2002, Singapore has been providing free mammography and ultrasound to women who are 50 years old and above, she said.
Lazaro said that with government support, it will be easier to implement solutions for patients who cannot afford treatment.
Luis Virly lll, Roche Philippines Health Care Development-Diagnostic Division head, said the city government can probably come up with local policies that will support sustainability in funding the project and also help patients by providing financial assistance since treatment is costly.
“Education is really important for women to take charge of their health. I think it’s also important for government to bridge the Department of Health with other departments of government like the DepEd to do the educating part so children will know about breast cancer and women’s health aside from sex education,” he added. (Chrysee Semillano via tvsd photo by tvds)