Section 12Sec./Art. 12

Regional Cancer Center. - The objectives and functions of a regional cancer center are as follows:

(a) Provide timely, developmentally appropriate, and high-quality cancer services such as screening, diagnosis, optimal treatment and care, supportive care and palliative care, survivorship follow-up care, and reintegration and rehabilitation, to cancer patients of all genders and ages;

(b) Establish, as necessary, networks with both public and private facilities to improve access, expand range of services, reduce costs and bring services closer to patients;

(c) Provide and promote supportive care, palliative care and pain management, patient navigation, hospice care and other measures to improve the well-being and quality of life of cancer patients, people living with cancer, their families and carers;

(d) Provide separate units and facilities for children and adolescents with cancer and ensure that such children and adolescents are not mixed with the general population;

(e) Design and implement high-impact, innovative, and relevant local communications campaigns that are context and culture-sensitive, and aligned with national programs;

(f) Undertake and support the training of physicians, nurses, medical technicians, pharmacists, health officers and social workers on evidence-based and good practice models for the delivery of responsive, multidisciplinary, integrated cancer services;

(g) Address the psychosocial and rehabilitation needs of cancer patients and survivors;

(h) Adopt and promote evidence-based innovations, good practice models, equitable, sustainable strategies and actions across the continuum of care;

(i) Engage and collaborate with LGUs, private sector, philanthropic institutions, cancer focused patient support, advocacy organizations and civil society organizations to make available programs and services and practical assistance to cancer families and cancer survivors; and

(j) Promote and assist in ethical scientific research on matters related to cancer.