Section 22Sec./Art. 22

Social Protection Mechanisms. - The DOH, in collaboration with the Social Security System (SSS), Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, DOLE, DSWD, PhilHealth and LGUs, shall develop appropriate and easily accessible social protection mechanisms for cancer patients, people living with cancer, cancer survivors, their families and carers. It shall aim to encourage the underprivileged and marginalized people living with cancer to undergo the necessary treatment and care.

A Cancer Control Policy shall be established in every workplace. It shall form part of employee benefits in the formal sector covering the entire cancer continuum, from prevention, including genetic counselling and testing, to screening, diagnosis and palliative care, treatment, rehabilitation, survivorship or hospice care.

The Insurance Commission shall mandate the Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) to cover genetic counselling and testing, cancer screening, diagnostics and palliative care as well as certain therapeutics of all member employees.

The cancer-related absences from work of member employees as well as voluntary members shall be covered and compensated by the Sickness Benefits of the SSS and Disability Benefits of the GSIS.

The employees in the informal sector shall be prioritized in the cancer control packages of PhilHealth while the employees in the formal sector shall be offered cost-sharing PhilHealth benefit packages.

ARTICLE VI

ESSENTIAL MEDICINES