President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. led the inauguration of the Region 1 Medical Center (R1MC) Cancer Institute in Bonuan Binloc, Dagupan City on Friday, emphasizing the government’s commitment to bringing specialized healthcare services closer to Filipinos.
“This is a new facility that would address one of the greatest challenges of our time — cancer. During the time of my father, specialty hospitals were established in Metro Manila. But it is not enough that these hospitals are only in Manila, we need to make the services accessible considering that it is difficult to travel with illness so it is a big factor to have complete services in the province,” he said.
As a designated comprehensive cancer center, the R1MC Cancer Institute features advanced oncology services, positioning it as a regional hub for Northern Luzon.
Marcos said that improved healthcare is vital regardless of economic progress.
“Even with more jobs and higher salaries, Filipinos won’t feel true progress if they’re burdened by illness,” he said.
R1MC director Dr. Roland Joseph Mejia said the facility is equipped with state-of-art cancer diagnostic and treatment machine including the 128 CT scan, 1.5 Tesla MRI, linear accelerator, brachytherapy, chemotherapy, radiology and palliative care.
He said that since it began operations in 2023, the facility has already served 59,643 patients with an average of 18 cancer consultations and treatments per day, which he said is a number that reflects the overwhelming need for the services.
Mejia said the center offers pediatric oncology and hematology, medical and radiation oncology, gynecology and surgical oncology, targeted therapy, and blood transfusion — all delivered in a compassionate and healing environment.
“Beyond the machine and medicine, what truly sets us apart is the multidisciplinary approach where experts from different specialty come together to create the best, most personalized treatment plan for patients, and all of these for free,” he said.
Mejia said it is possible through the support of the Department of Health Cancer Assistance Fund and Cancer and Supportive Palliative Medicine Access Program.
“We ensure services reach even the most vulnerable,” he added.
Myrna Tadeo, a 71-year-old cancer patient from Manaoag, Pangasinan, expressed gratitude for the compassionate care she received.
“Government employees are very patient and the service is very good,” she said. (PNA)
