Cancer assistance fund nearly triples in proposed 2027 budget

Proposed allocation reaches ₱3.75 billion to provide up to ₱150,000 each for 25,000 patients.

The government is proposing a sharp increase in funding for cancer patients under its 2027 healthcare budget, with the Cancer Assistance Fund (CAF) set to receive ₱3.75 billion, up 150% from the 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA).

The proposed fund would provide financial assistance of up to ₱150,000 each to 25,000 patients through 36 designated access sites.

The CAF increase comes as the government seeks to allocate ₱107.29 billion for 72 Department of Health (DOH) regional hospitals and other health facilities under the proposed 2027 National Expenditure Program (NEP). This is 1.22% higher than this year’s budgetary allocation and 7.83% above the 2026 NEP baseline, according to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

For 14 DOH hospitals in Metro Manila, the proposed allocation is ₱28.19 billion, 1.71% higher than the 2026 NEP. However, this is ₱3.04 billion, or 9.73%, lower than the ₱31.23 billion provided under the 2026 GAA, mainly due to non-recurring capital outlay requirements and congressional insertions last year.

The proposed 2027 budget also includes ₱74.45 billion for PhilHealth and ₱25.39 billion for the National Health Workforce Support System to deploy doctors and nurses nationwide.

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