Ting FIL, Sacdalan DBL, Tampo MMT, Apellido RT, Monroy HJ, Sacdalan MDP, Sacdalan DL. Treatment Outcomes of Patients With Colorectal Cancer Enrolled in a Comprehensive Benefits Program of the National Insurance System in the Philippines: Data From the Pilot Site.
JCO Glob Oncol 2020;
6:35-46. [PMID:
32031435 PMCID:
PMC7000227 DOI:
10.1200/jgo.19.00332]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/13/2019] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE
Cancer treatment causes significant financial burden, especially in developing countries such as the Philippines. This led the Philippine Department of Health to create the Z-Package colorectal cancer benefit program, an insurance system specifically designed to treat Filipinos with colorectal cancers with early to locally advanced-stage disease. The main goal of this program is to optimize treatment outcomes for this curable disease without causing financial toxicity.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Three-year data on patients enrolled in the Z-Package colorectal cancer benefit program from 2016 to 2018 were reviewed by the University of the Philippines, Philippine General Hospital Colorectal Polyp and Cancer Study Group.
RESULTS
A total of 251 patients were enrolled in the Z-package colorectal cancer benefit program from 2016 to 2018. Mean age was 57 years old and a majority of patients (66%) were male. A majority of patients had rectal cancer (78%) and were diagnosed with stage III disease (82%). A majority (75%) were compliant to their treatment plans and clinic follow-up. Specifically, compliance to the prescribed surgery, chemotherapy, and/or radiation treatment were 90%, 77%, and 96%, respectively. Recurrence, morbidity, and mortality rates of enrolled patients in the Z-Package program from 2016 to 2018 were 17%, 22%, and 19%, respectively. Morbidities were mostly chemotherapy related (8%). Finally, patients in this program had a 2- and 3-year survival probability of 74% and 70%, respectively, which are comparable with data from more developed nations.
CONCLUSION
Results of this study include real-world data that show that when the highest standards of patient care are provided through a multidisciplinary team, patients' overall survival is also maximized.
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