Takeda Healthcare Philippines Inc. (“Takeda Philippines”) recently partnered with Cancer Warriors Foundation Inc., a patient support organization for families of children with childhood cancer, strengthening calls for wider access to cancer care in rural and peri-urban communities in the country.
Through this partnership, Takeda will provide a grant with the goal of supporting the group’s efforts in localizing the National Integrated Cancer Control Act (NICCA) through the establishment of InterlocalHealth Zones, which are systemized zones made up of different local health facilities, dedicated to cancer care.
NICAA was signed into law in 2019, with the aim to ensure improved access, better quality care, and in the process, increased survivorship of cancer patients. The act also seeks to reduce the financial burden experienced by cancer patients and their families.
The challenge continues
Cancer continues to be one of the leading causes of mortality in the Philippines. With the rising number of cancer cases, access to care continues to be a challenge for several Filipinos, particularly for those residing in rural and peri-urban communities. Access to cancer information, services, support providers, and even clinical trials have been very limited. Given this, patients in these areas often present with advanced or late-stage cancers, and a significant number may go undiagnosed and unseen by medical practitioners.
To improve cancer care, increase curability, and create healthier communities, it is crucial to establish alliances across stakeholders and sectors. These collaborations will be instrumental in addressing the current gaps in cancer care delivery.
“NICCA not only focuses on basic integrated care, but also holistic care. Care should go beyond just the medical aspect, but also to the psychosocial aspect as well, including patients who survive cancer. Hence, it is crucial to form alliances with LGUs and other sectors to underline the importance of NICCA’s integrated and holistic approach to cancer care,” shared Carmen “Menchie” Auste, Chief Executive Officer of Cancer Warriors Foundation Inc.
A uniting voice for localizing NICAA
Takeda has been a longstanding advocate of broadening access to medicines and supporting the Philippine government in strengthening the healthcare system. Through partnerships with non-profit organizations, patient groups, and key entities, Takeda engages in disease-awareness campaigns, policy advocacy, and advocacy network building, among other initiatives.
“Takeda looks forward to collaborating with Cancer Warriors Foundation in ensuring that NICCA becomes fully realized, which will help provide access to healthcare for cancer patients, their carers, and the general public, beginning with the establishment of Interlocal Health Zones,” Takeda Philippines Country Manager Loreann Villanueva shared.
The Cancer Warriors Foundation Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to uniting parents against pediatric cancer, has long sustained calls for making cancer care accessible especially to patients and their families who take care and look after them.
“We hope that this partnership will zero-in on the implementation of the interlocal health zone, which will be a model of a how a primary health care system can be strengthened all the way up to the district level, essentially localizing the goal of NICAA to improve nationwide cancer healthcare,” Carmen “Menchie” Auste added. The first Interlocal Health Zone will be in CALABARZON Region, which the group sees as one of the priority regions for cancer care.
Takeda Healthcare Philippines is a wholly owned subsidiary of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, a global R&D-driven biopharmaceutical company.
# # #
About Takeda
Takeda is focused on creating better health for people and a brighter future for the world. We aim to discover and deliver life-transforming treatments in our core therapeutic and business areas, including gastrointestinal and inflammation, rare diseases, plasma-derived therapies, oncology, neuroscience and vaccines. Together with our partners, we aim to improve the patient experience and advance a new frontier of treatment options through our dynamic and diverse pipeline. As a leading values-based, R&D-driven biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Japan, we are guided by our commitment to patients, our people and the planet. Our employees in approximately 80 countries and regions are driven by our purpose and are grounded in the values that have defined us for more than two centuries.
Takeda Healthcare Philippines, Inc. (THPI) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited. Founded in 1968, THPI aims to broaden patient access to treatment across the country through sustainable access programs enabling affordable and integrated access solutions for disease areas such as oncology, gastroenterology, rare diseases & vaccines and by strengthening the healthcare system guided by our commitment to Patients, our People and the Planet.
For more information, visit https://www.takeda.com.
Media Contacts:
Takeda Philippines
Arabella Benito - arabella.benito@takeda.com
COMCO Southeast Asia
Ferdinand Bondoy - ferdinand.bondoy@comcosea.com
Joyce Yu - joyce.yu@comcosea.com
Pinky Tuason – pinky.tuason@comcosea.com
Important Notice
For the purposes of this notice, “press release” means this document, any oral presentation, any question and answer session and any written or oral material discussed or distributed by Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (“Takeda”) regarding this release. This press release (including any oral briefing and any question-and-answer in connection with it) is not intended to, and does not constitute, represent or form part of any offer, invitation or solicitation of any offer to purchase, otherwise acquire, subscribe for, exchange, sell or otherwise dispose of, any securities or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction. No shares or other securities are being offered to the public by means of this press release. No offering of securities shall be made in the United States except pursuant to registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or an exemption therefrom. This press release is being given (together with any further information which may be provided to the recipient) on the condition that it is for use by the recipient for information purposes only (and not for the evaluation of any investment, acquisition, disposal or any other transaction). Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of applicable securities laws.
The companies in which Takeda directly and indirectly owns investments are separate entities. In this press release, “Takeda” is sometimes used for convenience where references are made to Takeda and its subsidiaries in general. Likewise, the words “we”, “us” and “our” are also used to refer to subsidiaries in general or to those who work for them. These expressions are also used where no useful purpose is served by identifying the particular company or companies.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release and any materials distributed in connection with this press release may contain forward-looking statements, beliefs or opinions regarding Takeda’s future business, future positionand results of operations, including estimates, forecasts, targets and plans for Takeda. Without limitation, forward-looking statements often include words such as “targets”, “plans”, “believes”, “hopes”, “continues”, “expects”, “aims”, “intends”, “ensures”, “will”, “may”, “should”, “would”, “could”, “anticipates”, “estimates”, “projects” or similar expressions or the negative thereof. These forward-looking statements are based on assumptions about many important factors, including the following, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements: the economic circumstances surrounding Takeda’s global business, including general economic conditions in Japan and the United States; competitive pressures and developments; changes to applicable laws and regulations, including global health care reforms; challenges inherent in new product development, including uncertainty of clinical success and decisions of regulatory authorities and the timing thereof; uncertainty of commercial success for new and existing products; manufacturing difficulties or delays; fluctuations in interest and currency exchange rates; claims or concerns regarding the safety or efficacy of marketed products or product candidates; the impact of health crises, like the novel coronavirus pandemic, on Takeda and its customers and suppliers, including foreign governments in countries in which Takeda operates, or on other facets of its business; the timing and impact of post-merger integration efforts with acquired companies; the ability to divest assets that are not core to Takeda’s operations and the timing of any such divestment(s); and other factors identified in Takeda’s most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F and Takeda’s other reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, available on Takeda’s website at: https://www.takeda.com/investors/sec-filings-and-security-reports/ or at www.sec.gov. Takeda does not undertake to update any of the forward-looking statements contained in this press release or any other forward-looking statements it may make, except as required by law or stock exchange rule. Past performance is not an indicator of future results and the results or statements of Takeda in this press release may not be indicative of, and are not an estimate, forecast, guarantee or projection of Takeda’s future results.
Medical Information
This press release contains information about products that may not be available in all countries, or may be available under different trademarks, for different indications, in different dosages, or in different strengths. Nothing contained herein should be considered a solicitation, promotion or advertisement for any prescription drugs including the ones under development.
C-ANPROM/PH/CORP/0022
