Pantabangan: The Department of Health (DOH) has expanded its Cancer Assistance Fund (CAF) access sites to 36 from 34 nationwide. The DOH on Monday said the two newest CAF sites are Oriental Mindoro Provincial Hospital in Region 4-B (Mimaropa) and Democrito O. Plaza Memorial Provincial Hospital in Caraga.

According to Philippines News Agency, the CAF now covers 23 access sites in Luzon, including the Philippine General Hospital, the Lung Center of the Philippines, and the Bicol Medical Center; five in the Visayas; and eight in Mindanao. The Visayas sites are Western Visayas Medical Center, Angel Salazar Memorial General Hospital, Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital, Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, and Eastern Visayas Medical Center.

The Mindanao sites are Zamboanga City Medical Center, Davao Regional Medical Center, Southern Philippines Medical Center, Northern Mindanao Medical Center, Amai Pakpak Medical Center, Democrito O. Plaza Memorial Provincial Hospital, Cotabato Regional and Medical Center, and Cotabato Sanitarium.

The DOH stated that the facilities will continue to provide financial assistance for the medical expenses of cancer patients, survivors, and high-risk individuals who need immediate treatment. The expansion is part of the government's efforts to ease the financial burden on Filipinos battling cancer.

The Philippine Statistics Authority reported last month that neoplasms, or cancers, were the country's second leading cause of death, with 70,668 recorded deaths as of December 2025. Ischemic heart diseases remained the leading cause, with 122,339 deaths.