An enhanced knowledge and understanding among patients of their health, well-being, and healthcare choices can lead to improved care and decreased levels of illness. Thus, a patient-centric approach is key in healthcare.
This was among the major insights of the latest Global Patient Survey (GPS) on lymphomas and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) released in December 2022. The Philippine Country Report highlights from the 2022 GPS were shared by Lymphoma Awareness Philippines (LAP) during a workshop in Taguig City on 16 February 2023.
LAP co-Founders, Jheric and Anna Delos Angeles, said that the 2022 GPS was launched by Lymphoma Coalition (LC), and was run by the Survey Research Centre at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada.
In his Message of Solidarity, EPCALM President and CEO, Engr. Justice Demerre, said patient centricity has always been observed by the Foundation in its programs and services for its adult leukemia patients, including their families. For her part, EPCALM Founder and Board Chair, Dr. Erlyn Cabanag-Demerre, encouraged the workshop participants to continue collaborating with other stakeholders, and provide authentic, personalized services for all patients.
Patient centricity is defined as “putting the patient first in an open and sustained engagement of the patient to respectfully and compassionately achieve the best experience and outcome for that person and their family.”
The Philippine Report from the 2022 GPS showed that 64 per cent of the patient-respondents would like the “doctor, patient, and caregiver/family to be jointly involved in final decisions about (health) care.” Meanwhile, 74 per cent of the patients “did not have their healthcare supported by a cancer care team (multi-disciplinary cancer care team) and/or cancer care coordinator.”
An interactive workshop followed the 2022 GPS presentation. Participants outlined intermediate action plans to achieve patient centricity in the country’s healthcare landscape.
Two other EPCALM Trustees attended the one-day workshop – Dr. Priscilla Caguioa, EPCALM Treasurer and Medical Ministry Co-Director, and current President of the Philippine Society for Hematology and Blood Transfusion (PSHBT); and Dr. Rachael Marie Rosario, EPCALM Trustee, and Executive Director of the Philippine Cancer Society (PCS).
In her closing message, Dr. Rosario challenged the participants to build on each other’s strengths, adding that “you are the faces of hope for our country’s patients.”
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