Takeda Healthcare Philippines Inc. is helping to improve access to innovative medicines and making an impact on patients and stakeholders.
Bridges: How is THPI contributing to the Philippines’ health care sector?
Lo-ann E. Villanueva, THPI country manager: Taking inspiration from the patients we serve, our collective mind-set is that of an organization capable of providing a holistic approach and an integrated system to ensure Filipino patients have access to treatment and knowledge about their disease. We help patients receive timely consultations, diagnosis and ongoing care.
Which projects and partnerships are you most proud of?
We partnered with five major medical societies and two nonprofit organizations and launched the “Spot Lymphoma, Stop Lymphoma” campaign. A simple checking of lumps on the neck, groin or armpits is a basic strategy to check for lymphoma.
Through our partnership with the Philippine Cancer Society, we provided CD30 screening through 24 hospitals and partnered with Care PH, an NGO (nongovernmental organization) taking the lead in integrating hospital registries for cancer cases. As of today, 42 hospitals have signed up.
To address affordability barriers, we launched our Patient Assistance Program in 2017. This is a means-based assessment program in which patients can access their lymphoma treatment with Takeda’s targeted therapy at a price that is based on the patient’s financial capacity to pay. We have since made this solution accessible to patients who are unable to pay their treatment in full. We partnered with an NGO to provide training to oncology nurses to enrich their capabilities in educating patients about proper nutrition, psychosocial care and integrative medicine management.
What Philippine-Japanese synergies do you see within your industry?
As our industry evolves, organizations need to practice sustainability, deliver safe, quality products and services in a timely manner and practice proper governance. Japanese organizations consistently exhibit this approach and have created a benchmark for the industry.
Japan’s expertise and experience in implementing a comprehensive health care system to improve the lives of their citizens are meaningful lessons, and the Philippines is gradually addressing barriers to health care through its resourcefulness and creativity.
I am proud that our team is at the forefront of advocating holistic cancer care. We will continue to deliver better health and a brighter future to Filipinos by expanding our product portfolio and launching new innovative access schemes.
