A new charity bone marrow transplant unit opened at the Philippine General Hospital on Friday, providing the country’s first public‑hospital access to a procedure previously limited to private facilities.
The unit aims to lower the financial barrier of bone marrow transplantation, which can cost between 2 million and 5 million pesos, making it unaffordable for many families.
Founder of the I Want to Share Foundation emphasized that no patient, adult or child, should have to choose between treatment and financial hardship.
She described the initiative as a legacy of compassion and service, ensuring that Filipinos battling cancer have the chance to live full, meaningful lives.
Hematology specialist Dr. Teresita E. Dumagay said the facility is expected to increase the number of patients receiving transplants, noting that only 61 of roughly 1,000 eligible patients were treated last year.
Bone marrow transplantation can be life‑saving for conditions such as leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, aplastic anemia and certain inherited blood disorders.
The charity wing was built through a partnership between the hospital and the foundation, costing 38 million pesos plus in‑kind donations.
The launch was attended by the First Lady, who toured the new unit.
Future plans include opening an adult leukemia ward at the hospital in September and renovating a four‑story building to serve as a palliative care facility for cancer patients.
