MALACAÃANG
Manila
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES
PROCLAMATION NO. 2016
DECLARING THE NATIONAL HOSPICE AND PALLIATIVE CARE COUNCIL OF THE PHILIPPINES (HOSPICE PHILIPPINES) AS ONE OF THE MAJOR CONDUITS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IN THE DISTRIBUTION OF MORPHINE
WHEREAS, the National Hospice and Palliative Care Council of the Philippines (Hospice Philippines) is an organization launched six (6) years ago by the Philippine Cancer Society to promote, unite and coordinate the various hospice and palliative care institutions in the Philippines as an integral part of its program for cancer care;
WHEREAS, the Department of Health and Hospice Philippines forged a partnership, six (6) years ago, in the delivery of holistic care to indigent terminally-ill cancer patients and those afflicted with life limiting illnesses, when the Department of Health, cognizant of the initiative of the private sector in this special area of health care, agreed to supply morphine to patients who are members of Hospice Philippines;
WHEREAS, the relationship between the Department of Health and Hospice Philippines was characterized by continuous dialogue and cooperative efforts to ensure the best means by which pain medications are available and accessible to hospice patients;
WHEREAS, the availability and accessibility of palliative medicines, like morphine, to hospice patients, ensures the best quality of life and death free from pain, which is considered a basic human right;
WHEREAS, the Department of Health, cognizant of the growing statistics on the incidence of cancer and other life limiting illnesses in the country, started in year 2009 a regular procurement program of morphine to supply pain medications to terminally-ill cancer patients and those afflicted with the life limiting illnesses;
WHEREAS, Hospice Philippines has made progress in forming, uniting and networking with hospice and palliative care institutions in the country as well as networking with similar institutions abroad, cooperating with the Philippine Cancer Society in its cancer program and effectively working with the Department of Health in the distribution of morphine in the last six (6) years;
WHEREAS, Hospice Philippines, as an umbrella organization of hospice and palliative care service providers of the country, is in a position to provide accessibility of morphine to patients of its accredited members, afflicted with cancer and other life limiting illnesses, subject to compliance of accredited member firms with the licensing requirements of the appropriate government agencies on the dispensation of regulated drugs.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby declare the National Hospice and Palliative Care Council of the Philippines (Hospice Philippines) as conduit of the Department of Health in the nationwide distribution of morphine to patients of its duly accredited members.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Republic of the Philippines to be affixed hereto.
DONE in the City of Manila this 1st day of March, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Ten.
(Sgd.) GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO
By the President:
(Sgd.) EDUARDO R. ERMITA
Executive Secretary
