UP-PGH becomes only gov’t hospital with advanced cancer radiotherapy

The University of the Philippines – Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) is the only government hospital in the country equipped with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), tomotherapy, and intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) with the installation of two state-of-the-art linear accelerators (LINACs).

Unlike cobalt-based systems, LINAC generates ionizing radiation particles to destroy cancer cells.

“The linear accelerator has revolutionized radiotherapy, kasi nga di mo na kailangan nung mga mag-alaga nung mga decaying radiotherapeutic sources. Mas naging safe. Mas naging convenient,” said UP-PGH Director Dr. Gerardo D. Legaspi in an interview.

He added that the two new LINAC units are likely the most advanced in any government hospital, with the capability to perform SRS, a non-invasive method that delivers high-dose, targeted radiation to tumors, allowing faster treatment with minimal impact on surrounding healthy tissue.

Unlike conventional radiotherapy, which affects a broader area, LINAC targets only the tumor, enabling patients to complete treatment in a single day instead of the typical 30-day course.

“So, in neurosurgery, my specialty, malaking bagay yun. Kasi nga, dati, kailangan namin ubusin lahat yung tumor at the risk of the patient’s nerves or arteries. Ngayon, we can actually just leave behind a small part, which makes the surgery safer,” Legaspi explained.

The second LINAC, designed for tomotherapy, uses real-time CT imaging to adjust radiation beams during patient movement or breathing.

“It’s also faster and more comfortable, especially for children, since it reduces the need for sedation during treatment,” said Legaspi, highlighting the benefits of the hospital’s new tomotherapy-capable LINAC in making cancer care safer and more convenient for patients.. 

Handling around 60,000 cancer consultations annually, UP-PGH aims to lead modern cancer treatment in the Philippines with these innovations.

The hospital installed its first LINAC in 2016 and added a second to meet a PricewaterhouseCoopers assessment that four machines are needed to serve its patients.

In February 2023, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board gave initial approval for the UP-PGH Cancer Center Project, which will build a 300-bed cancer hospital within the PGH compound, with a new LINAC set to arrive in four to five years, bringing the total to four.

The government hospital is also set to introduce a portable IORT device, which administers radiation directly after a tumor is removed during surgery.

“We hope to make it free for charity patients and very affordable for private patients,” the director said, noting that while charity patients already receive free treatment and PhilHealth covers most operations, stereotactic radiosurgery, priced at around Php 550,000 in private hospitals, still lacks a full PhilHealth package, though special coverage increases help improve accessibility.

PGH is developing a cancer survivorship program to support patients and families through the launch of Balay Lingap, the country’s first state-run hospice and temporary housing facility, which officially opened on October 21.

It provides short-term accommodation for outpatient treatments like chemotherapy, as well as palliative care and emotional and spiritual support for terminally ill patients.

“Not only the number is going to be improved, but also the range of services na pwede ibigay,” said Legaspi, stressing that the ultimate goal is full coverage to give every patient a fair chance at healing.