Stereotactic Radiosurgery Availability in the Philippines
Yes, stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is available in the Philippines, but access is limited with less than 30% of radiotherapy facilities offering this treatment modality. 1
Current Status of SRS in the Philippines
- As of 2022, the Philippines has 50 radiotherapy facilities serving a population of over 110 million people, with only about 30% of these facilities offering stereotactic radiotherapy services 1
- Most radiotherapy facilities (76%) are privately owned, with only 12 government/public institutions and 8 academic centers 1
- There is significant geographic disparity in access, with over one-third of all radiotherapy facilities concentrated in the National Capital Region, while three regions in the country have no radiotherapy facilities at all 1
SRS Technology and Applications in the Philippines
SRS is being used in the Philippines for various conditions including:
- Brain metastases (with excellent tumor control rates of 94-100%) 2
- Benign intracranial meningiomas (with 10-year local control rates of 71-100%) 2
- Secretory pituitary adenomas (with tumor control rates of 92-97%) 2
- Arteriovenous malformations (with tumor control rates of 83-100%) 2
- Vestibular schwannomas (with tumor control rates of approximately 96%) 2
There is documented evidence of Filipino patients receiving spine SRS for metastatic tumors, with a median overall survival of 13.1 months in a cohort of 51 patients 3
Barriers to SRS Access in the Philippines
- Insufficient equipment: The Philippines has only 53 linear accelerators for its population of over 110 million, far below the recommended number of at least 170 1
- Workforce limitations: The country has 125 radiation oncologists, 114 medical physicists, and 343 radiation therapists, which is below international recommendations 1
- Geographic disparities: Three regions in the Philippines have no radiotherapy facilities at all, making access particularly challenging for patients in these areas 1
- Economic factors: The high cost of SRS equipment installation and maintenance, as well as the extensive personnel training required for safe operation, limit expansion of this technology 4
Future Directions for SRS in the Philippines
- There is an urgent need for investment in training and retaining radiotherapy personnel 1
- Public/government cancer centers should be built, with priority given to regions without radiotherapy facilities 1
- A national radiotherapy task force should be created to ensure quality, availability, and accessibility of radiotherapy services including SRS 1
- Integration of radiation oncology providers and health policy experts into national health system decision making is needed 1
SRS represents an important treatment modality that can address various neurosurgical conditions with minimal invasiveness compared to traditional surgery 5, 6. While it is available in the Philippines, significant work remains to be done to improve access and ensure that all patients who could benefit from this technology can receive it.