The Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) has reported a decrease in the number of children with cancer admitted to the hospital, attributing it to ongoing coordination efforts and capacity-building in other hospitals across Mindanao. According to Dr. Mae Dolendo, chair of the SPMC Integrated Cancer Care Committee and head of the SPMC Children’s Cancer Institute, they have been working to build the capacity of other hospitals in Mindanao over the past 20 years, aiming to reduce the number of cancer patients needing treatment at SPMC. By capacitating hospitals in other areas, patients from far-flung regions no longer need to travel to SPMC for cancer treatment, easing the burden on patients and their families. As of September 18, 2025, there were 27 outpatients at the House of Hope and around 30 patients admitted at SPMC, with the Children’s Cancer Institute catering to about 50 to 60 pediatric cancer patients daily. The number of children with cancer treated at SPMC and its shared care facilities in Mindanao decreased from 400 in 2019 to 320 in 2024, with the most common cancer types being leukemia, retinoblastoma, and osteosarcoma. SPMC has expanded its facilities, increasing its admission beds for children with cancer from four to 38, and prioritizes admissions based on medical needs to manage the increasing number of patients.
