The document discusses the importance of integrating psychosocial support into cancer care, emphasizing that medical treatment alone is insufficient for improving patient outcomes. It highlights the need for health financing policies to include coverage for psychosocial services, as unmet psychosocial needs adversely affect treatment engagement and recovery. The document calls for revisions in health plans, improved resource access, and greater awareness of patients' psychosocial needs to enhance their quality of life and chances of recovery.

1. Health Financing Summit 04.14.10

2. Improving Health and Social Insurance Systems Providing psychosocial support - Maximizing medical care Bobbit Suntay The Carewell Community The Ca ncer Re source and Well ness Community First Health Financing Summit GT-Toyota Asian Center Auditorium, UP Diliman Campus

3. Cancer Today The good news… Advances in knowledge, skills, and technologies Advances in diagnosis, treatment, and management More persons with cancer are living longer today Growing awareness and support for persons with cancer BUT THIS IS NOT ENOUGH! Source: Cancer Care for the Whole Patient. National Academy of Sciences 2008

4. The Bad News: State of the art medical care alone is not enough! WE UNDERESTIMATE IMPACT OF PSYCHOSOCIAL FACTORS: Impact onset, progression, and quality of life Suffering and death due to lack of money Emotional distress and abandonment of treatment Difficult lifestyle changes : diet, smoking, etc. Difficult handling disruptions at home/office Source: Cancer Care for the Whole Patient. National Academy of Sciences 2008

5. Psychosocial Factors Challenges and consequences of unmet needs Harder to access, engage in, and persist in treatment Harder to respond positively to treatment Harder to cope with and recover from cancer Long range of impact : prior to diagnosis to long after “cure” Vast scope of impact : patient, loved ones, colleagues, healthcare team, etc. Difficulties in activities of daily living Decrease in quality of life Source: Cancer Care for the Whole Patient. National Academy of Sciences 2008

6. What is the solution? Challenges and consequences of unmet needs Effective cancer treatment must integrate and address the psychosocial needs of all persons affected by the illness: patients, survivors, and their loved ones Source: Cancer Care for the Whole Patient. National Academy of Sciences 2008

7. What is the solution? Challenges and consequences of unmet needs A viable healthcare and social insurance system must include provisions and coverage for addressing the psychosocial needs of patients, survivors, and their loved ones Source: Cancer Care for the Whole Patient. National Academy of Sciences 2008

8. Where do we go from here? What needs to be done now? Health plans/insurance policies must be revised to include coverage for psychosocial services Purchasers (individuals and institutions) must insist and ensure that health plans and insurance include coverage for psychosocial services We need to make better use of EXISTING organizations, groups, and individuals who already provide psychosocial support services We need to better identify the PARTICULAR NEEDS of patients and loved ones to help them ACCESS the resources and services they require Source: Cancer Care for the Whole Patient. National Academy of Sciences 2008

9. Psychosocial health services How they can help: Information on illness, treatments, health, etc. Help with emotional coping during illness/treatment Assistance with managing the illness Information/ access to logistical and other resources and support Assistance/ support for managing disruptions at work, home, school, etc. Access to finances and treatment Source: Cancer Care for the Whole Patient. National Academy of Sciences 2008

10. Psychosocial health services Benefits: Decrease in depression , stress, and anxiety in persons affected by cancer Better communication and relationships between patients, loved ones, and healthcare team Better decisions regarding illness treatment and management Enhanced feelings of well-being, support, and hope Better access and persistence through treatment Improvement in quality of life and in chances of recovery Source: Cancer Care for the Whole Patient. National Academy of Sciences 2008

11. Psychosocial Support A Common Concern Goal: Improving health and social insurance systems Goal: Maximizing benefits of top quality medical care ALL persons affected by cancer have psychosocial needs WE MUST ADDRESS PSYCHOSOCIAL CONCERNS Patients persist in their treatment… … They improve their quality of life and enhance their chances of recovery Source: Cancer Care for the Whole Patient. National Academy of Sciences 2008

12. Health Financing Summit 04.14.10