To enhance international oncology medical cooperation between China and the Philippines and better serve cancer patients in the Philippines, on July 31, 2024, Mr. Zeng Sihe, the manager of our Manila International Service Center, and his team arrived at the Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care (PITAHC) for an exchange visit and in-depth discussions with the institution's leaders.

It is reported that the PITAHC is affiliated with the Philippine Department of Health and was established in December 1997. The Minister of Health serves as the chairman of the institute's board, including representatives from various government agencies. The institute's main purpose is to plan and carry out research and development activities in traditional and alternative health care and its ultimate integration into the national health care delivery system.

This time, the director of the institute, Dr. Ma. Teresa C. Iñigo, FPCAM, CESE, along with other leaders, warmly welcomed Manager Zeng Sihe and his team and took a group photo with him.

(Manager Zeng presented souvenirs and took photos with Dr. Ma. Teresa C. Iñigo, FPCAM, CESE)

Manager Zeng introduced the St. Stamford Modern Cancer Hospital Guangzhou and minimally invasive treatment to the institution. He mentioned that since its establishment 19 years ago, our hospital has specialized in 18 integrated minimally invasive cancer treatment techniques and has served over 50,000 cancer patients from around the world. We have gained extensive experience in assisting Filipino patients. Integrated minimally invasive cancer treatment is not only our hospital's specialty but also the leading approach in international cancer treatment, offering an effective alternative treatment option for Filipino patients. We look forward to enhancing exchanges and collaboration with the Philippine medical community in the future to enhance the care of Filipino cancer patients.

During the discussion, Dr. Ma. Teresa C. Iñigo, FPCAM, CESE, highly recognized the achievements of our hospital in the field of international cancer treatment. She pointed out that with the rising incidence of cancer in the Philippines, introducing advanced international minimally invasive cancer treatments could better equip the country to tackle the challenges of cancer treatment and meet the public's anti-cancer needs.

Finally, she stated that the Manila Municipal Government would fully support the medical activities, exchanges, and cooperation carried out by our hospital in the city. The PITAHC will recommend the hospital to the Department of Health's special oncology management department, facilitating deeper future exchanges and cooperation in cancer prevention, anti-cancer technologies, and patient services, so that minimally invasive treatment can benefit more cancer patients in the Philippines!

*Surgery, in addition to the appropriate chemotherapy and radiotherapy, are effective in treating early cancer, but certain patients in late stage of cancer may not be tolerate surgery well as they can be relatively weak. A combination of carefully planned minimally invasive therapy, chemotherapy or radiotherapy can effectively reduce the side effects and discomfort of treatment and may help patient get better efficacy.