The Philippine Society of Medical Oncology (PSMO) was invited to take part in the 18th Annual Meeting and International Conference of the Korean Society of Medical Oncology (KSMO), held September 3–5, 2025 in Grand Walkerhill, Seoul. The Philippines was among 48 countries represented in this prestigious gathering. Five PSMO members - Dr. Chita Nazal-Matunog, Dr. Katrina Ferrera-Calma, Dr. Florge Francis Sy, Dr. Carl Arenos, and Dr. Mary Antonette Ong - joined KSMO’s Initiatives for Cancer Care Inequity session. On behalf of PSMO, I presented on the Challenges and Progress in Cancer Drug Access in the Philippines - highlighting how our greatest struggles often lie in geographic and economic barriers—patients traveling long distances for treatment, limited access to cancer medicines, and the need to strengthen government and private partnerships for sustainable support.
Indonesia echoed similar concerns, being an archipelago of over 17,000 islands where geography alone poses major obstacles to timely cancer care. By contrast, colleagues from high-income countries focused on the reimbursement of next-generation sequencing (NGS) and other costly innovations.
In the Philippines, NGS remains out-of-pocket and ineligible for reimbursement via government or private insurance. High-income countries such as Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea cover NGS through government support, making it more accessible. Interestingly, China was not as burdened by reimbursement concerns, as their in-house testing is affordable and offers quick turnaround times. These contrasts underscored inequities across health systems, yet also emphasized the importance of global dialogue.
Our very own PSMO President, Dr. Chita Nazal-Matunog, co-chaired a scientific session on “Revealing Immune Response and Resistance through Spatial Profiling of the NSCLC Microenvironment.”
Beyond the sessions, the Presidential Dinner was a memorable experience. KSMO hosted it at the 76th floor of Lotte Tower, where everyone watched Seoul’s skyline transform from sunset to night. A highlight came when Dr. Matunog was randomly chosen to perform a traditional Korean dance on stage—a lighthearted moment that captured the spirit of camaraderie and cultural exchange.
This experience was a reminder that while our contexts may differ, oncology is a shared journey—and PSMO continues to take significant strides to make its mark in both local and global settings.
