Guatemalan Congress Passes Cancer Care Law

A specialized hospital, preventive medical actions and early detection are part of the benefits of the Comprehensive Cancer Care Law, approved by the Congress (unicameral) of Guatemala.

Other benefits include timely and quality treatment, rehabilitation and palliative care, according to the law, which promotes education about the disease, and guarantees economic resources for its operation, as well as a protection program for patients and their families.

The Law, urgently analyzed and with the favorable vote of 130 out of 160 lawmakers, also establishes the creation of the National Unit for Comprehensive Cancer Care and the National Council for the Fight against Cancer.

It also requires that the Public Health and Social Assistance Ministry (MSPAS) create programs, regulations and controls to ensure that those affected by the disease receive complete and free assistance.

“A step forward is taken in the fight against cancer,’ Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo wrote on social networks.

Four work tables were set up to give the green light to the initiative promoted by several legislators, including late Lucrecia Hernandez, who lost her battle against cancer last year.

The hospital must have a radiotherapy unit, create the necessary coordination with health services, promote research and provide counseling services, education, prevention and recovery from the disease.

In order to enforce the Law, the Ministry of Finance will transfer an initial contribution of 600 million quetzales (about 77 million dollars) to the MSPAS, which will be in charge of capacity building, training of specialized human resources, as well as research and strengthening of the national network of oncological services and equipment.

According to official statistics, the most frequent cases of cancer in Guatemala are related to prostate, breast, liver, stomach, cervical-uterine, leukemia, colorectal, thyroid, lung, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, pancreas and ovary.