St. Luke’s Medical Center-Global City launched last September 24, 2025 the Blood Cancer Care Service, a specialized program designed to deliver comprehensive, world-class treatment for patients battling blood cancers such as leukemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma.
According to Dr. Francis Lopez, Head of the Blood Cancer Care Service, hematologic malignancies remain a significant health challenge in the Philippines. He pointed out that current data indicate that approximately 33 Filipinos are diagnosed with blood cancer very day. This translates to thousands of new cases every year.
‘These are not just numbers; these represent lives and families profoundly affected by these diseases. This is precisely why St. Luke’s has take the step to establish a dedicated blood cancer care service,’ he said.
‘We recognize that to provide the highest quality of care, we must move toward further specialization where our physicians, nurses and staff can focus on specific diseases, deepen their expertise and stay at the forefront of the latest diagnostics and treatment,’ he added.
Beneficial to patients
The opening of the services ensures that patients benefit from the care that is ‘comprehensive, precise and compassionate.’
‘Our ultimate goal this year is clear: to serve our patients better, to give them the best chance at recovery, the best quality of life and the hope they deserve,’ Dr. Lopez said.
The opening of the new service coincided with the accreditation of St. Luke’s Cancer Institute as a Cancer Specialty Center by the Department of Health.
‘This means that the care we provide really meets the national standards that’s evidence-based, multidisciplinary and centered on the needs of every patient who comes through our doors and entrusts their care to us,’ said Dr. Marie Belle Francia, head of the Cancer Institute at St. Luke’s Medical Center-Global City.
Benchmark
For his part, Dr. Dennis Serrano, President and CEO of St. Luke’s Medical Center, said with the opening of the Blood Cancer Care Service, St. Luke’s will become the benchmark for many hospitals.
‘It is really inherent upon us to keep pushing the envelope in terms of finding out how much more we can do for the patients, what newer and more innovative things and more groundbreaking outcomes we can offer our patients,’ he said.
He added that everything that the hospital does is for the benefit of their patients.
‘As we grow from one to two hospitals and eventually to three hospitals in our one healthcare system, we should never lose sight of the fact that really the main objective of all of this growth, all of these advances, is patient outcomes. And the opening of this service is a testament to that commitment, to that objective that we are always looking out for patient outcomes,’ Dr. Serrano said.
Multidisciplinary team
At the core of the new service is a multidisciplinary team of subspecialized hematologists working alongside oncologists, pathologists, geneticists, and supportive care professionals. This collaborative model ensures that every patient benefits from a treatment plan that is coordinated, individualized, and comprehensive.
St. Luke’s-Global City’s Blood Cancer Care Service offers advanced hematologic, genetic, and molecular testing. These tools enable timely and accurate diagnosis, allowing doctors to design treatment strategies that are precisely tailored to each patient’s cancer type and genetic profile.
Patients will have access to a full range of evidence-based therapies, including chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and stem cell transplantation. Each treatment plan is tailored to optimize outcomes while minimizing side effects and ensuring care that is both effective and compassionate.
Recognizing that cancer care extends beyond medical treatment, the program also provides integrated supportive services, including transfusion support, infection control, and nutritional guidance. These services are crucial for enhancing overall well-being, managing complications, and supporting patients throughout their recovery journey.