Official Response of Lung Center of the Philipines (LCP) to the criticisms of Dr. Anthony Leachon (published in several media outlets) that DAP funds were used for Lung Center research: The Lung Center of the Philippines (LCP) received a 105 million peso allocation from the Disbursement Accelerated Program (DAP) in 2012. P70 million was allotted to the Bioregenerative Program while P35 million was spent for the Pediatric Unit. To spend the money wisely, it was decided that pieces of equipment needed for the Bioregenerative Program and the Pediatric Unit could also be used by the Department of Pathology and Laboratory, the Department of Thoracic Surgery and Surgery, the Department of Pulmonary Medicine and the Department of Radiology. The LCP can provide a detailed list. The money spent for the LCP Molecular Diagnostics and Cellular Therapeutics Laboratory was used to purchase equipment and supplies for research mainly on dendritic cell vaccine for use in cancer treatment, specifically lung cancer. In fact, the LCP paper on Clinical Response of Lung Cancer Patients to Autologous Dendritic Cell Vaccinations: A Compilation of Cases from the Lung Center of the Philippines was presented during the 2013 World Congress in Lung Cancer in Sydney, Australia. Other papers from this laboratory are forthcoming. To place things in perspective, the LCP is a tertiary hospital for pulmonary and other chest diseases, and as far as I know, it is the only tertiary pulmonary specialty hospital in the Philippines. As such, it should take the lead, not only in cutting edge treatment but also in advocacies. To elucidate further, the LCP has an active Smoking Cessation Program, an Anti-Air Pollution Program, and is in the process of revitalizing its long dormant Early Detection of Lung Cancer Program, the Comprehensive Asthma Center, the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Program and others. The LCP has also taken the lead in minimally invasive surgery of the chest and as far as I know, has the largest number of minimally invasive procedures done in the Philippines. A center for Critical Airway Management is soon to be realized, as well as an Esophagus and Swallowing Center and a Hospice and Palliative Care Unit. I am sure Dr. Leachon, being an internist, realizes that cigarette smoking and air pollution are equally important public health issues. If only Dr. Leachon had bothered to visit the Lung Center or even called me by phone to clarify issues. Jose Luis J. Danguilan, MD Executive Director Lung Center of the Philippines
Posted on: Thu, 17 Jul 2014 09:03:59 +0000
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