Iza Aldana
Jan 16, 2026
PRC moves to open access to breakthrough cancer technologies through global collaboration
MANDALUYONG CITY — The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) is moving to bring some of the world’s most advanced cancer treatment technologies to the Philippines, including the breakthrough Japanese therapy Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT), following a high-level meeting with Japan’s Tokushukai Medical Group.
The Japanese delegation was led by Dr. Shuzo Kobayashi, Ph.D., Executive Managing Director of Tokushukai Medical Group and President and CEO of Shonan Kamakura General Hospital, who joined strategic talks held at the PRC National Headquarters in Mandaluyong City.
Discussions centered on the PRC’s ambitious plan to establish a new hospital along EDSA and its aggressive push to expand Filipinos’ access to world-class cancer care through international partnerships.
According to the PRC, pathways are now being opened to introduce cutting-edge oncology technologies in the country, led by BNCT—one of the most advanced and highly targeted cancer treatments currently available worldwide. BNCT works by delivering a boron-based drug that selectively accumulates in cancer cells, which are then activated by a controlled neutron beam for approximately 30 minutes, destroying cancer cells while largely sparing healthy tissue.
Unlike conventional radiation therapy, which often requires multiple sessions, BNCT can frequently be completed in a single treatment. At present, the technology is available in only about 10 to 11 facilities globally.
The proposed collaboration also includes X-ray Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT), also known as TomoTherapy, as well as Proton Therapy—advanced radiation treatments now considered first-line options for many pediatric cancers and hard-to-treat malignancies.
PRC Chairman and CEO Richard J. Gordon said the initiative has the potential to transform cancer care in the country.
“This will be a game changer for cancer care in the Philippines. Through this partnership, we are bringing the most advanced, life-saving technologies closer to Filipinos—especially those who have long been denied access to world-class treatment,” Gordon said.
Shonan Kamakura General Hospital is a tertiary acute-care institution known for its advanced radiation therapies and is currently preparing to launch its BNCT program. Meanwhile, Tokushukai Medical Group operates approximately 90 hospitals and more than 340 medical, nursing, and welfare facilities across Japan, positioning it as a leader in advanced healthcare delivery. For News Video: https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1CmKfwDK4k/