The Manila Times
THE St. Luke’s Medical Center (SLMC) has partnered with Germany-based International Centers for Precision Oncology (ICPO) Foundation to launch a global pilot program on theranostics, positioning the Philippines as a potential model for future precision oncology initiatives worldwide. In a statement on Friday, SLMC highlighted the crucial role that theranostics, or targeted therapeutics and diagnostics for cancer treatment, will play in advancing cancer care for its patients. “Theranostics exemplifies the promise of personalized medicine by integrating molecular imaging with targeted therapy. It allows us not only to see disease with remarkable clarity but also to deliver treatment with precision and purpose,” said Dr. Anthony Perez, St. Luke’s-Global City SVP and medical director. SLMC is the first and only ICPO Clinical Theranostics Center of Excellence in the Philippines, which was granted on May 15, 2025. In its recent hosting of the “Theranostics Day: Awareness and Exchange about New Precision Cancer Care,” the SLMC highlighted how theranostics is reshaping modern medicine, which is moving beyond the typical “one-size-fits-all” approach. “It is a true precision medicine approach where treatment is tailored specifically to the patient,” said Dr. Eduardo Erasto Ongkeko, head of the St. Luke’s-Global City Department of Nuclear Medicine and Theranostics. Meanwhile, Akbayan Party-list Rep. Chel Diokno hopes for accessible precision treatment for Filipino patients. “What is most important to me regarding this event is the equality in terms of access to affordable health care,” said Diokno.
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