A landmark partnership between IWTS and PGH is expanding access to bone marrow transplants for children with leukemia and other serious blood disorders.
For many Filipino families, a bone marrow transplant has been one of the most difficult treatments to access, not because of medical limitations, but because of its staggering cost. Now, a landmark partnership is helping rewrite that reality for children battling cancer. The I Want To Share Foundation (IWTS), together with the Philippine General Hospital (PGH), has officially inaugurated the Philippines’ first Charity Bone Marrow Transplant Unit. Located at the Right Central Block of PGH in Manila, the facility marks a major milestone in expanding access to life-saving care for Filipino children with leukemia and other serious blood disorders.
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IWTS And Its Commitment To Making Cancer Treatments Accessible
The inauguration brought together healthcare leaders, government officials, donor partners, childhood cancer survivors, and their families, with First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos serving as Guest of Honor. During the ceremony, IWTS Founder and Chairwoman Sheila B. Romero shared the foundation’s vision of giving every Filipino child a fighting chance, while PGH Cancer Institute Chair Dr. Patricia Alcasabas highlighted the power of collaboration between healthcare institutions, government, and private organizations in strengthening pediatric cancer care.
Bone marrow transplantation remains one of the most expensive cancer treatments in the country, with procedures in private hospitals costing around ₱2 million to ₱5 million. The new charity unit was established to ensure that access to treatment is no longer defined by a family’s ability to pay, bringing hope to children who need it most.
The space itself reflects that same spirit of care. Designed by Architect Dan Lichauco and furnished through the generosity of Genteelhome, led by Katrina Blanca de Leon, the unit was created to provide a welcoming environment for young patients and their families throughout treatment.
The opening also signals the next chapter of IWTS’ mission. In the coming months, the foundation will launch the second Run to Share this November, where every registration will help provide a blood bag for pediatric cancer patients in need. Looking ahead, IWTS is also working toward the completion of a four-storey palliative care facility and halfway house, targeted to open by 2027, to further support children with cancer and their families beyond treatment.
Photos courtesy of IWTS.
Frequently Asked Questions
The IWTS Charity Bone Marrow Transplant Unit is the Philippines’ first charity bone marrow transplant facility. Opened through a partnership between the I Want To Share Foundation (IWTS) and the Philippine General Hospital (PGH), it aims to make life-saving treatment more accessible for Filipino children with leukemia and other serious blood disorders.
The facility is located at the Right Central Block of the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) in Manila, Philippines.
The unit was established to serve Filipino children battling leukemia and other serious blood disorders who require bone marrow transplantation as part of their treatment.
Bone marrow transplantation can cost around ₱2 million to ₱5 million in private hospitals, making it difficult for many families to afford. The charity unit was created to help expand access to this life-saving treatment regardless of a family’s financial circumstances.
Following the inauguration, IWTS is set to hold the second Run to Share this November, where every race registration will provide a blood bag for pediatric cancer patients. The foundation is also working on a four-storey palliative care facility and halfway house, which is targeted to open by 2027.
