SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session

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Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez'and °
Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.

House Bill No. 83322

EXPLANATORY NOTE

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

The Constitution Article 13, Section 12 mandates the State to undertake appropriate
health manpower development and research, responsive to the country's health needs and
problems.

Breast implants have been widely suspected to increase the risk of a range of
problems, including cancer, connective tissue disease, implant rupture and hematoma,
Despite reports and conjectures showing adverse health impacts of breast implants, there
are still women who consider having breast implants.

‘Women need complete and accurate information about the potential health risks and
advantages of breast implants, in order to know what to expect if they choose implant
surgery.

This bill seeks to promote research to identify and evaluate the health effects of
breast implants, and to ensure that women and their doctors receive accurate information
about such implants.

In consideration thereof, early approval of this bill is highly recommended.

RUFUS'B. RODRIGUEZ

MAXIMO BE MU a JR.


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

~ Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez and
Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.

House Bill No. 3822

AN ACT
IDENTIFYING AND PROMOTING RESEARCH ON HEALTH IMPLICATIONS OF BREAST
IMPLANTS

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as “Breast implant Research and
Information Act.”

SEC 2. Declaration of Policy. The Constitution Article 13, Section 12 mandates the State to
undertake appropriate health manpower development and research, responsive to the
country’s health needs and problems. Taking into account this mandate, the State shall
promote research to identify and evaluate the health effects of breast implants and to ensure
that women and their doctors receive accurate information about such implants.

‘SEC 3. Definition of Terms. For purposes of this Act, the term:
(a) “Secretary’ shall refer to the Secretary of the Department of Health;
(b) “Breast implants” refer to implants filled with silicone gel saline or a
combination of the two:
(c) “Committee” refers to the Committee on Breast Implant Research

SEC 4. Breast Implant Research. The Secretary shall conduct or support research to
expand the understanding of the health implications of breast implants. Such research shall:

(a) if determined to be scientifically appropriate, include a multidisciplinary,
clinical, case-controlled study of women with breast implants;

(b) involve women who have had such implants in place for at least eight (8)
years, focus on a typical disease presentation, neurological dysfunction and
immune system irregularities; and

(c) evaluate to what extent if any, their health differs from a woman who has or
has not had breast implant.

SEC 5. Committee on Breast Implant Research. To assist the Secretary in receiving
accurate and complete information about the risk of breast implants, there shall be
established a committee to be known as the Committee on Breast Implants, to ensure the
strategic management, communications, and oversight of the policy formation, research and
activities of the government regarding breast implants.

SEC 6. The Committee shall be composed of nine (9) members:
(a) Two (2) representatives from the Department of Health;
(b) One (1) representative of any other agencies necessary to accomplish the
purpose of the Committee;
(c) Four (4) physicians or practitioners with established credentials in the area of
breast implants; and


(d) Two (2) women who have or have had breast implants to be appointed by the
President of the Philippines.
The Secretary shall act as the chair of the Committee. He shall convene meetings of
the Committee, not less than twice each year, and compile information for the consideration
of the full Committee at such meetings.

SEC 7. Meetings. The meetings of the Committee shall be open to the public and public
witnesses shall be given the opportunity to speak and make presentations at such meetings.
Each member shall make a presentation before the Committee at each meeting concerning
the activities conducted by such member.

SEC 8. Term of Office. Members shall be appointed by the Secretary for a term of three (3)
years. Of those first appointed, three (3) members shall serve for three (3) years, three (3)
members for two (2) years, and the last three (3) members for one (1) year.

Any vacancy in the membership of the Committee shall be filled in the same manner
as the original appointment.

‘Any member of the Committee may be removed for causes in accordance with
procedures established by the Committee.

SEC 9. The Committee shall have the following functions

(a) advise the Secretary on appropriate research activities to be undertaken by
the Office with respect to research on the health impacts of breast implants;

(b) report to the Secretary on such research;

(c) provide recommendations to the Secretary regarding activities of the
Committee;

(4) prepare a report regarding the activities of the Committee;

(e) ensure that materials concerning breast implants provided by the Department
are available, up to date, and responsive to reports of problems with breast
implants, and that timely aggregate data conceming such reports shall be
made available to the public upon request and consistent with existing
confidentiality standards.

SEC 10. Appropriations. To carry out the provisions of this Act, such amount as may be
necessary is hereby authorized to be appropriated from the National Treasury. Thereafter,
the amount necessary for the continuous operation of the research shall be included in the
annual appropriation of the Department of Health,

SEC 11. Separability Clause. ff any provision or part hereof is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall
remain valid and subsisting

SEC 12, Repealing Clause. Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive order,
letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent with the
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly.

SEC 13. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in
at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,