Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS

First Regular Sessi

House Bill No. 3259

Introduced by Hon, Sol Aragones

EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Constitution, Article 2, Section 15, provides:

Sec. 15. The State shall protect and promote the right to
health of the people and instill health consciousness among them.

Well-woman visits are the foundation on which women's preventive care
is built. Such visits include not only specific screening tests, but also a medical
history, physical examination, evaluation and counseling, and, as indicated,

vaccinations.

Over the past 20 years, it has become clear that ‘one size does not fit all’
when it comes to prevention. Although a 30-year-old woman without risk
factors for cervical cancer may only need a Pap test with HPV co-testing every
5 years, the same woman would need more frequent screening if she were

infected with HIV or had a history of cervical cancer precursors.

It is only after taking a medical history and evaluating and counseling a
patient that a physician can make patient-specific recommendations for
screening tests, vaccinations, preventive medications, and other preventive

services.


Well-woman visits facilitate increased access to health care that is shown
to identify chronic disease risk factors, promote well-being, and decrease the

likelihood or delay the onset of a targeted disease or condition.

Women are less likely than men to receive aggressive diagnosis and
treatment for various diseases. Women are more likely than men to have

forgone needed health care due to cost.

This bill mandates the Department of Health to promote preventive health

practices among women.

2


RUnH

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS

First Regular Session

House BillNo._ 3259

Introduced by Hon. Sol Aragones

AN ACT
TO PROVIDE FOR A NATIONAL PUBLIC OUTREACH AND
EDUCATION CAMPAIGN TO RAISE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF
WOMEN'S PREVENTIVE HEALTH

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

S

“TION 1. Short Title. — This shall be known as the “Women's

Preventive Health Awareness Campaign Act.”

SECTION 2. Women’s Preventive Health Awareness Campaign. ~ The
Department of Health shall provide for the planning and implementation of a
national public outreach and education campaign to raise public awareness,
including provider awareness, of women's preventive health. Such campaign
shall include the media campaign under Section 3 and the website under Section

5 and shall provide for the dissemination of information that—

A. describes the guidelines for women's preventive services, including

recommendations on cervical cancer prevention;

0


16
17

18
19
20
21
22

24

B. promotes well-woman visits for health assessments which include
screenings, evaluations, counseling, immunizations, and prenatal

visits, as appropriate;

C. explains the women's preventive service programs of the government
and other preventive services that may be availed of from private

health institutions;

SECTION 3. Media Campaign. — Not later than 1 year after the date of
the enactment of this section, as part of the campaign under Section 2, the

Department of Health shall establish and implement a national media campaign.

SECTION 4. Requirements of the Media Campaign. - The campaign
implemented under Section 3 —

A. shall disseminate information about the updated guidelines for
women's preventive services described in Section 2A, promote well-
woman visits described in Section 2B, and provide information on the

women's preventive services described in Section 2C; and

B. may include the use of television, radio, Internet, and other

commercial marketing venues.

SECTION 5. Website. - As part of the campaign under Section 2, the
Department of Health shall, in consultation with private sector experts or
through contract with a private entity including a medical association or non-
profit organization, maintain and update an Internet website to provide
information and resources about the updated guidelines for women's preventive
services described in Section 2A, promote well-woman visits, and provide

information on the women's preventive services described in Section 2C.


SECTION 6. Appropriations. ~ Such sums as maybe necessary for the

implementation of this Act is hereby appropriated.

SECTION 7. Separability Clause. - \f any provision of this Act or the
application of such provision to any person or circumstance is declared invalid,
the remainder of the Act or the application of such provision to other persons or

circumstances shall not be affected by such declaration.

SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. — Any law, presidential decree or
issuance, executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or
regulation contrary to or inconsistent with this Act is hereby repealed, modified,

or amended accordingly.

SECTION 9. Effectivity Clause. ~ This Act shall take effect fifteen (15)

days after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Adopted,