EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SE N A T E _ 
s. B. No. 6 9 B
O rn a te
^ 
of the i»r:rrtarp
'19 JUL 23 P5 «7
RECl.v.L' ;;
Introduced by Senator SONNY ANGARA
AN ACT
AUTHORIZING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO SET AND APPROVE THE 
BED CAPACITY AND THE SERVICE CAPABILITY OF ALL DOH HOSPITALS
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Health services must be distributed equitably to the whole population in terms 
of modern equipment, upgraded facilities and medical professionals to ensure access 
and availability of hospital services to the Filipinos. As provided in Section 11, Article 
XIII of the Constitution, "the state shall adopt an integrated and comprehensive 
approach to health development which shall endeavor to make essential goods, 
health and other social services available to all people at affordable cost." It is 
imperative that public health care must be affordable, effective and convenient. In 
fact. Republic Act No. 11223 or the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act -  which this 
Representation was one of the authors in the Senate -  led to all Filipinos having 
quality access to healthcare as they are now covered by the National Health 
Insurance Program (NHIP) regardless of their financial stature. We have also pushed 
legislations for both treatment and prevention of illnesses.
Unfortunately, with the increase in population, it is common for residents 
from far-flung provinces to travel for medical treatment purposes because of limited 
health services in their areas. The influx of patients leads to longer waiting time due 
to lack of available space in the hospital thus delaying the treatment. The patient 
needs to carry additional burden of sustaining the travel expenses which should be 
intended for his medical, surgical or therapeutic interventions.
According to data gathered by the Philippine Statistics Authority released in 
2018, in 2016 six (6) out of ten (10) deaths are not medically attended. Out of the 
582,183 registered deaths, 342,705 (59.2%) were unattended and 236,904 (40.5%) 
were medically attended. Furthermore, in the 2013 National Demographic and


Health Survey, only one (1) in every nine (9) Filipinos visited a health facility or 
sought advice/treatment (30 days preceding the survey). The quality and coverage 
of public health services deteriorated particularly in the poor provinces. The 
maldistribution of hospital beds as well as limited and dilapidated facilities resulted in 
inaccessibility and inadequacy of hospital delivery system.
The 70 DOH retained public hospitals, of which 53 are general hospitals, 14 
specialty hospitals, 2 infirmaries and 1 psychiatric facility complement the devolved 
district, provincial and private hospitals in providing health care services. In 2016, 
the average bed occupancy rate of all DOH Hospitals is 136%. Moreover, 61% of 
these hospitals have bed occupancy higher than the authorized bed capacity.
Presently, a DOH hospital can only increase its bed capacity and upgrade its 
service capability through legislation. The average duration of legislation process for 
this purpose is ranging from eight months to three years. The mismatch in bed 
occupancy compounded by lack of sufficient manpower and health services hinders 
the quality health care for patients and, if not very far, inadequate to sustain the 
growing health needs of the populace.
Cognizant of the above considerations, there is a need to expedite the 
process for providing quality health services to the Filipino people. This bill seeks to 
authorize the Department of Health to administratively determine and approve the 
bed capacity and service capability of all DOH hospitals as necessary. The DOH has 
the capacity and expertise to assess gaps in service delivery. By putting these 
government hospitals under the jurisdiction of the DOH, which manages theses 
hospitals in the first place, shall increase the efficiency in the delivery of health 
services to sustain the increasing demands of patients.
In upholding the constitutional mandate to adopt an integrated and 
comprehensive approach to health development, approval of this bill is earnestly 
sought.
SONNY ANGARA


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
S E N A T E
S. B. No. 698
' 
of l!;r !i??crrtazf
T9 JUL 23 P5.-07
RfcLb: 
u  ... 4
Introduced by Senator SONNY ANGARA
AN ACT
AUTHORIZING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO SET AND APPROVE THE 
BED CAPACITY AND THE SERVICE CAPABILITY OF ALL DOH HOSPITALS
Be it enacted by the Senate and House o f Representatives o f the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Purpose, Scope, and Coverage. -  This Act shall streamline the
2 
process of approving changes in the authorized bed capacity and service capability
3 
of all Department of Health (DOH) hospitals.
4 
Sec. 2. Authority to Approve. -  Authority is hereby granted to the DOH to
5 
adjust and approve the authorized bed capacity and service capability. Thereafter,
6 
the DOH shall, through an administrative order, determine the bed capacity and
7 
service capability of DOH hospitals, subject to specific guidelines that it shall issue
8 
and promulgate.
9 
Sec. 3. Conversion, Upgrading and Modernization o f DOH Hospitals. -  The
10 
DOH shall upgrade and modernize the existing equipment and facilities of DOH
11 
hospitals to ensure that it shall be responsive to the health needs of the people
12 
commensurate to the bed capacity and service capability.
13 
Sec. 4. Appropriations. -  The amount necessary to implement and carry out
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the provisions of this Act shall be included in the annual budget of the DOH.
15 
Sec. 5. Annual Report to Congress. -  The DOH shall provide Congress,
16 
through the House Committee on Health and the Senate Committee on Health and
17 
Demography, an annual report of hospitals with approved bed 
capacity 
and
18 
service capability, along with the necessary funding requirements.
1


1 
Sec. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). -  The DOH shall come up
2 
with the IRR, within ninety (90) days after the law's effectivity.
3 
Sec. 7. Separability Clause. -  If any portion or provision of this Act is
4 
subsequently declared invalid or unconstitutional, other provisions hereof which are
5 
not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.
6 
Sec. 8. Repealing Clause. -  All other laws, acts, presidential decrees,
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executive orders, presidential proclamations, issuances, rules and regulations, or
8 
parts thereof which are contrary to or inconsistent with any of the provisions of this
9 
Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.
10 
Sec. 9. Effectivity. -  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
11 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,