Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

House BILLNo. 1339

Introduced by HON. MARK O. GO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to establish a dialysis unit in one national government hospital in every
province and/or region as well as to provide free dialysis treatment for poor patients suffering from
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD).

This is pursuant to the Constitutional mandate of the State to protect and promote the right to
health of the people and instill health consciousness among them.

‘The increasing number of cases of kidney failure in the Philippines is quite alarming.
According to the Renal Disease Control Program (REDCOP) of the National Kidney and Transplant
Institute (NTI), Chronic Kidney Diseaseis the 8th leading cause of death among the Filipinos. One
Filipino develops chronic renal failure every hour or about 120 Filipinos per million population per
year. From 2002 to 2015, the Philippines recorded one of the countries with the largest
proportionate increase in End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) prevalence in Asia with 203%.

Majority of ESRD among Filipinos is secondary to complications of diabetes, hypertension
and chronic glomerulonephritis. As of 2013,there are about 300 to 500 kidney transplants performed
annually and 7,000 estimated cases ESRDwaiting for transplant and still escalating every year.

The optimum frequency of dialysis is three times a week, but due to its being costly and
inaccessibilitymainly in the provinces, patients compromise their health conditions. The cost of a
kidney operation ranges from Php600,000 to 1 million pesos while a session of dialysis will cost a
patientP2,000 to P2,500 in government hospitals and around P4,000. PhilHealth records show that
in from 2014-2017, hemodialysis posted themost number of filed claims among procedures with a
total benefit payments amounting to Php27,226,598,550.00

In 2012, PhilHealth announced that it will subsidize the cost of kidney transplant up to
Php600,000 for ESRD patients. In 2015, it expanded its subsidy of dialysis treatment from 45 to 90
sessions annually covering P 2,500.00 per session.


With this very limited subsidy and accessibility of dialysis treatment, it is therefore
imperative to establish a dialysis unit in one national government hospital in every province and/or
region to cater to our poor patients suffering from Chronic Kidney Disease and avail such procedure
free of charge.

In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is eamnestly sought.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Quezon City

Eigteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 1339

Introduced by HON. MARK O. GO

AN ACT
MANDATING ONENATIONAL GOVERNMENT HOSPITALIN EVERY PROVINCE
AND/OR REGION TO ESTABLISH A DIALYSIS UNITAND PROVIDING FREE
DIALYSIS TREATMENT TO POOR PATIENTS AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS
THEREFOR

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

SECTION L. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the “Regional Dialysis Center Act.”

SEC. 2.Declaration of Policy. -It is a declared policy of the State to adopt an integrated and
comprehensive approach to health development which shall endeavour to make essential goods,
health and other social services available to all the people at affordable cost. There shall be priority
for the needs of the underprivileged sick, elderly, disabled, women and children. The state shall
endeavour to provide free medical care to paupers.

It is also hereby declared as a policy of the State to improve the delivery of health care
services to the people and to ensure hospital facilities are available, affordable and accessible to the
people.

SEC. 3. Identification of National Government Hospitals. — The Department of Health is
hereby authorized to identify one national government hospital in every province and/or region that
shall establish and maintain a dialysis unit. The DOH shall consider the status and capability of the
hospital including its area and facilities for the establishment of the said dialysis unit.

SEC. 4. Establishment, Operation and Maintenance of a Dialysis Unit. — Within eighteen
(18) months from the effectivity of this Act, the identified national government hospital in every
province and/or regionis hereby required to establish, operate and maintain a dialysis unit in its
hospital. The dialysis unit shall be equipped with complete dialysis machine, equipment and supplies
to be managed by qualified medical personnel.


SEC. 5. Free Dialysis Treatment to Poor Patients. — Dialysis treatment in the identified
national government hospital in every province and/or region shall be provided free of charge to poor
patients whose combined annual family income does not exceed to Seventy Two Thousand Pesos
(Php 72,000.00).

SEC. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The Secretary of the Department of Health
shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 7. Penalty. — Any hospital chief, administrator or office-in-charge who refuses to
accept poor dialysis patients and/or fails to comply with the provisions of this Act shall be imposed a
penalty of Fifty Thousand Pesos (Php50,000.00) but not more than One Hundred Thousand Pesos
(Php 100,000.00).

SEC. & Appropriations. — The Secretary of Health shall immediately include in the
Department’s programs the implementation of this Act, the funding of which shall be included in the
annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 9. Separability Clause- If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or
unconstit mal, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain valid
and subsisting.

SEC. 10. 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. 11. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in at
least two (2) newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,