Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _____ 
Introduced by CIBAC Party-List Representative 
Eduardo “Bro. Eddie” C. Villanueva 
AN ACT 
REQUIRING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF DIALYSIS CLINICS IN ALL 
NATIONAL, REGIONAL AND PROVINCIAL HOSPITALS AND 
PROVIDING FOR FREE DIALYSIS TREATMENTS TO INDIGENT 
PATIENTS AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Dialysis is the process of removing waste products from the blood 
and removing excess fluid from the body. Patients undergoing dialysis 
suffers from End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), largely caused by chronic 
hypertension and diabetes.   
In the Philippines, it is estimated that around 2.3 Million Filipinos 
have chronic kidney disease and more than 35,000 patients are 
undergoing dialysis treatment as of 2016.1 Kidney disease has also been 
identified as one of the top 10 causes of death in the Philippines.2 It is also 
reported that the number of dialysis patients has been steadily increasing 
at 10% to 15% annually. In 2014, the Philippine Health Insurance 
1 https://www.philhealth.gov.ph/circulars/2021/circ2021-0009.pdf 
2 http://www.doh.gov.ph/node/1058  
July 21, 2022
4:21 am
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Corporation (PhilHealth) paid a total of Php4.7 Billion arising from 691,489 
claims for dialysis treatment.3 
 
Considering the large number of patients who needs to undergo 
dialysis treatment regularly, dialysis treatment centers should not only be 
accessible to these patients, but should also be affordable.  
 
Kidney patients normally have to undergo dialysis treatment two to 
three times a week, with one treatment costing around Php4,500.4 This 
means that a kidney patient has to spend around Php9,000 to Php13,500 
per week to survive. While the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation 
(PhilHealth) has increased its coverage from 90 to 144 dialysis 
treatments, some, if not all, patients still have to pay for the treatment 
sessions outside of the 144 days.  
 
Indeed, the accessibility of dialysis centers and the cost of 
treatments place a great burden on kidney patients, on top of battling their 
condition. This condition also affects their over-all productivity and ability 
to earn income.  
 
This bill mandates the establishment of dialysis centers in national, 
provincial and regional hospitals to ensure that all kidney patients can 
easily access these centers for their treatment without having to travel far. 
This bill also recognizes the financial burden faced by dialysis patients 
and mandates that indigents shall be given free treatments in these 
centers.  
 
The immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
3 https://www.philhealth.gov.ph/news/2015/extends_dialysis.html  
4 https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1086669 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _____ 
Introduced by CIBAC Party-List Representative 
Eduardo “Bro. Eddie” C. Villanueva 
AN ACT 
REQUIRING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF DIALYSIS CLINICS IN ALL 
NATIONAL, REGIONAL AND PROVINCIAL HOSPITALS AND 
PROVIDING FOR FREE DIALYSIS TREATMENTS TO INDIGENT 
PATIENTS AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
  Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
1 
Philippines in Congress assembled:
2 
3 
SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. – It is hereby declared the 
4 
policy of the State to protect and promote the right to health of the people 
5 
and instill health consciousness among them. For this purpose, the State 
6 
shall ensure that patients suffering from End Stage Renal Disease are 
7 
accorded timely and appropriate treatment with the provision of accessible 
8 
dialysis clinics and free dialysis treatments. 
9 
10 
SECTION 2. Establishment of Dialysis Clinics in all National, 
11 
Regional and Provincial Hospitals. – There shall be established dialysis 
12 
clinics in all national, regional and provincial hospitals in the country. The 
13 
dialysis clinics shall be equipped with sufficient machines, equipment, 
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paraphernalia and supplies and staffed with the appropriate number of 
1 
medical and other personnel. 
2 
 
3 
The Department of Health (DOH), in coordination with the local 
4 
government units and other relevant government agencies, shall lead the 
5 
establishment of these clinics.  
6 
 
7 
SECTION 3. Free Dialysis Treatment to Indigent Patients. – The 
8 
Department of Health, in coordination with the Philippine Health Insurance 
9 
Corporation, shall ensure that indigent patients are accorded free dialysis 
10 
treatments in national, regional or provincial hospitals. For this purpose, 
11 
“indigent patient” refers to a patient who has no visible means of income, 
12 
or whose income is insufficient for the subsistence of his/her family, as 
13 
identified by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).  
14 
 
15 
SECTION 4. Authority to Receive Donations and Exemption 
16 
from Donor’s Taxes, Customs and Tariff Duties. – The DOH shall have 
17 
the authority to receive donations, gifts and bequests in order to augment 
18 
the funding for the establishment of the dialysis clinics created in 
19 
accordance with this Act. All donations, contributions or endowments 
20 
which may be made by persons or entities to the dialysis clinics in national, 
21 
regional and provincial hospitals and the importation of medical equipment 
22 
and machineries, spare parts and other medical equipment used solely 
23 
and exclusively by the dialysis clinics shall be exempt from income or 
24 
donor’s taxes, any other direct or indirect taxes, wharfage fees and other 
25 
charges and restrictions. 
26 
 
27 
SECTION 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within sixty 
28 
(60) days from the effectivity of this Act, the Department of Health, upon 
29 
consultation with relevant stakeholders, shall issue the implementing rules 
30 
and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act. 
31 
 
32 
SECTION 6. Appropriations. – An initial amount of One Billion 
33 
Pesos (P1,000,000,000) shall be appropriated for the implementation of 
34 
this Act. Thereafter, its appropriation shall be included in the General 
35 
Appropriations Act. 
36 
 
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SECTION 7. Separability Clause. – If any provision of this law or 
1 
the application thereof to any person or circumstance, is held invalid, the 
2 
remainder of this law, or the application of such provision or part to other 
3 
persons or circumstances, shall not be affected thereby. 
4 
 
5 
SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, executive 
6 
orders, rules and regulations or part thereof deemed inconsistent with the 
7 
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.  
8 
 
9 
SECTION 9. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect fifteen 
10 
(15) days from the publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) 
11 
national newspapers of general circulation.  
12 
 
13 
Approved, 
14