TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
House Bill No. 2410 
_________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by Representative ROMMEL RICO T. ANGARA 
___________________________________________________________________ 
AN ACT  
ESTABLISHING SATELLITE SPECIALTY HOSPITALS TO FACILITATE 
ACCESS TO SPECIALIZED MEDICAL CARE IN IDENTIFIED REGIONS OF 
THE PHILIPPINES AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
A 2015 study by the University of the Philippines revealed a stark and tragic 
reality: six out of every ten Filipinos die without consulting a medical professional 
or receiving proper medical care due to financial constraints, prompting many to 
turn to traditional healers—who are more affordable and locally accessible. Beyond 
the direct cost of healthcare, incidental expenses—such as travel to distant hospitals 
and lost wages for accompanying family members—further deter access, especially 
when specialized health services are required for conditions affecting the heart, 
lungs, kidneys, or children. Many local hospitals lack the necessary facilities, forcing 
patients to travel to overcrowded tertiary centers like the Philippine General 
Hospital, which themselves struggle to serve all who need care. 
A more recent study by the University of the Philippines Population Institute 
examined unmet healthcare needs among older Filipinos (aged 60 and above), using 
longitudinal data up to 2022. It found that approximately 29 % of seniors at baseline 
and 22 % at follow-up experienced unmet healthcare needs—a significant predictor 
of mortality over time. This demonstrates that barriers to healthcare go beyond 
acute access: even among those alive, lack of consistent medical attention is 
strongly associated with adverse outcomes. 
July 28, 2025
1:30 pm


Additionally, the World Health Organization–cited data suggests that eight 
in ten Filipinos have never undergone any medical check-up or physical 
examination in their lives, despite the existence of Universal Health Care policies. 
This underscores a systemic failure: while insurance schemes and legislation exist, 
millions remain unserved by essential preventive services. According to Department 
of Health, the ratio o1f hospital beds is 1.2 beds per 1,000 population, which is 
comparable to the poorest countries in the world, such as the Sub-Saharan Africa. 
In fact, the Philippines has a 10-year backlog in terms of expanding government 
beds. 
Together, these findings paint a sobering picture: the combination of high 
out-of-pocket costs, limited diagnostic capacity, uneven distribution of healthcare 
facilities, and lack of regular preventive care contribute to premature deaths and 
untreated illnesses across Filipino communities. 
To address the current inequities and geographical barriers in accessing 
specialized health care as most remote areas have been given less medical 
attention, the DOH issued Department Order No. 2021-0001 designating selected 
DOH hospitals as specialty centers for brain and spine care, cancer care, among 
others. The Order likewise provided for resource stratified frameworks to guide 
upgrading of hospitals towards respective specialties. 
 To intensify and give more effect on the policy of the DOH to increase the 
number of specialty hospitals in the country, this bill mandates the existing specialty 
hospitals namely Philippine Heart Center (PHC), Lung Center of the Philippines 
(LCP), National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI), and the Philippine Children’s 
Medical Center (PCMC) to establish satellite hospitals in provinces which are 
geographically isolated from their region's tertiary care hospital to be managed and 
operated by the specialty hospitals pursuant to their respective charters. 
Furthermore, the bill prioritizes the establishment of specialty hospitals catering to 
the treatment of the main causes of death among Filipinos such as heart disease, 
vascular diseases, malignant neoplasms, avitaminosis and other nutritional 
deficiency, and chronic lower respiratory diseases. 
 
In addition, the bill also exempts the procurement of medical equipment and 
supplies to be used by the satellite specialty hospitals from the bidding process as 


mandated under Republic Act. No. 9184 or the “Government Procurement Reform 
Act”, in order to facilitate the faster construction of satellite hospitals.  
The 1987 Philippine Constitution requires the State to implement an 
integrated and comprehensive approach to health development, ensuring that all 
Filipinos have fair and equal access to quality healthcare facilities and specialized 
medical services. 
Thus, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.  
 
ROMMEL RICO T. ANGARA 


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
House Bill No. 2410 
_________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by Representative ROMMEL RICO T. ANGARA 
___________________________________________________________________ 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING SATELLITE SPECIALTY HOSPITALS TO FACILITATE ACCESS TO 
SPECIALIZED MEDICAL CARE IN IDENTIFIED REGIONS OF THE PHILIPPINES 
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1.  Short Title. – This Act shall be known and cited as the “Satellite 
Specialty Hospitals Act of 2022.”  
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. – Section 15, Article II of the 1987 Constitution 
mandates that the State shall protect and promote the right to health of the people and 
instill health consciousness among them. Towards this end, the State shall adopt an 
integrated and comprehensive approach to health development by providing them 
specialized health services, which shall be available and accessible to all the people at 
affordable cost. 
SEC. 3. Establishment of Satellite Specialty Hospitals or Specialized 
Units. – The following specialty hospitals are mandated to establish satellite hospitals in 
identified regions to be managed and operated pursuant to their respective charters:  
(1) Philippine Heart Center created under Presidential Decree No. 673;
(2) National Kidney and Transplant Institute created under Presidential Decree No.
1832;
(3) Lung Center of the Philippines created under Presidential Decree No. 1823; and


(4) Philippine Children’s Medical Center created under Presidential Decree No. 1631  
Provided, That these specialty hospitals must formulate prioritization plans for the 
purpose of implementing this Act, subject to the following considerations:  
(a) The specialty hospitals shall craft the criteria for the identification and 
development of their satellite hospitals, based on the following: 
(i) The top burden of disease in the region; 
(ii) Legal mandates specified in other laws such as but not limited to 
the Republic Act No. 11215 or the “Integrated Cancer Control 
Act”, Republic Act No. 11036 or the “Mental Health Act”, and 
Republic Act No. 9994 or the “Expanded Senior Citizens Act”; and 
(iii) Other considerations that the specialty hospitals may deem 
important for the selection process. 
(b) Provinces which are geographically isolated from their region's tertiary 
care hospital shall likewise be given priority for the establishment of 
satellite specialty hospitals within the nearest general hospital, 
whichever is feasible; 
Nothing in this Act shall be construed as restricting the right of the Department of 
Health (DOH) to establish specialty hospitals or specialized units in DOH hospitals in 
different regions. 
SEC. 4. Period of Implementation. – The establishment of at least one (1) 
satellite specialty hospital in identified region/s shall be completed over a period of five 
(5) years: Provided, That payments for amortization of outstanding multi-year contract 
obligations incurred under this Act may extend beyond this period. 
SEC. 5. Minimum Standards of Construction. – The Health Facilities and 
Services Regulatory Bureau of the Department of Health shall issue guidelines for the 
minimum design standards of specialty hospitals in accordance with all applicable laws, 
rules and regulations: Provided, That the application for a permit to construct a special 
hospital shall be accompanied by a hospital plan: Provided, Further, That no permit to 


construct a special hospital can be issued without complying with the minimum standards 
set forth in the guidelines to be issued pursuant to this Section. 
SEC. 6. Procurement. – Procurement of medical equipment and supplies to be 
used by the satellite specialty hospitals shall be exempt from the provisions on bidding 
process required under Republic Act No. 9184 or the “Government Procurement Reform 
Act” and other relevant laws: Provided, That the following information and documents 
related to the procurement shall be published in the Government Procurement Policy 
Board online portal, the website of the procuring entity concerned, if available, and at 
any conspicuous place reserved for this purpose in the premises of the procuring entity 
within seven (7) working days from the date of acceptance of the award: 
(i) 
Project name;  
(ii) Approved budget for contract;  
(iii) Contract period;  
(iv) Name of winning supplier, distributor, manufacturer, contractor or 
consultant; 
(v) Amount of contract as awarded; 
(vi) Notice of award;  
(vii) Date of award and acceptance;  
(viii) Contract or purchase order; and  
(ix) A certification stating that the procuring entity exerted all efforts to secure 
the most advantageous price to the government based on existing price data 
of the agency, the DTI or other relevant agencies or preliminary market 
scanning done by the agency showing prevailing market prices and practice. 
SEC. 7. Tax exemptions. – All donations, contributions or endowments which 
may be made by entities or persons to the specialty hospitals for the benefit of their 
satellite hospitals shall be exempt from income and gift taxes. The importation of medical 
equipment to be used by the satellite specialty hospitals shall likewise be exempt from 
import duties, taxes, and other fees. 
SEC. 8. Report to Congress. – Within one hundred twenty (120) days from the 


effectivity of this Act, the executive directors of the specialty hospitals shall present a 
report to Congress detailing the construction plan of said satellite specialty hospitals, 
which shall include the prioritization plan as provided under Section 3 of this Act. 
For this purpose, the Congress shall establish a Joint Congressional Oversight 
Committee composed of five (5) members of each house to be appointed by the Senate 
President and the House Speaker, respectively. This Committee shall determine whether 
such acts, orders, rules and regulations are within the restrictions provided herein. 
SEC. 9. Sunset Review. – As the need arises or within five (5) years after its 
effectivity, the Congressional Oversight Committee shall conduct a sunset review of this 
Act. The term ‘sunset review’ shall mean a systematic evaluation of the accomplishments 
and impact of this Act for purposes of determining remedial legislation. 
SEC. 10. Appropriations. – The amount necessary for the implementation of 
the provisions of this Act shall be taken from the current year’s budget of the specialty 
hospitals enumerated in Section 3 of this Act. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary 
for the continued implementation of this Act shall be incorporated in the annual General 
Appropriations Act.  
SEC. 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – The Department of Health, 
in coordination with the specialty hospitals enumerated in Section 3 hereof, shall 
promulgate the rules and regulations implementing the provisions of this Act within sixty 
(60) days from its effectivity. 
SEC. 12. Separability Clause. – If for any reason, any part or provision of this 
Act is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not affected 
shall remain in full force and effect. 
SEC. 13. Repealing Clause. – All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, 
rules and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
repealed or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 14. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of national circulation. 


Approved,