Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

5786

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Rep. CAMILLE A. VILLAR

AN ACT
REQUIRING ALL NATIONAL, REGIONAL, AND PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT
HOSPITALS TO ESTABLISH, OPERATE AND MAINTAIN A DIALYSIS WARD
OR UNIT IN THEIR RESPECTIVE HOSPITAL AND PROVIDING FREE
DIALYSIS TREATMENT TO INDIGENT PATIENTS

EXPLANATORY NOTE

“The rising number of kidney failure cases in the country is alarming. According
to the National Kidney and Transplant Institute, one Filipino develops chronic renal
failure every hour. More than 5,000 patients are presently undergoing dialysis and
approximately 1.1 million people worldwide are on renal replacement therapy.

2016 data from the PhilHealth similarly indicate that 10% of the world’s
population are suffering from Chronic Kidney Disease. In the Philippines, majority of
end-stage renal disease is secondary to complications of diabetes, hypertension and
chronic glomerulonephritis. While most patients with end-stage renal failure need
kidney transplant, renal replacement therapy with adequate dialysis helps replace
sufficient kidney function for a patient to survive.

Patients suffering from kidney ailment who are living in provinces could not
afford the expenses of traveling all the way to urban cities to seek dialysis treatment
and the high cost of the procedure itself, which is needed on a regular and sustained
basis. The optimum frequency of dialysis is three times a week, but because of its cost
and inaccessibility, some patients settle with less, thus causing their health to
deteriorate rapidly. Worse, some patients die without being given a chance to undergo
dialysis because they could not afford it.

Pursuant to this measure, all national, regional, and provincial government
hospitals are required to establish, operate and maintain a dialysis ward or unit that

1


will give free dialysis medical procedure to indigent patients. The aim of this bill is in
consonance with the Constitutional mandate to make health services available to our
countrymen at an affordable cost and improve the delivery of healthcare services to
the Filipino people.

It is for the foregoing reasons that the swift passage of the bill is earnestly
sought.

Cambiar Watton
CAMILLE A. VILLAR


wovaunswne

SBaORGBNES

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. _ 5786

Introduced by Rep. CAMILLE A. VILLAR

AN ACT
REQUIRING ALL NATIONAL, REGIONAL, AND PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT
HOSPITALS TO ESTABLISH, OPERATE AND MAINTAIN A DIALYSIS WARD
OR UNIT IN THEIR RESPECTIVE HOSPITAL AND PROVIDING FREE
DIALYSIS TREATMENT TO INDIGENT PATIENTS

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

Section 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the "Dialysis Center Act.”

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the declared 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. Definition of Terms. — For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall
mean:

a) Secretary refers to the Secretary of the Department of Health;

b) National Government Hospital refers to a hospital operated and maintained
either partially or wholly by the national government or by any department,
division, board or other agency thereof;

©) Regional Government Hospital refers to a hospital operated and maintained
either partially or wholly by the national government or by any department,
division, board or other agency thereof;

d) Provincial Government Hospital refers to a hospital operated and maintained
either partially or wholly by the provincial government or other political
subdivision, or by any department division, board or other agency thereof; and

1


worvnn rune

PNREBBRBHEEREBBES
SBRBRURRRBRREBSSSEYaRDSGBRE OS

e) Indigent Patient refers to a patient who has no visible means of income,
compensation or financial assistance from his/her relatives to support his/her
basic needs, as determined by the Department of Social Welfare and
Development (DSWD).

Sec. 4. Establishment, Operation and Maintenance of a Dialysis Ward or Unit.

— Within two (2) years from the effectivity of this Act, all national, regional, and

provincial government hospitals are hereby required to establish, operate and

maintain a dialysis ward or unit in their hospital. The dialysis ward or unit shall be
equipped with complete dialysis machine, equipment and supplies.

Sec. 5. Free Dialysis Treatment to Indigent Patients. — Dialysis treatment in all
national, regional and provincial government hospitals shall be provided free of charge
to indigent patients as defined in Section 3 (e) hereof.

Sec. 6. Penalty. - Any hospital chief, administrator or officer-in-charge who fails
to comply with this Act shall be punished with a fine of Fifty Thousand Pesos
(P50,000.00) but not more than One Hundred ‘Thousand Pesos (P:100,000.00).

Sec. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The Secretary shall promulgate
the necessary rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act.

Sec. 8. Appropriations. - Such amount as may be necessary to implement the
provisions of this Act is hereby authorized to be appropriated from the National
Treasury. Thereafter, the amount necessary for the continuous implementation of this
‘Act shalll be included in the government hospital's annual appropriations.

Sec. 9. Separability Clause. ~ If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or
unconstitutional, 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 the Official Gazette or in any two (2) newspapers of general circulation
in the Philippines.

Approved,