FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 7 7 
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Introduced by Senator Manny Villar 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
A number of hospitals and clinics refuse admission of street children, even 
if these children require immediate medical or dental attention. Their reason: 
these children do not have sufficient financial resources to pay the initial 
"deposit" required by the medical institution. 
Article XV Section 3 (3) of the 1987 Constitution declares that "the State 
shall defend the right of the children to assistance, including proper care and 
nutrition and special protection from all forms of neglect and abuse, cruelty, 
exploitation, other conditions prejudicial to their development" 
This is amplified by PO 603, the Child and Youth Welfare Code, as 
amended, wherein Article 3 [4] provides that: "Every child has the right to a 
balanced diet, adequate clothing, sufficient shelter, proper medical attention and 
all the basic physical requirements of a healthy and vigorous life." 
The evolving national legislative agenda for children gives Congress the 
task to lead the way in eradicating corrupt practices such as denying admission 
of street children to hospitals or clinics. This bill requires both public and private 
hospitals and clinics to extend free medical and dental services to indigent 
children, which includes but is not necessarily limited to street children, and 
provides penalties for violations thereof. 
By virtue of the doctrine of parens patriae, indigent children who have 
been neglected by their parents are the wards of the State. Congress should 
therefore take every step necessary to see to it that they live healthy lives inspite 
of their impoverished condition. 
In view of the paramount need to extend vital health services to indigent 
children, passage of this bill is earnestly urged. 
LLAR 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 77 
Introduced by Senator Manny Villar 
AN ACT 
REQUIRING ALL GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE HOSPITALS, MEDICAL 
CENTERS, CLINICS, INFIRMARIES, PUERICUL TURE CENTERS TO EXTEND 
FREE MEDICAL AND DENTAL ASSISTANCE TO INDIGENT CHILDREN 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
Phtfippines in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. All government and private hospitals, medical centers, 
clinics, infirmaries or puericulture centers duly licensed to operate as such, are 
hereby required to render medical and dental services to the indigent children, 
regardless of whether or not they are in danger of dying and/or may have 
suffered physical injuries requiring immediate medical attention. 
For the purpose of this Act, an "indigent child" is a child below eighteen 
(18) years of age who has health problems requiring medical and dental services 
for his care and treatment, taking into account the following factors: 
a. the age of the child; 
b. the financial condition of the family; 
c. the degree of deprivation of parental care and support; and 
d. the inability of his parents to exercise parental authority. 
SECTION 2. The expenses and losses of earnings incurred by a private 
hospital, medical center, clinic, infirmary, or puericulture center; or by an 
individual physician or dentist for medicine, facilities, and services extended to 
the care and treatment of an indigent child as required herein in an amount not 
exceeding P300,OOO.OO per year, shall be deductible expenses and losses for 
income tax purposes which may be carried over for a period of five years, any 
provision of law, decree, executive order or regulation to the contrary not 
withstanding. 
SECTION 3. Any hospital director, administrator, officer-in-charge, 
physician, or dentist in a hospital, medical center, clinic, infirmary, or puericulture 
center who shall refuse or fail without good cause to render the appropriate 
medical center or dental service pursuant to Section One of this Act, after said 
case has been brought to hislher attention, or any nurse, mid-wife, medical or 
dental attendant who shall refuse to extend the appropriate assistance, subject to 
existing rules, or neglects to notify or call the attention of the physician or dentist 
in attendance, shall be punished with imprisonment of at least one (1) year, but 
not more than five (5) years, or a fine of Ten thousand pesos (PI5,OOO.OO), but 


not more than Fifteen thousand pesos (Pi5,OOO.OO), or both fine and 
imprisonment at the sound of discretion of the Court. 
In the case of government hospitals, medical centers, clinics, infirmaries, 
or puericulture centers, the imposition of the appropriate penalties upon the 
person or persons guilty of the violation of this Act shall be without prejudice to 
the administrative action that may be proper. In the case of private hospitals, 
medical centers, clinics, infirmaries, or puericulture centers, the license to 
operate shall be suspended or revoked. 
SECTION 4. The Department of Health in coordination with the 
Department of Social Welfare and Development shall have the authority to 
promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the purpose of carrying into 
effect the provisions of this Act. 
SECTION 5. All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations or 
parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or 
modified accordingly. 
SECTION 6. This act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication 
in the official Gazette or two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
2