Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ______ 
INTRODUCED BY REP. HARRIS CHRISTOPHER M. ONGCHUAN 
       EXPLANATORY NOTE 
RA 1082 created rural health units in every city and municipality in the 
Philippines to provide for the basic medical needs of Filipinos. However, these rural 
health units are generally equipped for only primary care which focuses mainly on 
prevention rather than curing. Moreover, some of these rural health centers are not 
even fully functional due to the lack of medicines, equipment, and health workers. 
When patients have to be treated for cases which require more advanced 
equipment and better-equipped medical professionals, they will be referred to a 
specialty hospital most likely located in Metro Manila. The cost of transport and 
lodging is only an additional burden to the already exorbitant fees that the patients 
and their families have to shoulder for the medical bill. 
This bill seeks to establish Apex hospitals from already functioning regional 
hospitals and create the same in strategic areas around the country. These medical 
facilities are to be fitted with the appropriate medical equipment and staff to offer 
services for all kinds of illnesses, diseases, injuries or deformities. In doing this, the 
load for Filipinos from far-flung places who have to travel to Metro Manila to get 
treated disappears. 
Versions of this bill were filed by Representatives Tan, Aglipay, and Pichay, in 
the 18th Congress. It was subsequently approved by the House and thereafter, 
submitted to the Senate.  
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
HARRIS CHRISTOPHER M. ONGCHUAN 
August 30, 2022
8:02 am
4129


 Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ______ 
Introduced by Representative 
HARRIS CHRISTOPHER M. ONGCHUAN 
AN ACT  
ESTABLISHING APEX HOSPITALS IN EVERY REGION OF THE COUNTRY 
AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR 
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 “Apex Hospitals Act.” 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is the policy of the State to adopt an 
integrated and comprehensive approach to health development which shall make 
health services available, accessible and affordable for all. To this end, reforms shall 
be introduced to the Philippine health delivery system to achieve universal health 
care for Filipinos through the upgrading of facilities that shall transform regional 
hospitals into functioning apex hospitals and the establishment of new apex hospitals 
in strategic areas of the country. 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. — As used in this Act: 
(a) Anatomic and clinical pathology laboratory system – refers to a facility for the
diagnosis of diseases through laboratory testing of blood and other body
fluids, tissues, and the microscopic evaluation of individual cells. The
laboratory testing shall cover the following areas:
(i)
Anatomic pathology, which includes histopathology, cytopathology,
and electron microscopy; and,
4129


(ii) 
Clinical pathology, which includes clinical microbiology, clinical 
chemistry, hematology, blood bank, and molecular diagnostics or DNA 
testing. 
(b) Angiogram – refers to a diagnostic procedure that outlines blood vessels, 
usually arteries, in various areas in the body to identify narrowing of or 
blockages in the arteries in the body. 
(c) Apex hospital – refers to an end-referral hospital offering specialized services in 
accordance with this Act, and is contracted as a stand-alone facility by the 
Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth). 
(d) Basic emergency care – refers to the response to a situation where there is 
urgently required medical care and attention, and shall include procedures 
required for initial diagnosis, use of equipment and supplies in sufficiently 
addressing the emergency situation, considering the welfare of the patient. It 
also includes the necessary medical procedures and treatment administered to 
a woman in active labor to ensure the safe delivery of the newborn. 
(e) Computed tomography (CT) scan – refers to an X-ray image which is produced 
by applying tomography, a technique wherein a computer controls the motion 
of the X-ray source and detectors, and processes the data to produce the image. 
The detailed images of internal organs obtained by this type of sophisticated 
X-ray device can reveal anatomic details of internal organs that cannot be seen 
in conventional X-rays. 
(f) Dialysis – refers to the process of removing waste products and excess fluid 
from the body. Dialysis is necessary when the kidneys are not able to 
adequately filter the blood. 
(g) Dialysis facility system – refers to a facility that provides treatment for chronic 
kidney disease. 
(h) High risk pregnancy unit (HRPU) – refers to a unit in the hospital where 
women with complications arising from pregnancy are confined, and whose 
treatment requires constant supervision or further investigation and 
assessment. The unit is operated by experts such as perinatologists, 
obstetricians and pediatricians, with the assistance of other specialists. It is a 
fully equipped obstetric intensive care unit (ICU) that can handle high risk 
cases including high risk neonates. 
(i) Intensive care unit (ICU) – refers to a hospital unit where patients requiring close 
monitoring, continuous attention, and intensive or critical care are confined. 
An ICU contains highly technical monitoring devices and equipment with 
specially trained personnel on critical care. 
(j) Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) – refers to a procedure that uses a strong 
magnetic field and radio waves to capture detailed images of the organs and 
tissues within the body. 


(k) Mammogram – refers to an X-ray test to visualize normal and abnormal 
structures within the breasts. 
(l) Medical specialist – refers to a doctor of medicine that practices and has 
expertise on a specific branch of medicine. 
(m) 
Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) – refers to a hospital unit containing 
a variety of mechanical devices and special equipment for the care and 
management of premature or preterm and seriously ill newborn babies. The 
unit is comprised of neonatologists, pediatric subspecialists, and nurses who 
are highly trained in the management of medical and surgical conditions of the 
newborn. 
(n) 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. 
(o) Rehabilitation care facility system – refers to a hospital facility that provides a 
specialized medical care and/or rehabilitation services to injured, sick or 
disabled patients, which includes speech therapy and physical rehabilitation. 
SECTION 4. Coverage. — This Act shall apply to regional hospitals whose service 
capacities are as general hospitals with at least five hundred (500) beds, and which 
have been identified by the Department of Health (DOH) to have full potential to 
operate as apex hospitals based on the Philippine Health Facility Development Plan 
(PHFDP). 
The DOH may establish new apex hospitals in strategic areas in the country in 
accordance with the PHFDP, and subject to the requirements of Sections 5 and 6 
hereof. 
SECTION 5. Apex Hospital Modernization Program. - Within five (5) years from the 
effectivity of this Act, all the DOH regional hospitals described in Section 4 shall be 
upgraded or established, to have minimum functional capacities of apex hospitals 
that are at par with international health care institutions that provide quality medical 
services. To achieve this goal, there shall be an Apex Hospital Modernization 
Program for the establishment, development, and enhancement of the physical 
facilities, equipment and instruments, and service delivery of all the apex hospitals, 
including the following: 
a) Physical Facilities, Equipment and Instruments. - At the minimum, all apex 
hospitals shall operate and maintain the following physical facilities, complete 
with the necessary equipment and instruments including: 
i) 
Ambulatory Surgical Clinic; 
ii) 
Anatomic and Clinical Laboratory; 


iii) 
Blood Station; 
iv) 
Dialysis Facility; 
v) 
General Intensive Care Unit; 
vi) 
High Risk Pregnancy Unit; 
vii) 
Isolation Facilities; 
viii) 
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit; 
ix) 
Nuclear Medicine Facility; 
x) 
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Facility; 
xi) 
Psychiatry Facility; 
xii) 
Radiologic Facilities such as X-Ray, CT Scan, Mammogram, MRI, ECG, 
Angiogram, Ultrasound and others; 
xiii) 
Surgical Facility and Maternity Facility; and 
xiv) 
Other necessary medical facilities as may be identified by the DOH. 
All the facilities enumerated herein shall have the competent and trained 
nurses, therapists, medical technicians, and other ancillary and support staff. 
b) Service Delivery. - All apex hospitals shall offer the services for all kinds of 
illnesses, diseases, injuries or deformities. It shall have certified and eligible 
medical specialists to facilitate timely, efficient, affordable, and accessible 
diagnosis and treatment for the following areas: 
i) 
Clinical Services 
1) Family Medicine; 
2) Internal Medicine; 
3) Obstetrics and Gynecology; 
4) Pediatrics; and, 
5) Surgery 
ii) 
Basic Emergency Care Services 
iii) 
At least one medical specialist on any of the following areas, to be 
determined by the DOH based on the burden of disease in the region: 
1) Cardiology; 
2) Neurology; 
3) Oncology; 
4) Pathology; 
5) Pulmonology; 
6) Psychiatry; 
7) Rehabilitation Medicine; 
8) Urology; and 
9) Other specialists as determined by the DOH. 
c) Teaching and training hospital. Within three (3) years from the effectivity of this 
Act, all apex hospitals shall be expanded as teaching and training hospitals 


with accredited residency training programs for physicians in the four (4) 
major specialties namely, Medicine, Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology, 
and Surgery. 
The secretary of the DOH shall determine the additional positions required for the 
purpose in accordance with the revised compensation and position classification 
system subject to the evaluation and approval of the Department of Budget and 
Management and in compliance with the civil service laws, rules and regulations. 
SECTION 6. Inventory and Audit of Hospitals. — An inventory and audit of the 
physical facilities, equipment and instruments, as well as the personnel of the 
regional hospitals, shall be conducted within one hundred eighty (180) days from the 
effectivity of this Act, to determine the present classification of the respective regional 
hospitals based on their functional capacity. The result of the inventory and audit 
shall be the basis of the modernization plan for each apex hospital. The establishment 
of apex hospitals shall be prioritized in areas where they are most needed. 
The DOH shall conduct an annual inventory and audit of apex hospitals for their 
continuous development and to determine the need to establish new ones, in line 
with the Apex Hospital Modernization Program. 
 
SECTION 7. Annual Report. — Two (2) years from the effectivity of this Act and 
every year thereafter, the DOH shall submit an annual report on the Apex Hospital 
Modernization Program to the Congress of the Philippines, through the Committee 
on Health of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health and 
Demography of the Philippine Senate. 
SECTION 8. Appropriations. - The initial amount for the implementation of this Act 
shall be charged against the current year’s appropriation of the DOH. Thereafter, the 
funding of which shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
SECTION 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Secretary of the DOH shall 
issue the necessary rules and regulations within ninety (90) days after the effectivity 
of this Act. 
SECTION 10. Separability Clause. — If any provision of this Act shall be held 
unconstitutional or invalid, the remaining provisions which are not affected thereby 
shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
SECTION 11. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and 
regulations, and other issuances, or parts thereof, contrary to or inconsistent with this 
Act are hereby modified, amended or repealed accordingly. 


 
SECTION 12. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
Approved.