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

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bill wo. 918

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE MARLYN B. ALONTE

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

According to a 2009 data from the National Statistics Office, included in the top ten
causes of deaths in the Philippines include diseases of the heart and cerebro-
vascular diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, and those that affect the
kidneys.

Specialty hospitals, namely the Philippine Heart Center (PHC), Lung Center of the
Philippines (LCP), National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI), and the
Philippine Children’s Medical Center (PCMC), were established to treat patients
suffering from such particular disease or condition. However, all these facilities are
located in the National Capital Region (NCR); hence, patients outside NCR have to
travel far and spend for transportation cost and other miscellaneous expenses of the
patient as well as their companion. If patients from nearby regions of NCR are
already burdened by this issue, what more for patients in Visayas and Mindanao?

To address this regional disparities and save more lives, this bill mandates the
existing specialty hospitals 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.

Hence, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

wantin B. ALONTE


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

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bill No. 7915

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE MARLYN B. ALONTE

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 2020.”

‘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. Fffectivity - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of national circulation.

Approved,