FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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Second Regular Session 
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EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Phitippines, one of the 190 country - signatories of the 2000 Miliennium Declaration, is 
lagging behind on its commitment to health-related goals and indicators. 
The National Economic Development Authority reports that the halting and reversing of 
incidence of HIV and AIDS, malaria, and other diseases, is not quite evident in the country. The 
maternal mortality, moreover, is far from attaining its target. In 2006, the maternal mortality 
incident was 162 and is not decreasing nearly fast enough to reach the 2015 target of 52. 
These facts are aggravated by the incessant exodus of medical practitioners in the country which 
relegates our health sector in a miserable state. At present, 121 municipalities in the country do 
not have doctors., According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), more than 9,000 
physicians have left the country to work as nurses abroad from 2002 to 2005. Likewise, the 
Health Alliance for Democracy (HEAD) said that in 2006, approximately 80 percent of public 
health physicians have taken up or are enrolled in nursing. These trends in the health sector are 
already signs of the health system's collapse. 
In order to'restore the vitality of the health sector, the cornerstone lies in achieving a country 
with competent and committed health care providers. This hill, thus, seeks to institutionalize the 
Volunteer Health Care Provider Program by encouraging eligible health care institutions and 
organizations to volunteer and offer fiee h l t h  care services. 
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought 
AN$O&IO "SONNY" F. TRILLANES IV 
Senator 
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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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NDV24 \\:.!::J-J 
Second Regular Session 
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SENATE 
S. NO. 
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Iiiirniiuct?d by Seiiatur Aliiotiin “Sniiiiy” P. Triiiaiies I‘-‘ 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR A VOLUNTEER HEALTH CARE PROVIDER PROGRAM 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congem 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. ,Vhhort W e .  - This Act shall be known as the “Volunteer Health Cure 
Provider Program Act. ” 
SEC. 2. Definition of Terms. -As used in this Act, the following terms shall mean: 
a. Charitable organization - means a charitable organization within the meaning of 
Section 30(E) of the National Internal Revenue Code of the Philippines which has, as its primary 
purpose, the sponsorship or support of programs designed to improve the quality, awareness, and 
availability of dental, medical, pharmaceutical, nursing, optometric, psychological, social work, 
behavioral science, physical therapy, occupational therapy, or emergency medical care services 
to children and to serve as a funding mechanism for provision of dental, medical, 
pharmaceutical, nursing, optomel& 
psychological, social work; behavioral science, physical 
therapy, occupational therapy, or emergency medical care services, including but not limited to 
immunizations, to children in the country. 
b. Field dental clinic - means a dental clinic temporarily or periodically erected at a 
location utilizing mobile dental equipment, instruments, or supplies, as necessary, to provide 
dental services. 
c. Free clinic - means a facility, other than a hospital or health care provider’s office 
which is exempt from taxationunder Section 30(E) of the National Internal Revenue Code of the 
Philippines and which has as its sole purpose the provision of health care services without charge 
to individuals who are otherwise unable to pay for the services. 
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d. Health care provider - means a licensed physician, physical therapist, occupational 
therapist, registered nurse, dentist, dental hygienist or dental assistant registered, optometrist, 
psychologist, social worker, mental health counselor or a marital and family therapist, 
pharmacist, or a certified emergency medical care provider. 
SEC. 3. Volunteer Health Care Provkder Progmm. - The Secretary of Health, herein 
referred to as the Secretary, shall establish a program to provide free medical, dental, 
pharmaceutical, nursing, optometric, psychological, social work, behavioral science, physical 
therapy, occupational therapy, and emergency medical care services given on a voluntary hasis 
by health care providers. A participating health care provider may be any of the following: 
hospitals, clinics, free clinics, field dental clinics, or other health care facilities, health care 
referral programs, or charitable organizations. Such health care provider shall register with the 
Department of Health, herein referred to as the Department, and obtain from the Department a 
list of eligible, participating hospitals, clinics, free clinics, field dental clinics, or other health 
care facilities, health care referral programs, or charitable organizations. 
SEC. 4. Status of Health Care Provider. - A .health care provider providing free care 
under this Act shall be considered an employee of the government and shall be afforded 
protection as an employee of the government: Provided, That the health care provider has done 
all of the following: 
a. Registered with the Department pursuant to Section 3 of this Act; 
b. Provided medical, dental, pharmaceutical, nursing, optometric, psychological, social 
work, behavioral science, physical therapy, occupational therapy, or emergency medical care 
services through a hospital, clinic, free clinic, field dental clinic, or other health care facility, 
health care referral program, or charitable organization listed as eligible and participating by the 
Department pursuant to Section 3 of this Act. 
A free clinic providing free care under this Act shall be considered a government agency 
solely for the purposes of this Act and shall be afforded protection as a government agency for 
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all claims arising from the provision of free care by a health care provider registered under 
Section 3 of this Act. 
SEC. 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Department, in consultation with 
the Civil Service Commission, shall adopt rules to implement the volunteer health care provider 
program which shall include the following: 
a. Procedure for registration of health care providers deemed qualified by the board of 
medical examiners, the board of physician assistant examiners, the board of dental examiners, 
the hoard of nursing, the board of social work examiners, the hoard of pharmacy examiners, the 
board of optometry examiners, and the board of physical and occupational therapy examiners. 
b. Procedure for registration of free clinics and field dental clinics. 
c. Criteria for and identification of hospitals, clinics, free clinics, field dental clinics, or 
other health care facilities, health care referral programs, or charitable organizations, eligible to 
participate in the provision 'of free medical, dental, pharmaceutical, nursing, optometric, 
psychological, social work, behavioral science, physical therapy, occupational therapy, 
respiratory therapy, or emergency medical care services through the volunteer health care 
provider program. A hospital, free clinic, a field dental clinic, a health care facility, a health care 
referral program, a charitable organization, or a-health care provider participating in the program 
shall not bill or charge a patient for any health care provider service provided under the volunteer 
health care provider program. 
d. Identification of the services to be provided under the program. The services provided 
may include, but shall not be limited to, obstetrical and gynecological medical services, 
psychiatric services provided by a licensed physician, and dental services. 
SEC. 6. Sepnrability Clause. - Any provision or provisions of this Act that may be 
declared unconstitutional or invalid shall not have the effect of nullifying other portions or 
provision hereof as long as such remaining portions can still subsist and be given effect in their 
entirety. 
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accordingly. 
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SEC. 7. Repealing Clause. - All laws, ordinances, rules and regulations, and other 
issuances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified 
SEC. 8. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from the date of 
its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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