Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon Citv, Metro Manila
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
SecondReooularsession
HouseBillNo.1Ci£10
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DA.TE  MAR    2   0   Z02l¢€
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES RALPH WENDEL P. TUI.FO,
]OCELYN P. TULFO, AND ERWIN T. TULFO
AN ACT REQUIRING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF DIALYSIS CLINICS IN ALL
NATIONAL, REGIONAL, AND PROVINCIAL HOSPITALS, AND PROVIDING
FOR FREE DIALYSIS TREATMENTS TO INDIGENT PATIENTS AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Dialysis  is  the  clinical  purification  of  blood  as  a  substitute  for the  normal
function of the kidney and involves a machine used to divert blood to be cleaned.
People  I,A,rho  .have  kic].I.ey  failure,  or  ep.d-stage  re.ti.al  disease  q3SP`D),  play  need
dialysis.1 Dialysis treatment may also be recommended if the patient is diagnosed to
be  in  the  late  stage  of  chronic  kidney  disease  (CKD).2  With  7  million  Filipinos
estimated to have CKD, it is among the leading causes of sickness and death in the
Philippines.3 Dialysis treatment can go on for many years.
Many patients can lead long, active, and fulfilling lives for 5, 10, 20 or more
yedrb  wirilc uiiderguilig dial}`bib irt:dii-i-ierLl. Ho-w-e-v-er, tile ieiigth uf tillie depelids un
many factors such as age, gender, other comorbidities, and how well the treatment
plan is being followed.4 Ultimately, the withdrawal of dialysis treatment is one of the
common causes of death in dialvsis Patients.5
J1.
I ``DiaLlysis" , Cleveland Clinic, https://niy.clevelandclinic.ororiealtwtreatnientsf l4618-dialysis.
2 "Ch ronic Kidney Disease" , aerJczmd az.in.c, https:/ / my.clevelandcli n ic.org,/ services/ chronic-kidney-
ri;caaco_+raafroo7|+
3  "7  million  Filipinos  have  chronic  kidney  disease  ~  expert",  ABS-CBj\'  Ncz{Js,  https://news.abs-
cbn.com/news/06/02/23/7-million-filipinos-haverhronic-kidney-disease-expert.
i       "How       Long       Can       Someone       Be       On       Dialysis",       Nflfz.o7z"J       KI.d7!ci/       foifrzdrtr.o7z,
hthc.//www.kid`rT.ey.erg,/ri.ews!etter,/h.civy-1ori.g-can.-son.eorl.e-be-a.ialysis.
;--`-`rij;'riodial}.sis  as  a  life-sustaining  treatment  at  the  end  of  life",  N#fz.oj3flz  fz.bJ'¢r/  o.f Mciz{.c{.jzc,
https://zoww.ncbi.nlni:nth.gov/pmc/articlesftMC6027813/#..~:text=Hemodialysis%20is%20one°Xo20Of%20tlre,
at%2ot]ie°Xo20end°Xo20cjf%o20lifie.


The   cost   of   medical   treatment   for   kidney   disease   remains   exorbitant6
considering that the recommended frequency of dialysis treatment sessions is thrice a
week,7 with each session amounting to Php2,000.00 to Php7,000.00.8 Those who are
financially  incapable  then  rely   on  government  support  for  dialysis  treatment.
However,  there  is  a  need  to improve  the  capacity  of public  health institutions  in
serving dialysis patients all over the country.
This proposed legislative measure seeks to establish, operate, and maintain a
dialysis ward in all national, regional, and provincial government hospitals which
shall  be  equipped  with  the  complete  dialysis  machine  equipment  and  supplies.
Likewise, this bill provides that dialysis treatment in all these government hospitals
shall be free of charge to indigent patients.
•`,,:                                                                         :.: ...,,                                              ``
6          ` ` Kichey          Health         plus" ,          N ational          Ki dney          and          Transplant          Ins ti tute,
https://nkti.gov.ph/index.plxp/news/newsroom/14-patients~and~visitors?start--12.
7 ``ARQcapital boosts bid to set up more dialysis centers in PH'', P7iz.ZZppz.7ie Ncws Agc7zey,
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1086669#:~:text=Given%20that°/o20the°/o20recommended%20freq
uency,sessions°/o20per°/o20year%20per°/o20patient.
8 ``Dialysis Price Per Session in Centers'', MccZz.c¢J Pz.7i¢s, https:/ / medicalpinas.com/ dialysis-centers-
philippines/.
2


Republic Of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Chiezon Citv, Metro Manila
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
Second Riegular Session
HouseBillNo.    1L£10
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES RALPH l^rENDEL P. TULFO,
TOCELYN P. TULFO, AND ERWIN T. TULFO
AN ACT REQUIRING THE ESTABLISHMENT 0F DIALYSIS CLINICS IN ALlj
NATIONAL, REGIONAL, AND PROVINCIAL HOSPITALS, AND PROVIDING
FnR `FRF.F DTALvsTs TREATMENTS To INDIGENT PATIENTS AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by tire  Senate iind tl'Ie House Of Representatives of be  Pliilippines in Congress
assembled:
9           SECTION 1. SJior£ It.fzc. -This Act shall be known as the "Dialysis center Act of
10       2024".
11
12            SEC.  2.  Dccharflfz.o7z  a/ PoZz.cgr.  -It is  hereby  declared  the policy  of the state  to
13      improve  the  delivery  of health  care  services  to  the  people  and  to  erisure  hospital
14      facilities are avaiiabie, at-fordabie, and accessible to the people.
15
1 a             SEC, 3. Dg,f!.gr.£'fz.o# a,f Tg71r?!s,  -For piJLrposes of this _A_ct, the folloi.^.rir`.g terms as used
17      in this Act shall meanthe following:
18
19            (a)  Mfz.07i#j Go{]em7"c7i£ Hospz.fflz refers to a hospital operated and maintained either
2o                partially  or  wholly  by  the  National  Government  or  by  any  department  or
21                 division, board, or other agency thereofi
22
3


1             (b) Rcgz.o7t#Z Got)er7t77ze7zf Ho5pz`froz refers to a hospital operated and maintained either
2                 partially or wholly by the Regional Government or by any department, division,
3                 board, or other agency thereof;
4
5             (c)  Prft7J7.#r7.„/ Gn7tp"„7p77f Hnc,#z.fr7J refers to a hospital operated and maintained either
6                 partially or wholly by the provincial Government or by any department, division,
7                 board, or other agency thereof; and
8
9            (d) J7tdz.grJif p#fz.c7zf refers to a patient whose combined annual family income does
10                  rLot exceed Thirt:y-Thcusaind pesos (Php30,000.00).
11
T2          SEC. 4. Establislmerit, Operation, and Matutenance of a Dialysis ward or unit. -
13       Ty^vTithii-I rvfv-o (2) :v-eai-s fi.ort-I the effecti'v-it,T,`,' c>f this Act, all national, regiorLal, and pro`vtincial
14      government hospitals are hereby required to establish, operate, and maintai_n a dialysis
15      ward in their hospital. The dialysis ward or unit shall be equipped with the complete
16      dialysis machine equipment and supplies.
17
18           SEC. 5. Free Dialysis Treatment to Indigent patients. -Dialysis treaLtmer\t in ail
19      national, regional, and provincial government hospitals shall be provided free of charge
+A ;.`,i;7`r`-+ `-^+i^i-+r.  ^r.  |^{;.-r`|  ;1-Cr`~ri^t. Q  /1\ Ttnt.n^f
iu  11 Lui5t.1 Li  i,c+ii.LL LL.  c+a  uLL£+L LL`^  1-LL .`L.Lull u  \`^,  LL.L`uL.
21
22           SEC. 6. P€7iflJfty. -Any hospital chief, administrator, or officer-in{harge who fails to
23      comply  with  this  Act  shall  be  punished  with  a  fine  of  Fifty  Thousand  Pesos
24      (Php50,000.00) but not more than one Hundred Thousand pesos (Php100,000.00).
25
26           SEC. 7. rfflpzc#ie#fi.#g Agr#c£.€s. -Within one (1) year from the effectivity of this Act,
27      the secretary shall provide the lmplementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) necessary to
28      carry out the provisions of this Act. The lRR shall be published in the official Gazette
29      or in a newspaper of general circulation.
30
31           SEC. 8. Apprope.¢fz.o#s. -The amount necessary to implement the provisions of this
32      Act is hereby authorized to be appropriated from the National Treasury. Thereafter, the
4


1      amount necessary for the continuous implementation of this Act shall be included in
2      the government hospitals' annual appropriations.
3
4            SEC.   9.   Seyflrflb.7i.fry   CZ¢#sc.   ~   If  any  provision  or  part  of  this  Act  is  held
5      unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions or parts thereof not affected thereby
6      shall continue to be in full force and effect.
7
8           SEC.  10.  Repenzf7tg  ChatLs€.  -  Any  provision  of  law  or  regulation  inconsistent
9      herewith is hereby repealed, revoked, or modified accordingly.
10
11           SEC.11. £#ccft.I".I.y. -This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
12      in the official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
13
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