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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
) 
'13 
JUL 10 119 :48 
SENATE 
S. No. 
711 
Introduced by Senator Ralph G. Recto 
Explanatory Note 
Tuberculosis (TB) is an ancient infectious disease which has probably killed more people 
than any other disease in history. Around 2 billion people in the world are infected with the TB 
bacilli, of which about 10% become ill with TB at some point in their life. 
In the Philippines, tuberculosis remains to be a major public health concern. It ranks 6th 
in the leading causes of mortality and morbidity in the country. Although diagnosed as curable, 
an average of75 Filipinos, mostly from the productive age group of 15-64, still die of the disease 
everyday.l It is also estimated that the country is losing approximately P8 billion annually from 
sickness and deaths due to tuberculosis. 2 
The tragedy of TB is that it continues to spread and kill, despite the availability of a cure 
for the past· 50 years. Poverty, poor living conditions, limited health sector budgets, unfair 
financing systems that burden the poor, and inferior health systems have led to a resurgence of 
TB. 
The Philippines ranks ninth in the World Health Organization (WHO) watch-list of 22 
high-burdened countries in the world which constitute 80% of global tuberculosis cases. Burden 
ofTB incidence in the Philippines is at 296 per 100,000 population per year. 
In 2006, our country signed the Global Plan on TB, which seeks to reduce the prevalence 
and mortality of tuberculosis by 50% between 2006 and 2015. The Global Plan outlines a 
benchmark figure of 70% case detection rate, 85% treatment success rate and 85% cure rate. 
However, despite government efforts to improve our program on the early detection and 
treatment of TB through the Tuberculosis - Directly Observed Treatment Short Courses or TB-
DOTS, a technical briefer on the National TB Program prepared by the DOH showed a stagnant 
trend in the three benchmarks. 
Case detection rate for TB in the Philippines practically remained unchanged from 7 Sr. 
in 2006 to 76% in 2012. 3 In like manner, treatment success rate just had a slight increase from· 
90% in 2006 to 91 % in 2012. 4 Meanwhile, average cure rate at 83% as of 2012 remains to be 
two percent' short of the 85% target cure rate by 2015.5 
t See "75 Filipinos Die of Tuberculosis Everyday", Datelines Philippines. March 20, 2010. Accessed at 
www.psti.org.ph on July 2, 2013. 
2 See "Tuberculosis is every Filipino's business", News-Special Report of the GMA Network. August 5, 2011. 
Accessed at http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/22856 7 /news/specialreports(tu berculosis-is-every-filipino-
s-business on July 2, 2013. 
3 Data was obtained from www.indexmundi.com/facts/Philippines/tuberculosis-case-detection-rate. Accessed on 
July 2, 2013. 
4 Data was obtained from http:Lldata.worldban'k.org(indicator(SH.TBS.CURE.ZS. Accessed on July 2, 2013. 
5 Ibid. 


These stagnant target levels are mainly due to various systemic and social factors, such as 
widespread poverty and the difficulty of breaking down the stigma ofTB, which keeps many of 
those infected from seeking care. Aside from the health and social implications of the disease, 
tuberculosis also exacts serious economic consequences caused by loss of income due to 
disability and premature death. 
This bill aims to treat and eradicate all TB cases in the Philippines by allowing all 
Filipinos afflicted with the disease all the benefits provided under the National Health Insurance 
Program of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, without the need to pay the monthly 
contributions. This would mean that all TB patients, whether he or she is a Philhealth card 
holder or not, will be entitled to free hospitalization and treatment benefits in any public or 
private hospital. 
Expenses to be incurred will be chargeable against the National Health 
Insurance Fund created by Republic Act (R.A.) No. 7875, as amended by R.A. No. 10606. 
With the cost of treating regular TB pegged at between P8,000 and PIO,OOO, treatment of 
the 500,000 estimated TB cases in the country would cost about P4 billion to P5 billion pesos. 
This amount may be a little cost to pay in ensuring a TB-free population. Moreover, cost in the 
long term will be reduced once the disease is controlled if not totally eradicated. 
In view of the foregoing, immediate approval ofthis measure is earnestly sought. 
mksbc 


., 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S.No. 
7.11 
Introduced by Senator Ralph G. Recto .• 
AN ACT 
i>enatr 
I 
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'13 
JUL 10 1\9 :48 
PROMOTING THE TREATMENT AND ERADICATION OF TUBERCULOSIS, 
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 12 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7875, AS 
AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10606, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS "AN ACT 
INSTITUTING A NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM FOR ALL 
FILIPINOS AND 
ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE HEALTH INSURANCE 
CORPORATION FOR THE PURPOSE" 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representative of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
1 
SECTION 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as the "Alis TB Act of 2013. " 
2 
Sec. 2. Section 12 of Republic Act No. 7875, as amended, by Republic Act No. 10606 is 
3 
hereby further amended to read as follows: 
4 
"SEC. 12. Entitlement to Benefits - A member whose premium contributions for 
5 
at least three (3) months have been paid within the six (6) months prior to the first day of 
6 
his or his dependents' availment, shall be entitled to the benefits of the Program: 
7 
Provided, That such member can show that he contributes thereto with sufficient 
8 
regularity, as evidenced in their health insurance ID card: and Provided further, That he 
9 
is not currently subject to legal penalties as provided for in Section 44 of this Act. 
I 
10 
"The following need not pay the monthly contributions to be entitled to the· 
11 
Program's benefits: 
12 
a) Retirees and pensioners of the SSS and GSIS prior to the effectivity of this 
13 
Act; [and] 
14 
b) Lifetime members[.]; AND 
15 
"C) ANY FILIPINO WHO IS AFFLICTED WITH TUBERCULOSIS: 
16 
PROVIDED, 
THAT 
ALL 
EXPENSES 
INCURRED 
FOR 
THE 
17 
TREATMENT/CONFINEMENT OF THE SAID DISEASE SHALL BE 
18 
CHARGED AGAINST THE NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE FUND 
19 
CREATED UNDER SEC. 24, ARTICLE VI OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 
20 
7875, AS AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10606." 


· '. ,". 
1 
Sec. 3. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations, or 
2 
parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified 
3 
accordingly. 
4 
Sec. 4. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen days (15) days following its 
5 
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,