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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Quezon City on
We, —-
EIGHTEENTH CONGRBSS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNO; 1365 _

Introduced by Representative Ferdinand L. Hernandez

AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO SET AND
APPROVE THE BED CAPACITY AND THE SERVICE CAPABILITY OF ALL DOH
HOSPITALS

EXPLANATORY NOTE

It has become common for Filipinos from far-flung provinces to travel to urban cities for
medical treatment because of the limited health services in their areas. This influx of patients
leads to longer waiting time due to a lack of available space in the hospitals. Further, patients
must shoulder additional travel expenses, thereby decreasing their capacity to pay for
medical, surgical or therapeutic interventions.

Recent studies have also shown that the quality and availability of public health services in
country has deteriorated, especially in the poor provinces. The imbalanced distribution of
hospital beds as well as limited and dilapidated facilities has resulted in inaccessibility and
inadequacy of hospital delivery system.

The 70 DOH retained public hospitals, of which 53 are general hospitals, 14 specialty
hospitals, 2 infirmaries and 1 psychiatric facility complement the devolved district, provincial
and private hospitals in providing health care services. In 2016, the average bed occupancy
rate of all DOH Hospitals in 136%. Moreover, 61% of these hospitals have bed occupancy
higher than the authorized bed capacity.

Under our present laws, a DOH hospital may only increase its bed capacity and upgrade its
service capability through legislation. With the average duration of legislation process for this,
purpose ranging from eight months to three year, the DOH is unable to immediately address
issues relating to the bed capacity and service capability of their retained public hospitals.
Thus, there is a need to expedite the process for providing quality health services to the
Filipino people.

This bill seeks to authorize the Department of health to administratively determine and
approve the bed capacity and service capability of all DOH hospitals, as necessary. This
delegation of responsibility shall result in the country’s improved efficiency in the delivery of
health services to sustain the increasing demands of patients.


This change will ensure that health is distributed equitably population in
terms of modern equipment, upgraded facilities and medical professionals to ensure access

ability of hospital services to all F



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS,
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNO. _1365

introduced by Representative Ferdinand L. Hernandez

AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TG SET AND
APPROVE THE BED CAPACITY AND THE SERVICE CAPABILITY OF ALL DOH
HOSPITALS

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

Section 1. Purpose, Scope, and Coverage. — This Act shall be streamline the process
of approving changes in the authorized bed capacity and service capability of all DOH
hospitals.

Section 2. Authority to Approve. — Authority is hereby granted to the DOH to adjust
and approve the authorized bed capacity and service capability. Thereafter, the DOH shall,
through an administrative order, determine the bed capacity and service capability of DOH
hospitals, subject to specific guidelines that it shall issue and promulgate.

Section 3. Conversion, Upgrading and Modernization of DOH Hospital
Department of Health shall upgrade and modernize the existing equipment and fac
DOH hospitals to ensure that it shall be responsive to the health needs of the people
commensurate to the bed capacity and service capability.

Section 4, Annual Report to Congress. - The Department of Health shall provide
Congress, through the House and Senate Committees on Health, an annual report of hospitals
with approved bed capacity and service capability, along with the necessary funding
requirements.

Section 5. impiementing Ruies and Reguiations (IRR). — The Deparimeni of
Health shall come up with the IRR, within ninety (90) days after the law’s effectivity.

Section 6. Repeating Clause. — All laws, decrees, executive orders, ruies and
regulations, or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed,
amended or modified accordingly.

Section 7. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
‘ation in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

publ

Approved,