Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City
NINETEHNTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
HOusEBriLri6.     8666
Introduced by REP. CIRIAC0 8. GATO, JR. MD, FPSO-HNS
ERTLANATORY NOTE
Pursuant to the constitutional mandate of the State to protect and promote the right to health of
the people and instill health consciousness among them by making health services available,
accessible, and affordable for all, Republic Act No.  11223  or the Universal Health Care Act
was passed into law on February 20, 2019.
To fully realize, however, the goals and objectives of universal health care, the establishment
of health facilities is critical. Thus, this bill seeks to establish specialty centers base on the top
burden of disease and special needs identified by the Department of Health (DOH), i.e., cancer
care,  cardiovascular care,  lung care, renal care and kidney transplant, brain and  spine care,
trauma care, burn care, orthopedic care, physical rehabilitation medicine, infectious disease and
tropical medicine, toxicology, mental health, geriatric care, neonatal care, dermatology care,
ear, nose and throat care and eye care.
Under the Universal Health Care (UIIC) Act of 2019, health care provider networks (IICPNs)
composed of health facilities providing primary to tertiary level care are linked to an apex or
end-referral hospital and other facilities providing specialized services needed by its catchment
population.  To  ensure  accessibility  of health facilities  across the  continuum of care,  select
DOH hospitals will be upgraded to operate with Specialty Centers for one or more identified
medical and/or surgical specialties and shall serve as apex or end refemal hospitals of HCPNs.
The immediate approval of this vital piece of legislation is earnestly requested.
CIRIAC0 8. GATO, JR. MD, FPSO-HNS


Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
HOUSEI BILL No.    6666
Introduced by REP. CIRIACO 8. GATO, JR. MD, FPSO-HNS
AN ACT
ESTABLISIHNG spEICIALT¥ CENTHRS IN HosplTALS UNDER Tlm DIRECT
SUPHRVISI0N AND CONTROL OF THE DEPARTMENT 0F REALTH AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House Of Representatives Of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:
SECTION I. Sfeo# TltJe. - This Act shall be known as the "DOH Specialty Centers" Act of
2022.„
SEC. 2. Dec/an¢£i.ow a/Po/i.ey. - It is the policy of the State to protect and promote the right to
health of the people and instill health consciousness among them by making health services
available, accessible, and affordable for all.
To this end, the State shall provide access to specialized health services to the general public
by extending and establishing specialty health care centers in all regions of the Philippines.
SEC.  3.  fpecforty  Ce#fers.  -  The  Department  of Health  (DOID  shall  establish  in  select
hospitals under its direct supervision and control Specialty Centers that offers specialized care
addressing particular conditions and providing specific procedures and management of cases
requiring  specialized  training  and  equipment.  Provz.ded,  that  the  DOH  shall  prioritize  the
establishment  of  specialty  centers  for  seventeen  (17)   specialties  including  cancer  care,
cardiovascular care, lung care, renal care and kidney transplant, brain and spine care, trauma
care,  bum  care,  orthopedic  care,  physical  rehabilitation  medicine,  infectious  disease  and
tropical medicine, toxicology, mental health, geriatric care, neonatal care, dermatology care,
ear, nose and throat care and eye care.
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Selected   DOH   hospitals   shall   be   designated   as   National   Specialty   Centers],   Basic
Comprehensive Specialty Centers2, and Advanced Comprehensive Specialty Centers3 for each
of  the  specialties  in  accordance  with  the  Philippine  Health  Facility  Development  Plan.
Provz.c7ec7,  That the Philippine Heart Center, National Kidney and Transplant Institute, Lung
Center of the Philippines, Philippine Children's Medical Center, and Philippine Cancer Center
shall lead in the development of policies, protocols, and standards for the specialty and provide
specialty training and technical assistance.
The DOH, in coordination with the Civil Service Commission and the Department of Budget
and Management, shall develop organizational structures and staffing standards for the types
and levels of Specialty Centers.
SEC. 4. Criteria f or the Establishmerit Of Specialty Centers. - The es;idbhirshormeat o£ SpeciHatrty
Centers shall adhere to guidelines set by the DOH on planning and prioritizing health facilities
based on, but not limited to, the following criteria:
(a)  Upgrading  of hospitals  to  become  Specialty  Centers  based  on  the  Resource  Stratified
Framework developed by DOH for each specialty care;
a) Evidence of the health needs and demands, including disease burdens, in the catchment
populations of the DOH facilities, in consultation with concerned stakeholders;
(c) Service capability of the hospital and geographic or physical access;
(d)  Appropriate  level  of  specialized  healthcare  provider  role  in  the  continuum  of  care,
including roles of the DOH hospitals as referral for province-wide and city-wide healthcare
provider networks ;
(e) Availability of competent health human resources for specialized healthcare; and
(D  Operational  and financial performance  of the  DOH  facilities,  including accreditation to
avail of specialized healthcare packages from the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation.
1  The Philippine Health Facility Development Plan a'HFDP) 2020-2040 defines a National Specialty Center (NSC) as a level
3  specialty or general hospital with the hichest level of expertise in clinical services, teaching and training, and research in a
given specialty and is the country's apex or end-referral facility for a given specialty.
2 The Philippine Health Facility Development Plan ¢HFDP) 2020-2040 defines a Basic Comprehensive Center @CC) as a
Level 3 specialty or general hospital whieh generally serves as apex or end-refend facility at the regional level, capable of
managing complex cases, serves as a facility for specialty training, and capable of conducting clinical, operational, and public
health research.
3 The Philippine Health Facility Development Plan (PIIFDP) 2020-2040 defines an Advanced Comprehensive Center (ACC)
as a Level 3 specialty or general hospital which serves as apex or end-referral facility at the subnational or regional level with
advanced level of comprehensive clinical services, serves as a facility for specialty and subapecialty training, and with capacity
for multi-specialty, multi-center clinical, public health. and operations research.
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Srmc. 5. Philippine Health Facility Developtnent Plan ¢HFDP). - The DC)H stna:Xl inc;hade
plans for the establishment of Specialty Centers in the PHFDP, which serves as a guide for
investments funded by the national government to rationalize the distribution of capacity and
capability  of  health  facilities.  Prow.ded,  that  at  least  one  (1)  Specialty  Center  shall  be
established in every region within five (5) years upon the effectivity of this Act base on the top
burden of disease and special needs in the area.
SEC. 6. Rapo# /a Co#grgss. - The DOH shall provide Congress, through the Committee on
Health of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health and Demography of the
Senate,  an  armual  report  of  its  activities,  accomplishments,  and  operational  plan  of the
Specialty Centers.
SEC. 7. Imp/e"e#toffo#. - The DOH, in consultation with the heads of hospitals under its
direct supervision and control and attached specialty hospitals and other concerned agencies,
shall fomulate the implementing guidelines to cany out the purposes of this Act.
SEC. 8. 4apropr!.afrous. - The Secretary of Health shall include in the Department's program
the establishment and operationalization of the Specialty Centers, the funding of which shall be
included in the budget of the DOH under the Annual General Appropriations Act (GAA).
SEC. 9. Sep¢robl.Jrty CJ¢use. - If any provision of this Act shall be declared unconstitutional,
the provisions not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.
SEC.  10.  Rt!pca/z.»g  CJd!usc.  -  All  laws,  decrees,  orders,  rules,  and  regulations  or  other
issuances or parts inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified
accordingly.
SEC.  11.  Ejrectr.tJrty.  -  This  Act  shall  take  effect  after  fifteen  (15)  days  following  the
completion of its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,
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