Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

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EIGHTEENTH (18"") CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 951

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE MARIA LAARNI L. CAYETANO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The 1987 Constitution, under Section 15, Article II, provides that the State shall protect
and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them. In the
same vein, Section 11, Article 13 provides that the State shall adopt an integrated and
comprehensive approach to health development which shall endeavor to make essential goods,
health and other social services available to all the people at affordable cost. There shall be priority
for the needs of the under-privileged, sick, elderly, disabled, women, and children. The State shall
endeavor to provide free medical care to paupers

Itis a known, common occurrence in the Philippines that public hospitals are overcrowded
with patients, especially in Metro Manila and other Metropolitan areas. In most cases, these people
are seeking basic health care and attention but have limited financial capacity.

While the Philippine economy performed well in recent years, this did not translate into
poverty reduction. The steadily rising and alarming numbers of less fortunate people accompanied
by the rapid growth of the Philippine economy is an indication of the need for stronger efforts to
protect the poor and vulnerable. As of August 2015, the total population in the National Capital
Region (“NCR”) according to the National Statistics Office was 12,877,253. However, there are
around 48 government hospitals in Metro Manila and operate at full to over-capacity.

A pilot Super Health Center was established in the City of Taguig and has been extremely
successful since its launch. In this bill, Super Health Centers shall be under the supervision of the
Department of Health and intends to primarily decongest the public hospitals by focusing its
services on primary health cases or those that are low-risk, less serious or uncomplicated cases,
This will allow hospitals to concentrate on the more serious and complicated cases. Moreover, by
keeping the Super Health Centers open 24 hours a day, health services may be delivered efficiently
and effectively to all those seeking basic medical attention and for emergency cases, especially for
those with financial constraints.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

MAI CAYETANO

istrict, City of Taguig


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH (18™) CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL-NO. 951

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE MARIA LAARNI L. CAYETANO

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE CREATION OF SUPER HEALTH CENTERS IN
EVERY CITY OR MUNICIPALITY AND OTHER DENSELY POPULATED AREAS,
AS MAY BE DEEMED APPROPRIATE BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, AND
REQUIRING THEM TO BE OPEN AT ALL TIMES TO PROVIDE BASIC HEALTH
SERVICES TO HELP DECONGEST PUBLIC HOSPITALS AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. Determination, Construction, Supervision, and Accreditation of Super
Health Centers — At least one Super Health Center shall be constructed in every city or
municipality and other densely populated areas. The appropriate ratio for the creation of Super
Health Centers in relation to the population number in an area shall be determined by the
Department of Health. In addition, these Super Health Centers shall be under the supervision of
the Department of Health and accredited by Philippine Health Insurance Corporation

SEC. 2. Operating Hours — All Super Health Centers shall be open at all times to provide
continuous basic health services to the public, and to help decongest public hospitals.

SEC. 3. Staffing - All Super Health Centers shall have three staff groups on a daily,
rotational basis comprising of at least one doctor, one nurse, one midwife, and two trained
barangay health workers

SEC. 4. Services -— All Super Health Centers shall be equipped with the most basic
facilities and provide free laboratory, dental, breastfeeding, birthing or child delivery, and
ambulance services

SEC. 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Department of Health shall issue
such rules and regulations necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act.

SEC. 6. Appropriations ~ The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act is
hereby authorized to be appropriated from the General Appropriations Act of the year following
its enactment, and every year thereafter


SEC. 7. Separability Clause. - If any part or provision of this Act shall be held
unconstitutional or invalid, other provisions thereof which are not affected thereby shall continue
to be in full force and effect.

SEC. 8, Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, rules and
regulations or parts thereof which are not consistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended
or modified accordingly

SEC. 9. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,