SEVENTEENTH CONGIUlSS OF THE REPUIiLlC 
OF TILE PI LLLUTLNES
Second Regular Session
S E N A T E
SB. No. 1546
r , <
of i:jf.«
'17 
AUG- 7  
P 5 S 6
RECEI\/r:DS’-.
Introduced by Senator Poe
AN ACT
CREATING PRIMARY CARE RETILAINING AND SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS 
FOR THE ILECRUITMENT OF QUALIFIED FILIPINOS WHO WILL SERVE AS 
PRIMARY CARE WORKERS IN PRIORITY BARANGAYS, MUNICIPALITIES, 
AND CITIES, AND CREATING FOR THAT PURPOSE THE NECESSARY 
POSITIONS OF PRIMARY CARE PROVIDERS UNDER THE COMPENSATION 
AND 
POSITION 
CLASSIFICATION 
SYSTEM, 
APPROPRIATING 
FUNDS 
THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
\
Explanatory Note
The 1987 Philippine Constitution is replete with provisions on the people’s right to 
health. For instance, Article 2, Section 15 of the Constitution declares it a State policy to 
...protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness 
among them.”
The abovementioned State policy is reiterated in Article 13, Section 11 of the 
Constitution, which states:
“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.”
Skilled health workers, facilities, and financing, are the three “pillars” needed to 
maintain an “integrated and comprehensive” health care system. However, this representation 
firmly believes that skilled health workers are the most important of the three pillars. Simply 
put, care cannot be provided without those who provide care — the doctors, nurses, and 
midwives who diagnose and treat the unwell. In the words of the World Health Organization;


“Acting on human resources for health is now in the hands of 
governments and all interested stakeholders... This requires a contemp>orary 
agenda in support of the millions of individual health workers that manage, 
administer and provide the health and social services that we wish all people -  
rich and poor -  to access and obtaia The universal truth: no health without a 
workforce.'^
Unfortunately, the State does not appear to accord priority to recruiting more skilled 
health workers, preferring instead to focus on building hospitals and expanding health care 
financing. Two examples can be cited;
• 
Not a single centavo of the incremental revenues collected from “sin taxes” 
under the Sin Tax Reform Act (Republic Act No. 10351) were earmarked for 
hiring skilled health workers or raising their benefits. Under R.A. No. 10351, 
incremental revenues are divided 80-20 between the National Health Insurance 
Program and the Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP) of the 
Department of Health, respectively.
• 
The Department of Health (DOH) was poised to reduce the number of personnel 
under the Rural Health Program (RHP) from 21,118 to 18,825 under the 
proposed 2017 National Expenditure Program. Fortunately, the DOH agreed to 
use its continuing appropriations under the 2016 General Appropriations Act to 
fund the RHP during plenary deliberations in the Senate.
As a result, our public health sector is experiencing a shortage of skilled health 
workers. It is estimated that there are only nine skilled health workers -  defined as a 
combination of doctors, midwives and nurses -  for every 10,000 population.2 This is well 
below the WHO-recommended threshold of 22.8 skilled health workers per 10,000 persons.3
Our public health system, strained as it is by the shortage of skilled health workers, is 
further constrained by administrative fragmentation and unplanned specialization:
• 
On the one hand, Republic Act No. 7160 or the Local Government Code devolved 
health service delivery to Local Government Units. This has tasked the DOH with the 
impossibly complex task of coordinating 81 provinces, 1,600 cities and municipalities 
and 42,000 barangays to provide the same level of health services.
Campbell J, Dussault G, Buchan J, et.al. A universal truth: no health without a workforce. Forum Report, 
Third Global Forum on Human Resources for Health, Recife, Brazil Geneva, Global Health Workforce 
Alliance and World Health Organization, 2013 Emphasis Supplied 
Based on data from the DOH Health Human Resource Development Bureau Retrieved from 
http://ndhrhis.eom/RPA0021 php
3 Campbel, J., Dussault, G. et.al


• 
On the other hand, unplanned specialization of skilled workers has produced an 
imbalance between specialty and general health care. As a result, individuals often 
have to consult directly with a specialist when it may not be needed. This is 
unfortunate, as 75 percent to 85 percent of persons require only primary care services 
in a given year.4
The abovementioned issues combined have produced a public health system that is far 
from the one envisioned in the Constitution. It can be summed up in one tragic statistic: 6 out 
of every 10 Filipinos die without seeing a doctor.5
This bill proposes a simple solution. We need to transition to a primary/ care system. 
This measure defines primary care as a system of providing health services in which front­
line primary care providers serve as the initial point of care, point of continuing care, and 
coordinator of necessary specialized services. To this end, the proposed measure seeks to 
authorize the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), in coordination with the DOH, 
to create new items to be known as Primary Care Providers I, II, and III.
As the initial point of care, primary care providers shall strive to render general health 
care services to all persons at the onset of disease to prevent costly treatment on the 
secondary and tertiary levels of care, which shall include;
• 
Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Services;
• 
Family Planning and Reproductive Health;
• 
Prevention and Control of Communicable Diseases;
• 
Prevention and Control of Tropical Diseases;
• 
Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases; and
• 
Emergency Care.
As the coordinator of necessary specialized services, primary care providers shall, 
when necessary, refer patients to secondary or tertiary care providers. They shall serve as the 
coordinators and navigators of the health care system.
Finally, as the point of continuing care, primary care providers shall act as the 
coordinator and liaison between the patient and the secondary or tertiary care provider.
In order to fill up the new Primary Care Provider positions, this bill seeks to establish 
a primary care recruitment program, which shall have two variations, namely the retraining 
program and the scholarship program. Under the retraining program, willing and qualified 
doctors, nurses, midwives, and community health workers will be retrained to deliver primary 
care services. Under the scholarship program, the DOH shall provide a scholarship and
4 Shi, L. “The Impact of Primary Care: A Focused Review” Scientifica Volume 2012 (2012) Retrieved from 
https://www.hindawi.com/iournals/scientirica/2Q12/432892/
Coalition for Primary Care. “A Roadmap to Universal Primary Care(The “Abay Kalusugan” Program)”


financial assistance to qualified Filipinos who shall complete a course on primary care and 
serve as primary care providers in priority barangays, municipalities and cities.
This bill is envisioned as part of a set of measures which shall lay the groundwork 
towards a transition to a primary care system. I am also filing this bill to fulfill my personal 
commitment to push for primary care.
Immediate approval of this measure is eagerly sought.
'qUACE POE


SEVEM ELM  II CONGRESS OI THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES
Second Regular Session
S E N A T E
S B No, 154 G
- ;  ■ 'lOffirf ol 1 1 ( f  I ' t j>
•17 AUG-7 P5 56
RECiiiVk.u' 
>.
Introduced by Senator Poe
AN ACT
CREATING PRIMARY CARE RETRAINING AND SCHOLARSHIP PROGICAMS 
FOR THE RECRUITMENT OF QUALIFIED ITLIPINOS WHO W ILL SER\ E AS 
PRIMARY CARE WORKERS IN PRIOIHTV BAICANGAYS, MUNICH’ALITIES, 
AND CITIES, AND CREAIING FOR THAT PURPOSE THE NECESSARY 
POSITIONS OF PRIMARY CAIUE PROVIDERS UNDER THE COMPENSATION 
AND 
POSITION 
CLASSIFICATION 
SYSIEM, 
APPROPRLVTIN G 
FUNDS 
THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1
2
ARTICLE I
GENERAL PROV ISIONS
3 
SECTION. 1. Short Title.
4 
Recruitment Act of 2017
This Act shall be known as the "Primary Care Provider
5 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. -  The State shall protect and promote the right to
6 
health of the people and instill health consciousness among them. The State recognizes the
7 
essential role of a sufficient number of primary care providers in promoting and protecting
8 
the right to health. To this end, there is a need to create the positions of primary care
9 
providers, and retraining and scholarship programs to recruit qualified individuals to serve as
10 
primary care providers who will serve as the initial point of care, point of continuing care,
11 
and the coordinator of necessary services in the health system.
12
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. -  For the purposes of this Act:
13
14
15
16 
17
a) “Compensation and Position Classification System" — refers to the unified 
Compensation and Position Classification System under Republic Act No. 
6758, otherwise known as the “Compensation and Position Classification Act 
of1989"\


1
2
3
b) “Primary Care " -  refers to a system of providing health services in which 
front-line primary care providers serve as the initial point of care, point of 
continuing care, and coordinator of necessary specialized services;
4
5
6
7
8 
9
c) "Primary Care Provider"- refers to individuals who are trained under the 
programs established under this Act to deliver primary care services;
d) “Primary Care Recruitment Program" - refers to the program created under 
this Act which seeks to recruit individuals to serve as Primary Care Providers. 
It shall include the Primacy Care Retraining Program and the Primary Care 
Scholarship Program;
10
11
12
13
14
15
e) "Primary Care Retraining Program" or “Retraining Program" -  refers to the 
program established under this Act which aims to retrain willing physicians, 
nurses and midwives as primary care providers;
f) "Primary Care Scholarship Program" or “Scholarship Program" -  refers to 
the program established under this Act which aims to recruit individuals who 
will study to become primary care providers;
16
17
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19
20 
21 
22
g) “Technical Committee ” or “Committee " -  refers to the technical committee 
established under this Act to formulate the curriculum of the Primary Care 
Retraining Program and its components ;
h) “UniFAST Board” or “The Board” -  refers to the Board established to 
implement the provisions of Republic Act No. 10687, otherwise known as the 
“Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education 
(UniFAST) Act”.
23
24
ARTICLE II
RESPONSIBILITIES AND BENEFITS OF PRIMARY CARE PROVIDERS
25 
SEC. 4. Creation of Items for Primary Care Providers. - The Department of Budget
26 
and Management (DBM), in coordination with the Department of Health (DOH), is hereby
27 
authorized and directed to create the positions of Primary Care Provider I, Primary Care
28 
Provider II, Primary Care Provider III under the Compensation and Position Classification
29 
System. They shall have the following minimum qualifications, as well as the corresponding
30 
salary grades and qualifications:
Position
Qualification
Salary Grade
Primary Care Provider I
Any individual who 
completed the Primary Care 
Scholarship Program;
12


Any Midwife, Community 
Health Worker, or Barangay 
Health Worker who 
completes the Primary Care 
Retraining Program
Primary Care Provider 11
Any Nurse who completes 
the Primary Care Retraining 
Program;
A Primary Care Provider II 
who is promoted by the 
Department of Health.
16
Primary Care Provider III
Any Doctor who completes 
the Primary Care Retraining 
Program;
A Primary Care Provider III 
who is promoted by the 
Department of Health.
22
1 
The DOH, in coordination with the DBM, shall review the salary scale and benefits of
2 
primary care providers every five (5) years from the effecivity of this Act, and provide for
3 
reasonable increases when feasible: Provided, that such adjustments shall be commensurate
4 
to the expanded duties and responsibilities of Primary Care Providers and shall take into
5 
account the cost of living in the various regions.
6 
The DOH shall also establish a merit promotion plan for Primary Care Providers in
7 
coordination with the Civil Service Commission (CSC). Such plans shall include provisions
8 
for a definite screening process, which may include tests of fitness, in accordance with
9 
standards and guidelines set by the CSC.
10 
SEC. 5. Duties and Responsibilities of Primary Care Providers.
11 
providers under this Act shall have the following responsibilities:
Primary care
12
13
14
a) As the initial point of care, they shall strive to render general health care services 
to all persons at the onset of disease to prevent costly treatment on the secondary 
and tertiary levels of care, which shall include:
15
16
17
18
1) Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Services;
2) Family Planning and Reproductive Health;
3) Prevention and Control of Communicable Diseases;
4) Prevention and Control of Tropical Diseases;


3
4
5
6 
7
1
2
5) Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases;
6) Emergency Care;
b) As the coordinator of necessary specialized services, they shall, when necessary, 
refer patients to secondary or tertiary care providers. They shall serve as the 
coordinators and navigators of the health care system; and
c) As the point of continuing care, they shall act as the coordinator and liaison 
between the patient and the secondary or tertiary care provider.
8
9
ARTICLE III
THE PRIMARY CARE RECRUITMENT PROGRAM
10 
SEC. 6. Establishment of the Primary Care Recruitment Program. -  There is hereby
11 
established the Primary Care Retraining Program to recruit individuals who shall serve as
12 
Primary Care Workers. It shall include the Primary Care Retraining Program and the Primary
13 
Care Scholarship Program under its components.
14 
SEC. 7. The Primary Care Retraining Program. -  A primary care retraining program
15 
is hereby established. The program shall be a short-term program in which witling and
16 
qualified doctors, nurses, midwives, and community health workers will be retrained to
17 
deliver primaiy care services.
18 
SEC. 8. Certificate of Completion. -  Individuals who complete the retraining program
19 
shall be issued a certificate of which shall serve as proof that the individual has satisfactorily
20 
completed met the requirements to serve as primary care providers under this Act. The
21 
certificate shall be valid for two (2) years.
22 
SEC. 9. Integration of Primary Care Providers into the Health Care System. - The
23 
individuals who have completed the retraining program shall serve for two (2) years as
24 
primary care providers in a barangay health center, rural health unit, or city health office as
25 
determined by the DOH: Provided, that the DOH shall prioritize barangays, municipalities,
26 
and cities which have an acute shortage of health human resources.
27 
SEC. 10. Establishment of the Primary Care Scholarship Program. -  A primary care
28 
scholarship program is hereby established. Under this program, the DOH shall provide a
29 
scholarship and financial assistance to qualified Filipinos who shall complete a course on
30 
primary care and serve as primary care providers in priority barangays, municipalities and
31 
cities.
32 
SEC. 11. Implementation of the Scholarship Program. -  The scholarship program
33 
shall be limited to the University of the Philippines-College of Manila (UPCM) in the first
34 
two (2) years of this Act’s effectivity. Thereafter, the program shall be integrated in the


1 
course offerings of other medical schools, in coordination with the Commission on Higher
2 
Education (CHED) and the relevant stakeholders.
3 
SEC. 12. Scope of the Scholarship Program. -  The scholarship program shall cover
4 
expenses such as, but not limited to:
5 
a) Tuition, laboratory and other school fees;
6 
b) Required textbooks, supplies and equipment;
7 
c) Clothing and uniform allowances; and
8 
d) Housing expenses, traveling expenses and subsistence and living allowances;
9 
The scholarship program shall be administered by the Department of Health, in
10 
coordination with the UniFAST Board established under Republic Act No. 10687, otherwise
11 
known as the “Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education
12 
(UniFAST) Act”.
13 
SEC. 13. Conditions of the Scholarship Program. -  The scholarship program shall
14 
have the following conditions:
15
16 
17
a) The scholar shall pass the admission examinations and related requirements of the 
UPCM in the first two (2) years of this Act’s effectivity, or in any other university 
that offers the primary care course thereafter;
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19
20 
21
b) The scholar shall carry the full load of subjects prescribed per semester under the 
primary care program;
c) The scholar shall pay the full amount of the scholarship if he or she fails to 
complete the course; and
22 
d) The scholar shall, upon completion of the course, serve as a Primary Care
23 
Provider I in a barangay health center, rural health unit, or city health office as
24 
determined by the DOH: Provided, that the DOH shall prioritize barangays,
25 
municipalities, and cities which have an acute shortage of health human resources.
26 
SEC. 14. The Technical Committee. -  There is hereby established a technical
27 
committee which shall design the curricula of the retraining program and the scholarship
28 
program. The Committee shall be composed of the following:
29 
a) The Secretary of the DOH, or his permanent representative, as Chairperson of the
30 
Committee, or his permanent representative;


1
2
b) The Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education, or his permanent 
representative;
c) The Dean of the UPCM; and
4
5
6
7
8 
9
d) One (1) representative each from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao from other 
colleges of medicine, who shall be appointed by the President, and who shall each 
serve a term of one (1) year.
The technical committee shall finalize the curriculum of the retraining and scholarship 
programs within six (6) months from the effectivity of this Act. The curriculum shall 
include but not be limited to;
10 
a) Health System Navigation;
11 
b) Diagnostic Services.
12 
c) Maternal, Newborn and Child Health;
13 
d) Family Planning and Reproductive Health;
14 
e) Prevention and Control of Communicable Diseases;
15 
f) Prevention and Control of Tropical Diseases;
16 
g) Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases;
17 
h) Emergency Care;
18 
Provided, that the technical committee may recommend to the CHED to rearrange,
19 
recluster, integrate or revise the above curriculum at a later date.
20 
ARTICLE IV
21 
FINAL PROVISIONS
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34
SEC. 
15. Information Dissemination. 
-  The DOH and the Presidential 
Communications Operations Office (PCOO) and its attached agencies shall conduct regular 
information dissemination campaigns on the programs under this Act,
25 
SEC. 16. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The members of the technical
26 
committee along with the DBM, CITED and the PCOO shall promulgate the implementing
27 
rules and regulations of this Act within thirty (30) days from its effectivity.
SEC. 17. Appropriations. -  The amounts necessary for the effective implementation 
of this Act shall be included under the appropriations of the Department of Health under the 
annual General Appropriations Act.
SEC. 18. Penalties. - Any primary care provider who fails to comply with Section 14 
(d) of this Act shall be, upon conviction, perpetually disqualified from employment and re­
employment in the government service and pay a fine of five hundred thousand pesos (Php 
500,000) to one million pesos (Php 1,000,000), without prejudice to the imposition of


1 
administrative sanctions such as the revocation of their certificate of completion or their
2 
suspension from providing primary care.
3
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5
6
7
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SEC. 19. Separability Clause. -  If, for any reason, any part, section or provision of 
this Act is held invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining provisions not affected thereby 
shall continue to be in full force and effect.
SEC. 20. Repealing Clause. -  All laws, decrees, executive orders, proclamations, 
rules and regulations, and other issuances, or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the 
provisions of this Act are hereby repiealed, amended or modified accordingly.
SEC. 21. Effectivity Clause. -  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,