'f-A’v:‘•f-.i*' 'i't '-'V- 
“ :
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
of Mjr Jlo. iTrtari.
SENATE 
S.B. NO. 
8 B 8
•If 
MJG-5 P5--25
RECEi'/uOP.
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR RISA HONTIVEROS
AN ACT
AUTHORIZING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO SET AND APPROVE THE 
BED CAPACITY OF ALL DOH RETAINED HOSPITALS AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
With the devolution of health services, there are now only 70 DOH-retained public 
hospitals nationwide, of which 51 are considered general hospitals while 19 are 
specialty hospitals. These DOH hospitals complement the devolved district and 
provincial hospitals, as well as private hospitals, in providing health care services to 
millions of Filipinos.
Often serving patients beyond their allowed bed capacity, these hospitals are 
constrained by lack of adequate manpower and resources to fully provide the quality 
of health care their patients deserve.
As a result of the mismatch between their authorized bed capacity and hospital bed 
occupancy rate, which according to one study averages at 121%, it is not surprising 
to hear stories of patients spilling over in public hospital hallways or of 2 patients 
sharing one bed.
Under current regulations, a DOH hospital can only increase its bed capacity via 
legislation. 
As such, adjusting the bed capacity of a public hospital to be able to 
serve patients better has to compete with thousands of proposed bills in Congress 
and more often than not, these do not get approved or once approved, the need has 
already changed.
This is what the bill seeks to address. 
It authorizes the Department of Health to 
increase the bed capacity of its retained hospitals and allows it to promulgate 
guidelines that will be used in evaluating and approving changes in bed capacity. 
While allowing it to increase bed capacity, it also allows the Department to right-size 
the authorized bed capacity of DOH retained hospitals, as necessary, in consideration 
of complementing the performance of city-wide and provincial health systems as 
mandated by Republic Act 11223 or the Universal Health Care Act, as well as the 
modernization and development of all other government health care facilities.


By allowing the Department of Health to administratively set and approve the 
authorized bed capacity of its hospitals, we remove one barrier that impedes the 
efficient delivery of health service.
It is for these reasons that approval of this measure is earnestly sought.
Senator


T«trV -t '  
■•*<l
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
SENATE
S. B. No. 
8 B 3
jk ia a te
o( lti» frortrtarp
*19 
WJG -5 P5 •■25
RFmv/:DBV.
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR RISA HONTIVEROS
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AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO SET AND 
APPROVE THE BED CAPACITY OF ALL DOH RETAINED HOSPITALS AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House o f Representatives o f the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as the "DOH Hospital Bed 
Capacity Rationalization Act of 2019."
SECTION 2. Purpose, Scope, and Coverage. 
This Act shall streamline the 
process for approving changes in the authorized bed capacity of all DOH retained 
hospitals.
SECTION 3. Authority to Approve. Authority is hereby granted to the DOH to 
adjust and approve the authorized bed capacity of its retained hospitals. 
Thereafter, the DOH shall, by administrative or department order, increase, 
decrease, or maintain the bed capacity of its retained hospitals, subject to 
specific guidelines that it shall issue and promulgate, within six months, after the 
enactment of this law.
SECTION 4. Appropriations. 
Amounts necessary to implement and carry out 
the provisions of this Act shall be included in the annual budget of the 
Department of Health.
SECTION 5. Annual Report to Congress - The Department of Health shall 
provide Congress, through the House and Senate Committees on Health, an 
annual report on hospitals with approved bed capacity changes, along with the 
necessary funding requirements.
SECTION 6. Philippine Health Facility Development Plan (PHFDP). -  The 
Secretary of Health shall include in the Department's programs the funding 
requirements for the adjustment in bed capacity and service capability of each 
DOH 
hospital 
in 
accordance 
with 
the 
PHFDP 
and 
the 
hospital's 
modernization/development plan, the funding of which shall be included in the 
annual General Appropriations Act.
The DOH shall develop the PHFDP to guide the modernization/development plans 
of all government health facilities, and in order to access capital outlay
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investment through the Health Facilities Enhancement Program of the DOH and 
other national government capital outlay investment mechanisms.
SECTION 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) - The Department of 
Health shall come up with the IRR, within three (3) months after the law's 
effectivity.
SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. -  All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and 
regulations, or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby 
repealed, amended or modified accordingly.
SECTION 9. Effectivity. -  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general 
circulation.
Approved,