EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
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of toi. e irrrrn rp
S E N A T E
S. B. No. 134
*19 
JU L -2  
A10
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Introduced by Senator SONNY ANGARA
AN ACT
REQUIRING ALL NATIONAL, REGIONAL, AND PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT 
HOSPITALS TO ESTABLISH, OPERATE AND MAINTAIN A DIALYSIS WARD 
OR UNIT IN THEIR RESPECTIVE HOSPITAL AND PROVIDING FREE 
DIALYSIS TREATMENT TO INDIGENT PATIENTS
EXPLANATORY NOTE
In a 2018 news report, The Department of Health (DOH) stated that one 
person dies every hour from kidney failure making it the ninth leading cause of 
death. Based on the data from the DOH's Philippine Network for Organ Sharing, 
close to 23,000 patients underwent dialysis treatment due to kidney failure in 2013, 
a huge jump from the 4,000 cases recorded in 2004. This figure, the DOH noted, 
does not include those suffering from kidney failure but who are not able to undergo 
dialysis treatment due to its high cost and inaccessibility especially in the rural areas. 
According to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), it is estimated that around 
5 million Filipinos are diagnosed with diabetes in 2018. A large number is also 
estimated to remain undiagnosed.
Patients from the provinces, who are suffering from kidney disorder, have to 
travel all the way to urban cities just to avail themselves of dialysis treatment, which 
is needed on a regular and sustained basis. The optimum frequency of dialysis is 
three times a week but because of its high cost and inaccessibility, some patients 
settle with less but with their health deteriorating more progressively. Worse, some 
patients have died without given a chance to undergo dialysis because they could 
not afford it.
In line with the government's efforts to reform the health sector and provide 
Filipinos with comprehensive health services, local government units must be tapped 
to make healthcare services more affordable and accessible. Thus, this bill requires


all national, regional and provincial government hospitals to establish, operate and 
maintain a dialysis ward or unit to ensure that dialysis treatment will be available, 
accessible and cost-effective especially to those living in the rural areas. Moreover, 
this bill requires that dialysis treatment be provided to indigent patients free of 
charge.
The aim of this bill is in consonance with the Constitutional mandate to make 
health services available to our countrymen at affordable cost. For more efficient 
delivery of healthcare services to the Filipino people, the immediate approval of this 
proposed measure is earnestly sought.
SONNY ANGARA


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
'V in --, <&Uur oi t';o $■< iroiar?
S E N A T E  
S. B. No.
*19 
JU L -2  A10:41
Introduced by Senator SONNY ANGARA
AN ACT
REQUIRING ALL NATIONAL, REGIONAL, AND PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT 
HOSPITALS TO ESTABLISH, OPERATE AND MAINTAIN A DIALYSIS WARD 
OR UNIT IN THEIR RESPECTIVE HOSPITAL AND PROVIDING FREE 
DIALYSIS TREATMENT TO INDIGENT PATIENTS
Be it enacted by the Senate and House o f Representatives o f the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Short Title. -  This Act shall be known as the "Dialysis Center Act."
2 
Sec. 2. Declaration o f Policy. -  It is the declared policy of the State to
3 
improve the delivery of health care services to the people and to ensure hospital
4 
facilities are available, affordable and accessible to the people.
5 
Sec. 3. Definition o f Terms. -  For purposes of this Act, the following terms
6 
shall mean:
7 
a) 
Secretary refers to the Secretary of the Department of Health;
8 
b) 
National Government Hospital refers to a hospital operated and maintained
9 
either partially or wholly by the national government or by any department,
10 
division, board or other agency thereof;
11 
c) 
Regional Government Hospital refers to a hospital operated and maintained
12 
either partially or wholly by the national government or by any department,
13 
division, board or other agency thereof;
14 
d) 
Provincial Government Hospital refers to a hospital operated and maintained
15 
either partially or wholly by the provincial government or other political
16 
subdivision, or by any department division, board or other agency thereof;
17 
and
1


1 
e) 
Indigent Patient refers to a patient who has no visible means of income,
2 
compensation or financial assistance from his/her relatives to support his/her
3 
basic needs, as determined by the Department of Social Welfare and
4 
Development (DSWD).
5 
Sec. 4. Establishment, Operation and Maintenance o f a Dialysis Ward or Unit.
6 
-  Within two (2) years from the effectivity of this Act, all national, regional, and
7 
provincial government hospitals are hereby required to establish, operate and
8 
maintain a dialysis ward or unit in their hospital. The dialysis ward or unit shall be
9 
equipped with complete dialysis machine, equipment and supplies.
10 
Sec. 5. Free Dialysis Treatment to Indigent Patients. -  Dialysis treatment in all
11 
national, regional and provincial government hospitals shall be provided free of
12 
charge to indigent patients as defined in Section 3 (e) hereof.
13 
Sec. 6. Penalty. -  Any hospital chief, administrator or officer-in-charge who
14 
fails to comply with this Act shall be punished with a fine of Fifty Thousand Pesos
15 
(P50,000.00) but not more than One Hundred Thousand Pesos (P100,000.00).
16 
Sec. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. -  The Secretary shall promulgate
17 
the necessary rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act.
18 
Sec. 8. Appropriations. -  Such amount as may be necessary to implement the
19 
provisions of this Act is hereby authorized to be appropriated from the National
20 
Treasury. Thereafter, the amount necessary for the continuous implementation of
21 
this Act shall be included in the government hospital's annual appropriations.
22 
Sec. 9. Separability Clause. -  If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or
23 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected
24 
shall remain valid and subsisting.
25 
Sec. 10. Repealing Clause. -  Any law, presidential decree or issuance,
26 
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary
27 
to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified or
28 
amended accordingly.
29 
Sec. 11. Effectivity. -  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
30 
publication in the Official Gazette or in any two (2) newspapers of general circulation
31 
in the Philippines.
Approved,