Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Batasan Hills, Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 10571
Introduced by  
HON. ATTY. GERVILLE “JINKY BITRICS” R. LUISTRO 
AN ACT REQUIRING ALL NATIONAL, REGIONAL, AND PROVINCIAL 
GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS TO ESTABLISH, OPERATE AND MAINTAIN A 
DIALYSIS WARD OR UNIT AND PROVIDING FREE DIALYSIS TREATMENT TO 
INDIGENT PATIENTS 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Kidney diseases especially end stage renal disease (ESRD), now rank as the seventh 
leading cause of death among Filipinos, according to the National Kidney and Transplant 
Institute (NKTI).1 Patients catered by the same institute alone saw a 40-percent increase in the
number of new patients between 2022 and 2023—a huge jump in cases in just a span of a year.2
While other factors may have a part to play in the drastic increase in the number of cases such as 
increased awareness of the disease, the increase is seen to be attributed to a similar rise in the 
number of cases of diabetes and hypertension in recent years.  
The current coverage of Philhealth for dialysis amounting to P2600.00 per session, for a 
total of 156 sessions annually cannot amply cover all the expenses dialysis patients need. This 
bill proposes free dialysis sessions on top of the Philhealth covered sessions to help indigent 
Filipinos receive the treatment that they need.  
Furthermore, there is a need to institutionalize the establishment of fully equipped 
1https://nkti.gov.ph/index.php/patients-and-visitors/kidney-health-plus
2https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/5/30/nkti-official-alarmed-by-40-rise-in-new-dialysis-patients-2030
July 1, 2024
4:45 pm


dialysis units or wards in all national, regional, and provincial hospitals in line with improving 
the responsiveness and accessibility of our healthcare system. 
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
HON. ATTY. GERVILLE “JINKY BITRICS” R. LUISTRO 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Batasan Hills, Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 10571 
Introduced by  
HON. ATTY. GERVILLE “JINKY BITRICS” R. LUISTRO 
AN ACT REQUIRING ALL NATIONAL, REGIONAL, AND PROVINCIAL 
GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS TO ESTABLISH, OPERATE AND MAINTAIN A 
DIALYSIS WARD OR UNIT AND PROVIDING FREE DIALYSIS TREATMENT TO 
INDIGENT PATIENTS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
Assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as the ―Dialysis Center Act.‖ 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy.  It is the declared policy of the State to improve the 
delivery of health care services to the people and to ensure hospital facilities are available, 
affordable and accessible to the people. 
SECTION 3.  Definition of Terms. For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall 
mean: 
(a) National Government Hospital – shall refer to a hospital operated and maintained
either partially or wholly by the national government or by any department, division, board or 
other agency thereof. 
(b) Regional Government Hospital – shall refer to a hospital operated and maintained
either partially or wholly by the national government or by any department, division, board or 
other agency thereof. 


(c) Provincial Government Hospital – shall refer to a hospital operated and maintained 
either partially or wholly by the provincial government or by any department, division, board or 
other agency thereof. 
(d) Indigent patient – shall refer to a patient who have no visible means of income or 
whose income is insufficient for family subsistence, as identified by the Department of Social 
Welfare and Development. 
SECTION 4. Establishment, Operation and Maintenance of a Dialysis Ward or Unit.  
Within two (2) years from the effectivity of this Act, all national, regional, and provincial 
government hospitals are hereby required to establish, operate and maintain a dialysis ward or 
unit in their hospitals. The dialysis ward or unit shall be equipped with complete dialysis 
machine, equipment and supplies. 
SECTION 5. Free Dialysis Treatment to Indigent Patients. Dialysis treatment in all 
national, regional, and provincial government hospitals shall be provided free of charge to 
indigent ESRD patients. This free dialysis treatment shall be equal to at least 90 sessions, to be 
applied exhaustively prior to the current number of sessions covered by Philhealth. 
SECTION 6. Penalty.  Any hospital chief, administrator or officer-in-charge who fails to 
comply with this Act shall be punished with a fine of Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Pesos 
(P250,000.00) but not more than Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (P500,000.00). 
SECTION 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. The Secretary of the Department of 
Health shall promulgate the rules and regulations necessary for the effective implantation of this 
Act. 
SECTION 8. Appropriation. Such amount as may be necessary for the initial 
implementation of the provisions of this Act is hereby authorized to be appropriated from the 
National Treasury. Thereafter, the amount necessary for the continuous implementation of this 
Act shall be included in the government hospital’s annual appropriations. 
SECTION 9. Separability. If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
valid and subsisting. 
SECTION 10. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations, or 
part thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby deemed repealed or modified 
accordingly. 
SECTION 11. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
Approved,