REPRESS

¥ v
ky” Filed =N
RECEIVED

10:53 am

i by
ublic of ilippines BY
voters BG
Quezon City 4, g
NINETEENTH CONGRESS Lo INDEX
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO, _4812

____ Introduced by Representative Joseph Gilbert F.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This commendable bill had been filed in the past Congress and the present proponent is
acknowledging the wisdom and hard work of his predecessors

‘The kidney plays an important role in an individual’s body because it cleans waste products
and toxins out of the blood in order to keep the individual healthy. When it starts to lose its ability
to function properly, the individual has.a kidney disease. Every hour one Filipino develops chronic
renal failure according to the National Kidney and Transplant Institute and kidney disease is one
of the leading cause of death in the Philippines which is alarming.

The treatment options for end stage renal disease is either kidney transplant or dialysis.
‘The latter is the option chosen by majority of Filipinos because the cost for kidney transplant is
‘expensive, However, indigent patients do not find the cost of dialysis affordable, hence they resort
to going to government hospitals which offer free dialysis and government entities which provide
financial or medical assistance for the said treatment,

There are many dialysis patients but there is a limited number of dialysis centers in the
country, hence the patients from far barangays have to travel to reach the nearest government
hospitals which offer dialysis treatment with limited number of free sessions. Indigent patients are
in dire need of help in order to defray the cost of their treatment.

This bill aims to require the establishment of Dialysis Clinics in all national, regional, and
provincial hospitals and provide free dialysis treatment to indigent patients. It is the duty of the
State to protect and promote the right to health of the people thereby the establishments of the said
Dialysis Clinics shall be the government’ response to the urgent need of Filipino people suffering
from kidney disease.

In view of the foregoing, the urgent passage of this me

JOSEPHGILBERT F. VIOLAGO



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. _4812

Introduced by Representative Joseph ¢

rt F. Violago _

AN ACT REQUIRING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF DIALYSIS CLINICS IN ALL
NATIONAL, REGIONAL, AND PROVINCIAL HOSPITALS AND PROVIDING FOR
FREE DIALYSIS TREATMENTS TO INDIGENT PATIENTS, AND APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION I. Short Title, — This Act shall be known as the “Dialysis Center Act”.

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. —It is the policy of the State to improve the delivery of health
care services to the people and to ensure that hospital facilities are available, affordable, and
accessible to the people.

SECTION 3. Definition of Terms, — For purposes of this Act, the following terms as used in this
‘Act shall mean the following

a. “Secretary” shall refer to the Secretary of the Department of Health;

b. “National Government Hospital” shail refer to a hospital operated and maintained either
partially or wholly by the National Govemment or by any department, division, board, or
other agency thereof,

¢, “Regional Government Hospital” shall refer to a hospital operated and maintained either
partially or wholly by the Regional Government or by any department, division, board, or
other agency thereof;

4. “Indigent Patient” shall refer to a patient whose combined annual family income does no
exceed Thirty Thousand Pesos (P30,000.00)

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 in their hospital


The dialysis ward or unit shall be equipped with the complete dialysis machine, equipment, and
supplies.

SECTION 5. Free Dialysis Treatment to Indigent Patient. ~ Dialysis treatment in all national,
regional, and provincial goverment hospitals shall be provided free of charge to indigent patients
as defined in Section 3(d) hereof.

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 Fifty Thousand Pesos (P50,000.00), but not
more than One Hundred Thousand Pesos (P100,000.00).

SECTION 7. Implementing Agencies. — Within one (1) year from the effectivity of this Act, the
Secretary shall provide the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) necessary to carry out the
provisions of this Act. The IRR shall be published in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of
general circulation.

SECTION 8. Appropriations. ~ The amount necessary to implement 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 hospitals?
annual appropriations.

SECTION 9. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of the Act is declared void or
unconstitutional, the remaining portions or provisions hereof shall not be affected by such
declaration.

SECTION 10. Repealing Clause. — Any provision of law or regulations inconsistent herewith is
hereby repealed, revoked, or modified accordingly.

SECTION LL. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
in the Official Gazette or in at least (2) newspapers of general circulation

Approved,