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EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS,
First Regular Session

H. B. No. 1563

introduced by HONORABLE ROMMEL RICO T. 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

According to the Department of Health (DOH) News Report in 2018, 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. More than 7, 000 cases of kidney failure in the
country are recorded every year. The National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI)
said that for every 1 million Filipinos, 120 of them are most likely to develop kidney
failure and some 10,000 people need to replace their kidney function each year.

Dialysis does help improve and lengthen the life of the patient but it comes a
high price ranging from P60,000 to P70,000 a month, exclusive of the fees for
laboratory tests and medicines. Thus, due to the high cost of the dialysis treatment,
patients from remote provinces take into consideration not only the cost of the
treatment but also their travel expenses. Worst, a number of these patients do not have
the means to avail of the dialysis treatment thus settles for alternative medicines.

To immediately address the needs of the dialysis patients, 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,
accessibie 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.

For a more efficient delivery of affordable and quality healthcare services to the
Filipino people, the immediate approval of this proposed measure is earnestly sought.

ROMMEL jfeo T. ANGARA
presentative

Lone District, Province of Aurora



ONAnAWNe

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EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES —)
FIRST REGULAR SESSION )

H. B. No. 1563

Introduced by HONORABLE ROMMEL RICO T. 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 of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Dialysis Center Act."

Sec. 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.

Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. — For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall
mean:

a) Secretary refers to the Secretary of the Department of Health;

b) National Government Hospital refers to a hospital operated and maintained
either partially or wholly by the national government or by any department,
division, board or other agency thereof;

©) Regional Government Hospital refers to a hospital operated and maintained
either partially or wholly by the national government or by any department,
division, board or other agency thereof;

d) Provincial Government Hospital refers to a hospital operated and maintained
either partially or wholly by the provincial government or other political
subdivision, or by any department division, board or other agency thereof; and

e) Indigent Patient refers to a patient who has no visible means of income,
compensation or financial assistance from his/her relatives to support his/her
basic needs, as determined by the Department of Social Welfare and
Development (DSWD).

Sec. 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 hospital. The dialysis ward or unit shail be
equipped with complete dialysis machine, equipment and supplies.

Sec. 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 patients as defined in Section 3 (e) hereof.

Sec. 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).

Sec. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The Secretary shall promulgate
the necessary rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act.

Sec. 8. Appropriations. - Such amount as may be 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 shail be included in the government hospital's annual appropriations.

Sec. 9. Separability Cause. - 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.

Sec. 10. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified or amended
accordingly.

Sec. ii. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in any two (2) newspapers of general circulation in
the Philippines.

Approved,