b 
failure to understand 
THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
1 
that women have unique health conditions, the government could not 
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SENAT& 
S.B. No. 
E,. 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
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EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 2, Section 14 provides: 
Section’ 14. The State recognizes the role of women in nation-building, 
and shall ensure the fundamental equality before the law of men and women. 
Certain diseasks, disorders, and conditions are peculiar to, or more serious, or more 
prevalent in women. For this reason, the factors of medical risk or type of medical intervention 
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are different for them. I 
To address this issue, this bill seeks to establish an office on women’s health within the 
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Department of Health in order to: 
(1) Establish short-range and long-range goals and objectives and coordinate all activities 
within the Department of Health that relate to disease prevention, health promotion, service 
delivery, research, and public and health care professional education concerning women; 
(2) Provide expert advice and consultation to the Secretary concerning scientific, legal, 
ethical, and policy issues relating to women’s health; and 
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(3) Monitor the Department of Health offices, agencies, and regional activities regarding 
women’s health and coordinate and stimulate activities of such departmental and agency offices 
on women’s health. 
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THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
1 
SENATE 
3 
c- 
S.B. No. 
!IF$X i’/ED uv ’ . .--“ .--. -- 
~ Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING AN OFFICE ON WOMEN’S HEALTH WITHIN THE 
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH 
Be if 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 “Women’s Health Office Act.” 
SECTION 2. Deflnition. - As used in this section, the term “women’s health conditions”, 
with respect to women of all age, ethnic, and racial groups, means all diseases, disorders, and 
conditions - 
(1) unique io, more serious, or more prevalent in women; and 
(2) for which the factors of medical risk or type of medical intervention are different 
for women,. or for which it is unknown whether such factors or types are different for 
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women. 
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SECTION 3. Health Office on Women’s Health. - There shall be established within the 
Office of the Secretary an Office on Women’s Health (hereafter referred to in this section as the 
“Office”). The Office shall be headed by an Assistant Secretary in an ex oficio capacity, 
SECTION 4. Duties - The Office shall, with respect to the health concerns of women - 
(1) establish short-range and long-range goals and objectives and coordinate all 
activities within the Department of Health that relate to disease prevention, health 
promotion, service delivery, research, and public and health care professional education 
concerning women; 


(2) provide ex ert advice and consultation to the Secretary concerning scientific, legal, 
ethical, and policy iss es relating to women’s health; and 
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(3) monitor the Department of Health offices, agencies, and regional activities regarding 
women’s health and coordinate and stimulate activities of such departmental and agency offices 
on women’s health. 
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(4) establish a Department of Health Coordinating Committee on Women’s Health to be 
chaired by an Assistant Secretary for Women’s Health which shall be composed of senior level 
representatives from each of the agencies and offices of the Department of Health; 
(5) establish a National Women’s Health Information Center to - 
(a) facilitate the exchange of information regarding matters relating to health information 
and health promotion, preventive health services, research advances and education in the 
appropriate use of heaith care; 
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(b) facilitate access to such information; 
(c) assist in thb analysis of issues and problems relating to the matters described in this 
paragraph; and 
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(d) provide technical assistance with respect to the exchange of information (including 
facilitating the development of materials for such technical assistance); 
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(6) coordinate efforts to promote women’s health programs and policies in the private 
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sector; and 
(7) through publications and any other means appropriate, provide for the exchange of 
information between members of the Office, grantees of the office, and the general public. 
(8) determine t 1 
e current Agency level of activity regarding women’s health, across age, 
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biological, and socio-c&ural context, in all aspects of the Department’s work, including drafting 
technical practice guidelines, and conducting research into patient outcomes, delivery of health 
care-services, and access to health care; 
(9) establish short-range and long-range goals and objectives for research important to 
women’s health and coordinate all other activities within the Department that relate io health 
services and medical effectiveness research; 


Department; 
(1 1) consult 
organizations, women’s 
SECTION 5. Grants and Contracts Regarding Duties. - In carrying out the Office’s 
duties, the Secretary, acting through the Office, may make grants to, and enter into cooperative 
agreements, contracts,: and interagency agreements with public and non-profit entities, agencies, 
and organizations. 
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with health professionals, non-governmental organizations, consumer 
health professionals, and other individuals and groups, as appropriate, 
SECTION 6. Evaluation and Dissemination - The Office shall directly or through 
contracts with public and private entities, agencies, and organization, provide for evaluations of 
projects carried out with financial assistance provided under the preceding section and for the 
dissemination of information developed as a result of such projects. 
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SECTION 7. Reports -Not later than January 3 1 of each year, the Secretav shall prepare 
and submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report describing the activities carried 
out under this Act during the period for which the report is being prepared. 
SECTION 8. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or provision not otherwise affected shall remain valid 
and subsisting. 
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SECTION 9. Repealing Clause - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrq to or inconsistent 
with the provision of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 


SECTION 10. : Effectivity Clause - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least 
Approved. 
FN: 1440 
NO (2) newspapers of general circulation.