Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Sixteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No.__ 602

Introduced by Honorable Erlinda M. Santiago

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to establish a free medicine assistance program for the
poor in consonance with the 1987 Constitution which provides that “The
State shall protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill
health consciousness among them.”

Social justice is caring for the poor, a continuing and sincere concern
for the underprivileged, and a genuine and serious effort to improve their
quality of life. Nowadays, there is a growing sentiment of the poor that they
are being neglected by the government. Many of them die of sickness not
because their cases are terminal but because they can hardly afford the
medicines necessary to restore their health. We must, therefore, pursue the
declared policy of the State to promote the right to health and well-being of
the people and to adopt a system of affecting the delivery of free medicines
to those who have less in life, giving priority to the underprivileged, the sick,
the elderly, the disabled and the poorest of the poor.

The greatest wealth of a nation is its people. Thus, the government
shall ensure that no sick person will be deprived of his right to medical
attention including the supply of medicines despite his financial status. It is
likewise mandated to reduce economic inequalities and provide medical care
to paupers.

The “Free Medicines for the Poor Act” is an effective measure to
counter the inaccessibility of medicines to our underprivileged and
impoverished populace. It seeks to bridge the growing gap between health
and poverty, by providing the poor medicines that would help them remain
healthy.

In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

ER) ANTIAGO



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Sixteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 60

Introduced by Honorable Erlinda M. Santiago

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A FREE MEDICINE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
FOR THE POOR AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR.

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

SECTION. 1. Short Title. — 1
Medicine Assistance Act of 2013.”
SEC. 2. Declaration of Poli

is Act shall be known as the “Free

— It is hereby declared the policy of
the State to protect and promote the right to health and well-being of every
Filipino and to adopt a system of implementing the delivery of free medicines
to those who have less in life, giving priority to the underprivileged, the ailing,
the malnourished, the elderly, the disabled and the poorest of the poor.
SEC. 3. Objectives. — In consonance with the foregoing policies, the
State shall pursue the following objectives:
a) Establish a Free Medicine Assistance Program for the poor;
b) Maximize efforts to ensure that the needs of the poor for medicine are
properly met; and
c) Ensure that the free medicines provided in this Program are availed
of only by qualified recipients who shall be limited to the
underprivileged, the ailing, the malnourished, the elderly, and the
disabled.
SEC. 4. Establishment of Free Medicine Assistance Program. —
There is hereby established a Free Medicine Assistance Program, hereinafter
referred to as the “Libreng Gamot Program,” to be administered by the

Department of Health (DOH) through district hospitals and health centers in all


municipalities, in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and
Development (DSWD).

SEC. 5. Eligible Beneficiaries. ~ The Libreng Gamot Program shall be
restricted to qualified recipients to be identified by the Department of Social
Welfare and Development (DSWD). The implementing rules and regulations
shall guarantee that the intended beneficiaries come from the ranks of the
poorest of the poor, the Libreng Gamot Program being strictly a poor-oriented
measure. For purposes of this Act, the poorest of the poor refers to a household
(P3,000.00).

SEC. 6. Availment of Free Medicines. — The medicine:

whose monthly income is less than Three Thousand P«

all be made

available in district hospitals and local health units. All medicines which will
be released to qualified recipients shall be accounted for through a quarterly
report to be submitted to the Department of Health.

SEC. 7. Appropriations. — The amount of Five Hundred Million Pesos
(P500,000,000.00) for the initial implementation of this Act shall be charged to
the appropriations of the Department of Health under the current General
Appropriations Act. Thereafter, such sum as may be necessary for its
continued implementation shall be included in the Annual General
Appropriations Act.

SEC. 8. Rules and Regulations. - The Department of Health
(DOH) in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and
Development (DSWD), shall prescribe such rules and regulations as may be
necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act within six (6) months from the
effectivity hereof.

SEC.9.  Separability Clause. — If any part or provision of this Act
is declared unconstitutional, other parts or provisions thereof which are not
affected hereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.

SEC.10. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, executive orders,
rules and regulations and other issuances or parts thereof, inconsistent with the
provisions of this Act, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC.11. Effectivity. —_ This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
after its complete publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general
circulation.

Approved,