Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS,
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No3 147

Introduced by HON. LINABELLE RUTH R. VILLARICA.
4 DISTRICT, BULACAN

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE MANDATORY ESTABLISHMENT, OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE,
OF DIALYSIS WARD IN ALL NATIONAL, PROVINCIAL AND REGIONAL GOVERNMENT
HOSPITALS FOR THE TREATMENT OF INDIGENT PATIENTS FREE OF CHARGE

EXPLANATORY NOTE,

Healthcare services should be made affordable and accessible by the State to all its citizens. To
effectively implement this policy, both the national and local governments should jointly address health
issues that require immediate and regular intervention.

Presently, Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is the among the leading causes of sickness and
death in the Philippines." The latest data indicates that 2.3 million Filipinos are afflicted with CKD*.
‘The National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) estimates that one Filipino develops chronic
kidney failure every hour or about 120 Filipinos per million populations per year’. Because of its
increasing number of cases as well as the high cost care, the CKD currently costs more than breast,
lung, colon and skin cancer combined

The existential effect is that kidney patients wanting dialysis treatment on a regular and
sustained basis have to travel all the way to urban centers just fo avail of the needed dialysis treatment.
Miscellaneous expenses will be incurred in addition to the required thrice weekly or approximately 156
dialysis sessions in one year.

The proposed measure mandates all national, regional and provincial government to indigent
patients for free.

Support for the enactment of this bill is earnestly requested.

AV theretn/

REP. LINABELLE RUTH R. VILLARICA

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POO Notable 2enccatment



Republic of the Philippines

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No3147

Introduced by HON. LINABELLE RUTH R. VILLARICA
4" DISTRICT, BULACAN

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE MANDATORY ESTABLISHMENT, OPERATION AND
MAINTENANCE OF DIALYSIS WARD IN ALL NATIONAL, PROVINCIAL AND
REGIONAL GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS FOR THE TREATMENT OF INDIGENT
PATIENTS FREE OF CHARGE

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall know as “Dialysis Center Act”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is declared the policy of the State to upgrade
healthcare services. It shall guarantee that the utilization of hospital facilities are affordable and
accessible to the people.

SEC. 3. Definition of Term. ~ For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall mean:

(a.) National Government Hospital is that which is 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 is that which is 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 is that which is operated and maintained either
partially or wholly by the national government or other political subdivision, or by
any department, division, board or other agency thereof; and

(d.) Indigent Patient is one 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. — Within one
(1) year 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 shall be equipped with a 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 defines in Section 3 (d) 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 (Php50,000.00)
bur not more than One Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php100,000.00).

SEC. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. ~ The Department of Health (DOH), in
coordination with concerned agencies and stakeholders, shall promulgate the necessary rules
and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act within sixty (60) days from its date of
effectivity: Provided, That the failure of the promulgation of the said rules and regulations shall
not prevent the implementation of this Act upon its effectivity.

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 implementation of this Act shall be included in the
government hospital’s annual appropriations.

SEC. 9. Separability Clause. ~ If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the reminder 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 hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly.

SEC. 11. Effectivity. ~ This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
in the Official Gazette or any two (2) newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,