THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
} 
First Regular Session 
S. NO. 
INTRODUCED BY HON. MANUEL B. VILLAR, JR. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The attached bill establishes a free medicine assistance program in a health 
district to benefit only the underprivileged, the elderly, the disabled and the poorest of the 
poor which shall be administered by the Department of health, in coordination with the 
Department of Social Welfare and Development. 
It is common knowledge. that some of our countrymen die not because their 
sickness is incurable, but due to lack of medicine or proper medical treatment or 
assistance on account of poverty. The government cannot always remain indifferent to 
this reality; it must offer some direct help somehow for the intended beneficiaries to feel 
its impact. In this context, the bill seeks to answer, starting with this approach, the 
problem of lack of medicine the cost of which is now beyond the reach of many Filipinos 
on account of poverty. 
The proposed legislation is mandated by the constitutional directives that the State 
shall protect and promote the right of the people to health (Sec 15, Article 11, 
Constitution) and shall adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health 
development with the end view of making essential health services available to all the 
people at affordable cost, giving priority to the needs of the underprivileged, the sick, the 
elderly, the disabled and the women and children. 
MANUEL B. 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
INTRODUCED BY HON. M A m L  B. VILLAR, JR. 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING A FREE MDICINE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR THE POOR 
AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Free Medicine for the Poor 
Act .” 
SEC. 2. Declaration ofPolicy. - It is hereby the policy of the state to promote the 
right to health and well-being of the people and to adopt a system of effecting the 
delivery of free medicine to those who have less in life, giving priority to the 
underprivileged, the sick, the elderly, the disabled and the poorest of the poor. 
SEC. 3. Establishment of Free Medicine Assistance Program. There is hereby 
established a Free Medicine Assistance Program, hereinafter referred to as the 
“Program,” to be administered by the Department of Health (DOH) through its 
authorized government hospital in each particular congressional district, to be known as 
the health district, in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and 
Development (DS WD). 
SEC. 4. 
Eligible Beneficiaries.- The program shall be limited to eligible 
beneficiaries to be identified by the DOH through the government hospital in the health 
district in coordination with the DSWD. The implementing rules and regulations shall to 
it that the intended beneficiaries come from the ranks of the poorest of the poor, the 
Program being strictly a poverty alleviation measure. 
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SEC. 5. Appropriations. - There is hereby appropriated the sum of Twenty 
Million Pesos (P20,000,000.00) for each health district to fund the initial requirements of 
this Act. The National Government shall subsequently include in the budget of the 
Department of Health in the General Appropriations Act such amount as may be 
necessary to carry out the objectives of this Act. 
SEC. 6 Rules and Regulations. - The DOH, jointly with the DSWD, shall 
prescribe such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the provision of this 
Act within six (6) months from the effectivity hereof. 
SEC. 7. Repealing clause. - All provisions of laws, orders, decrees, including 
rules and regulations inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed and/or modified 
accordingly. 
SEC. 8. Separability Clause. - If any part or provision of this Act shall be held to 
be unconstitutional or invalid, other provisions hereof which are not affected thereby 
shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
SEC. 9. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its 
publication in one (1) national newspaper of general circulation. 
Approved.