8 IZl‘f? 1 3 
FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC } 
First Regular Session 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
} 
/ 
SENATE 
S. B. No. 
12 
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR ALAN PETER “COMPANERO” S. 
CAYETANO 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The 1987 Constitution provides that the State shall protect and promote the 
right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them. Pursuant 
to the constitutional mandate the government plans and implements health and 
medical programs. However, this effort is hampered by the high cost of medical 
care and the lack of information dissemination on health issues. Further, it cannot 
be denied that exorbitant fees are charged for laboratory tests needed to accurately 
diagnose the patient’s illnesses. Thus, those who are financially incapable are 
discouraged to seek medical consultation in hospitals and clinic. 
To resolve the aforementioned predicament, the government should adress 
the rising costs of medical expenses by ensuring the availability of free diagnostic 
examinations, access to medical facilities and medicines. Only then can indigent 
patients be relieved of their health-related problems. 
A closer look at medical practices in our country would reveal that patients 
do not record their medical history or that reliance is solely on the records of the 
clinic or hospital they go to. Access, therefore, to their medical records in cases 
of emergencies or travel is not readily available. 
The patient’s medical history is essential in providing healthcare 
information. It is the patient’s record of all the check-ups he had in the past, the 
treatment availed of and the medications prescribed and taken. Before a doctor 
can give sound medical advice and prescribe proper medication to the patient, it 
helpful sometimes and necessary to h o w  the medical history of the patient. 
Also, medical data recorded in the health passport cautions the patient to be 
aware of his congenital or hereditary illness consistent with the saying that to be 
forewarned is to be forearmed. Hence, an individual can make the necessary 
preparations to prevent further complication of his illness. In addition, couples 
will know the medical history of his or her partner and give them the chance to 
take steps to ensure the health of their children. 
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The importance o f  diagnostic tests may be emphasized by the fact that 
many suffer from misdiagnosed illnesses due to the absence of proper 
inforniation. Through these tests, illnesses, medication and other medical 
procedures are accurately determined. Recording of the results of these tests to 
one’s health passport will guide physicians in malting proper diagnosis, give 
other physicians a better perspective OF the medical history of the patient, and 
prevent duplication of tests being done on the same patient. 
To use the health passport, all the patient has to do, is to present it 
whenever he/she avails of the medical services of any public hospital, clinic or 
other medical institutions. This document also intends to assist the doctor 
examining the patient’s medical condition, either in private or public 
hospitals/clinics, etc. 
For these reasons, it is the intent of this bill that all individuals shall be 
issued a health passport that shall contain their medical history and other medical 
relevant data which will also serve as their own medical records which would be 
handy in emergency situations, as well as insure that all the benefits given under 
the “Health Passport Program” are provided. Further, provision on free 
diagnostic tests to all qualified Filipino citizens shall be afforded accordingly. 
In view of the foregoing, early approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
ALAN PETER “COMPANERO” S. CAYETANO 
Senator 


FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC } 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
} 
SENATE 
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR ALAN PETER WOMPARERO” s. 
CAYETANO 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING THE NATIONAL HEALTH PASSPORT SYSTEM AND 
PROVIDING FREE DIAGNOSTIC TESTS IN GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS 
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFORE 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Health Passport 
System Act”. 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy - It is the policy of the State to protect and 
promote Ihe right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among 
them. Free medical care shall be provided to the underprivileged and that their 
needs shall be prioritized. 
Also, the State recognizes the need to adopt an integrated and comprehensive 
approach to health development, which shall endeavor to make essential goods, 
health and other social services available to all the people at affordable costs. 
SECTION 3. National Health Passport System - Consistent with the above 
policies, the Department of Health in coordination with the local government 
units, shall undertake the implementation of the National Health Passport System 
and providing thereby free medical and dental diagnostic tests. 
SECTION 4. Definition and Purpose - The Health Passport shall be the mobile 
record booklet of the patient containing, among others, the following; 
a. 
b. 
c. 
diagnosis; 
d. 
patient’s medical and dental history as recorded by the physician, 
dentist or authorized health professionals; 
medical and dental test results; 
medicines and medical treatment availed of: 
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e. 
basic medical data, 
f. 
g. 
information on all medical and health related benefits provided by laws; 
and 
information regarding the patient’s medical rights and privileges under 
passport system. 
The Health Passport shall serve as the patient’s official recognition that he 
could avail of the free medical and dental diagnostic tests in government hospitals 
subject to the requirements to be set by the Department of Health and the focal 
government units where passport holder resides. 
SECTION 5. Authority to Access Passport - Access by proper medical 
authorities to the data recorded therein shall be made upon the passport holder’s 
prior consent. In the absence of the relatives, the physician in charge of the patient 
shall be authorized to review the patient’s passport. 
SECTION 6. Scope of the Health Passport Program - All Filipino citizens shall 
be entitled to a health passport, which shall be used whenever a patient avails of 
medical and dental check-ups or treatment provided in government or private 
medical institutions. 
The parents or guardians of children born after the effectivity of this Act shall 
be required to enroll their children in the health passport program. The health 
passport shall be employed to record the child’s initial medical check-up including 
the necessary immunization. Failure provide the child with medical check ups and 
immunization shall constitute an evidence of violation of the provisions of Article 
VI, Section 10 of Republic Act No. 7610, otherwise known as the Anti-Child 
Abuse Act. 
The Department of Health is hereby mandated to issue the guidelines for the 
medical and dental check-ups and the immunization of children. 
SECTION 7. Qualification for Free Diagnostic Tests - Filipino citizens, whose 
family income is below the poverty threshold of the region where the applicant 
resides as set by the National Statistics Office, are qualified to avail of the free 
medical and dental diagnostic tests. 
The Department of Health and local government units may, however, set 
additional qualifications or lower the minimum requirements as to who among the 
holders could avail of the free medical and dental diagnostic tests. If a holder is 
qualified to avail of the privilege, the same shall be indicated in their respective 
health passports. 
The free medical and dental diagnostic tests shall be available in any 
government hospital nationwide, without prejudice to future programs to include 
private medical institutions. 
SECTION 8. Medical Services Included in the Program - In addition to free 
medical and dental consultations available in government medical and dental 
institutions, health passport holders qualified to avail of the free medical and 
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dental diagnostic tests may also avail of free medicine in the medical institution 
concerned, subject to availability. 
Medicine to be availed of shall be limited to those prescribed by the 
physicians as a result of the patient’s diagnostic tests performed in the same 
medical institution. 
SECTION 9. Procedure - The City, Municipality andlor Barangay together with 
the DSWD shall be responsible for the evaluation of the applicants for the free 
medical and dental diagnostic tests. Those qualified shall then be recommended to 
the primary medical institution of the local government unit concerned (e.g. 
district hospital, provincial hospital or regional hospital) for the issuance of the 
health passports. 
Those who want to obtain the health passport without availing the privilege 
OF free medical and dental diagnostic tests may directly secure the same from the 
aforementioned medical institutions or the Local government Units implementing 
the program. 
SECTION 10. Senior Citizens Privileges - All privileges granted to senior 
citizens under the Senior Citizen’s Act and other laws shall also apply to senior 
citizens with health passports. Medical institutions shall give priority to senior 
citizens on their needs for medicines. 
SECTION 11. Implementing Agency - The Department of Health shall 
promulgate the implementing rules and regulations necessary to carry out the 
provisions of this Act, and administer this program in coordination with the local 
government units concerned and other agencies whose functions are bound to 
affect the implementation of this system. 
In this connection, the Departnient of Health is hereby mandated to conduct 
hrther study on this system. The Department shall also assess the capabilities OF 
the health institutions in the local government units as well as the availability of 
laboratory apparatuses to put into service the provisions of this Act. 
SECTION 12. Separability Clause - If any provision or part of this Act shall be 
held invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provisions not 
otherwise affected shall remain valid and subsisting. 
SECTION 13. Repealing Clause - Any law, decree, presidential decree, 
executive or administrative order, rule or regulation inconsistent with this Act is 
hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly. 
SECTION 14. Effectivity - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days 
following the completion of its publication in the Official Gazefle or in at least two 
(2) newspapers of general circulation, whichever comes earlier. 
Approved,