Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Quezon City, Metro Manila
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS

Third Regular Session

House sittno._6217

Introduced by Representative Rodrigo A. Abellanosa

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to alleviate the burden of necessary but costly dialysis treatments for
indigent patients by ensuring the availability of facilities and providing free access to such in
all government hospitals.

Dialysis is the medical procedure that facilitates the removal of waste products and
‘excess fluid from the body in patients whose kidney function are insufficient to be able to do so.
All patients who suffer from end-stage renal failure must undergo dialysis in order for them to
survive, hence, the procedure is not optional.

Indigent patients hardly have the means to provide for their ordinary daily
‘sustenance, moreso afford expensive dialysis treatments. Our Constitution mandates the
government to make health services available and affordable to all prioritizing the
underprivileged. In connection with this, the provision of free and accessible dialysis
procedure is imperative.

In view of the foregoing, passage of this bill is eamestly recommended.

(us)

RODRIGO A. ABELLANOSA


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Quezon City, Metro Manila
‘SIXTEENTH CONGRESS

Third Regular Session

6217

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Representative Rodrigo A. Abelianosa

AN ACT
REQUIRING ALL NATIONAL, REGIONAL, AND PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT
HOSPITALS TO ESTABLISH, OPERATE AND MAINTAIN A DIALYSIS WARD OR UNIT
IN THEIR RESPECTIVE HOSPITAL AND PROVIDING FREE DIALYSIS TREATMENT TO
INDIGENT PATIENTS

Be it 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 "Dialysis Center Act”.

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - it is the declared policy of the State to improve the
delivery of health care services to the people and to ensure hospital facilities are
available, affordable and accessible to the people.

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall mean:
) "Secretary" shall refer to the Secretary of the Department of Health;

b) "National Government Hospital” shall refer to a hospital operated and maintained
either partially or wholly by the national govemment or by any department,
division, board or other agency thereof,

©) "Regional Goverment Hospital” shall refer to a hospital operated and maintained
either partially or wholly by the national govemment or by any department,
division, board or other agency thereof,

4d) "Provincial Government Hospital” shall refer to a hospital operated and maintained
either partially or wholly by the provincial government or other political
subdivision-, or by any department division, board or other agency thereof; and,

e) “Indigent Patient” shall refer to a patient whose combined annual family income
does not exceed Thirty Thousand Pesos (P30,000.00) annually.


‘SEC. 4. Establishment, Operation and Maintenance of a Dialysis Ward or Unit. - Within
two (2) years from the effectivity of this Act, all national, regional, and provincial
government hospitals are hereby required to establish, operate and maintain a dialysis
ward or unit in their hospital. The dialysis ward or unit shall be equipped with 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.

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 (P50,000.00)
but not more than One Hundred Thousand Pesos (Pi 00,000.00).

SEC. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Secretary shall promulgate the
necessary rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act.

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 continuous 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 remainder 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 are hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly.
SEC. 11. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in at
least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,