1 
Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
1st Regular Session 
House Bill No. ________ 
Introduced by Representatives ERIC G. YAP, PAOLO Z. DUTERTE, and 
EDVIC G. YAP 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) reiterates that Chronic Kidney 
Disease Stage 5 (CKD 5) has been identified as the seventh leading cause of death in 
the country, with 120 per million Filipinos acquiring the said disease in a year. 
Meanwhile, the latest estimates show that around 2.3 million Filipinos have chronic 
kidney disease and that in 2016 alone, 36,000 were in a dialysis treatment—
showcasing a 15% increase in the number of patients within just a year.  
Even at the alarming rate of chronic kidney disease cases, the cost of medical treatment 
for kidney disease remains exorbitant—beyond the reach of ordinary patients. CKD 5 
can be treated with kidney transplantation or renal dialysis, however, while kidney 
transplant is a definitive treatment, the low levels of organ donations, lack of 
infrastructure, and high cost of transplantation makes dialysis as the most viable 
option for renal patients in the Philippines.  
Notwithstanding the recent upgrade of the PhilHealth coverage for hemodialysis 
outpatient granting a maximum of 144 sessions per calendar year, the said coverage 
still does not surmount to the actual number of dialysis needed by the patients, given 
how dreadful the chronic kidney disease is. 
As a response, this bill seeks to establish, operate and maintain a dialysis ward or unit 
in all national, regional, and provincial government hospitals immediately two (2) 
years after the effectivity of this Act, thereby increasing access to dialysis sessions, 
especially to the indigent patients in every region of the country.  
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
PAOLO Z. DUTERTE 
       ERIC G. YAP 
EDVIC G. YAP         
April 11, 2023
11:45 am
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1 
Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
1st Regular Session 
House Bill No. ________ 
Introduced by Representatives ERIC G. YAP, PAOLO Z. DUTERTE, and 
EDVIC G. YAP 
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 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: 
a. National Government Hospital - refers hospital 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 - refers to a hospital 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 - refers 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
d. Indigent Patient - refers to patient 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);
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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 as defined 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 
(P50,000.00) but not more than One Hundred Thousand Pesos (P100,000.00). 
 
SEC. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Secretary of DOH 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 of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not affected shall remain in full 
force and effect. 
 
SEC. 10. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, issuances, rules and 
regulations, inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
 
SEC. 11. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following 
its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
 
Approved,