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Republic of the Philippines RECEIVED
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES pare, 91 AUG 2016
Quezon City
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SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS ey

First Regular Session

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BILLS A\.

PATON UNIT

2182
HOUSE BILL NO, & 166 MTX SERVICE

INTRODUCED BY CONGRESSMAN ALFRED VARGAS

EXPLANATORY NOTE

In 2007 to 2013, the Philippines was reported to have the second highest female
adult mortality rate in the Southeast Asian region, at 14 persons per 1,000 population.
In addition to this, the maternal mortality ratio in the country is alarmingly high at 117
per 100,000 live births (2014), a far cry from the 2015 Philippine Millenium
Development Goal of 52 per 100,000 live births.

The United States of America established the Office of Research on Women’s
Health (ORWH) at the National Institute of Health in September 1990 in order “to
strengthen, develop, and increase research on diseases, disorders, and conditions that
are unique to, more prevalent among, or more serious in women, or for which there are
different risk factors for women than for men.”!

The researches undertaken by the ORWH has found that sex and gender identity
play crucial roles in health, wellness, and disease progression. Thus, the strides in
women’s health research may lead to the development of medication specifically
tailored for both sexes.

It is the policy of the State to protect and promote the right to health of every
Filipino. Given the dynamic roles that Filipino women play in the society and the
numerous risks on their health and well-being, it is imperative that we adopt the best
practices of developed countries and find ways to address issues on health.

This bill seeks to establish the Office of Research on Women’s Health in the
Philippines.

In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly soyght.

* pinn, V.W. (1994) "The Role of the NIki's Office of Research on Women’s Health.” Academic Medicine: Journal
of the Association of American Medical Colleges 63(9): 698-702.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
2182
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INTRODUCED BY CONGRESSMAN ALFRED VARGAS

AN ACT.
ESTABLISHING THE OFFICE OF RESEARCH ON WOMEN’S HEALTH

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as “Research on Women's
Health Act”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to give priority to
the needs of women. Taking into account the inherent disparity between men and
‘women, the State shall undertake a research focusing on women’s health which shall be
responsive to the needs of every Filipino woman.

SECTION 3, Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the term:

a, “Secretary” shall refer to the Secretary of Health;

b. “Women’s health condition” shall refer to all diseases, disorders, and
conditions ~

i. Unique to serious, or more prevalent to women;

ii, For which the factors of medical risk or types of medical
intervention are different for women, or which it is unknown
whether such factors or types are different for women; or

iii, With respect to which there has been insufficient clinical research
involving women as subjects or insufficient clinical data on

women;

¢. “Research on women's health shall mean research on women’s health
conditions, including research on preventing such conditions; and

d. “Committee” shall refer to the Advisory Committee on Women's Health.


SECTION 4. Establishment of the Office of Research on Women’s Health. - There
shall be established an office to be known as the Office of Research on Women’s Health
which shall be headed by the Secretary. The Secretary shall have the following
functions:

A, To identify projects of research on women’s health that should be conducted
or supported by both the government and non-government agencies;

B. To promote coordination and collaboration among entities conducting
research identified under paragraph A;

C. To recommend an agenda for conducting and supporting such research; and

D. To encourage the conduct of such research.

SECTION 5. Advisory Committee on Women's Health. - In carrying out the
provision of Section 4, the Secretary shall establish a Committee to be known as the

“Advisory Committee on Women’s Health.”

SECTION 6. Composition. - The Committee shall be composed of nine (9)
members which shall include the following:

a. Two (2) representatives from the Department;
b. Four (4) physicians, practitioners and other health personnel;

c. Two (2) representatives from a non-governmental organization which
conducts research on women’

d. One (1) representative from the general public;
e. Majority of the members of the Committee shall be women

SECTION 7. Meetings. - The Advisory Committee shall determine the number,
time, place and conduct of meetings, except that it shall hold at least one (1) public
meeting each year at which the general public is given an opportunity to express views
concerning the conduct of research on women’s health by the Office.

SECTION 8. Term of Office. - Members shall be appointed by the Secretary for a
term of three (3) years. Of those first appointed, three (3) members shall serve for three
(3) years, three (3) members for two (2) years, and last three (3) members for one (1)
year.

Any vacancy in the membership of the committee shall be filed in the manner as
the original appointment. Any member of the Committee may be removed for cause in
accordance with procedures established by the Committee.


SECTION 9. Functions. - The Committee shall have the following functions. -

A. Advise the Secretary on appropriate research activities to be undertaken by
the Office with respect to -

i Research of women’s health;

ii, Research on gender differences in clinical drugs trials, including
responses;

iii, Research to gender differences in disease etiology, course and
treatment;

iv. Research on obstetrical gynaecological health conditions, diseases
and treatment; and

v. Research on women’s health conditions which require a multi-
disciplinary approach.

B, Report to the Secretary on such research;

C. Provide recommendation to the Secretary regarding activities of the Office;
and

D. Prepare a report regarding the activities of the Committee.

SECTION 10. Appropriations. - To carry out the provisions of this Act, such
amount as may be necessary is hereby authorized to be appropriated from the National
Treasury. Thereafter, the amount necessary for the continuous operation of the Office of
the Research on Women’s Health shall be included in the annual appropriations of the
Department of Health.

SECTION 11. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations
or other issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are
hereby repealed or modified accordingly

SECTION 12. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is
declared unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provision not affected
thereby shall remain in force and effect.

SECTION 13. Bffectivity - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days
following the completion of its publication either in the Official Gazette or in a
newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,