EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez

3761

House Bill No.
EXPLANATORY NOTE

Itis pathetic to note that many of our sick but indigent countrymen who are medically
attended to in public hospitals and diagnosed as suffering from certain ailment and
prescribed the needed medicines, are nonetheless helpless in having their iliness cured
because of lack of means to buy medicines as prescribed

Medical attention without the concomitant medicines being administered to the
patient is meaningless

Again, poverty is depriving many indigent patients of the rare opportunity of medical
advancement and recent discoveries on cure of diseases because the medicines are hardly
affordable and far from the indigent patient's reach

The most appropriate and quick source of funding for free medicines to indigent
patients is the Internal Revenue Allotments (/RA) of local government units

It is the purpose of the bill to set aside a certain percentage of the IRA budget for
acquisition of medicines for free distribution to indigent patients in their respective localities

ify

RUFUS B. RODRIG!

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EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

‘introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez

House Bill No, 3761

AN ACT
REQUIRING LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO EARMARK A PORTION OF THEIR INTERNAL
REVENUE ALLOTMENTS FOR FREE MEDICINES TO INDIGENT PATIENTS IN THEIR
LOCALITIES, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. Local Governments to Earmark a Portion of IRA for Free Medicines. — It
shall be the obligation of all local governments to set aside and earmark a portion of their
Internal Revenue Allotments (IRA) for appropriation for free medicines to be distributed to
the public hospitals. clinics. dispensaries or other outlets to indigent patients for free in their
localities,

SEC. 2. Indigent Patients, defined; How dispensed. - Indigent patients are those who
have no visible means of income or whose income is insufficient for the subsistence of his or
her family as identified by the local social welfare department; Provided. However, that the
local government shall maintain a list confirmed by the barangay officials concerned where
the indigent patient resides and to issue an identifying document to insure that the free
medicines are properly dispensed to deserving recipients, Provided. Further, that said
hospitals, clinics or dispensaries shall, as far as practicable, establish their own pharmacy or
outlets within their premises and maintain sufficient stock or quantity of the most common
prescribed medicines in order to immediately provide the free medicines to the indigent

patients

SEC. 3. Regular Accounting. - All pharmacies or outiets distributing or dispensing free
medicines shall render periodic accounting of such disbursement duly posted in at least
three (3) public bulietin boards specifying the patients name, address, doctor prescribing the
medicine and the amount or cost of the medicine.

SEC. 4. Acts Constituting Violations of this Act; Penalty. ~ In addition to the criminal
liability incurred by persons for violating pertinent provisions of the Revised Penal Code or
other special laws, the following acts shall constitute a crime under this Act
(a) Preparing a list or certification that a patient is indigent when he is not
(b) Submitting, preparing or altering any document to make it appear that any
iegitimate acquisition, purchase, disbursement or distribution had been made for
free medicines when in fact there is none:
(c) Diverting. concealing or using for other use or purpose, the funds for free
medicines
(d) Dispensing or distributing the free medicines under this Act other than to indigent
patients:
(e) Selling or disposing of the free medicines; and
(f) Marking up or padding the purchase cost of medicines acquired under this Act
and,


(a) Knowingly purchasing expired medicines or those expiring within one (1) year
from date of purchase.

Those found guilty of committing any of the acts above defined shall be sentenced to
an imprisonment of not less than two (2) years nor more than seven (7) years

SEC. 5. Separability Clause. — If any of the sections or provisions of this Act is held invalid,
ail other provisions not affected thereby shall remain valid

SEC. 6. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect within fifteen (15) days after its
complete publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved.