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EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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F irst Regular Session 
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SENATE
Senate Bill No. 1 2 2 6
Senate
iMtcr o[ U;r ^rreu rf
*19 
DEC 10 
P5 54
RECEIVED BY;
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR CHRISTOPHER LAWRENCE “BONG” T. GO
AN ACT
AUTHORIZING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH (DOH) TO SET AND APPROVE THE 
BED CAPACITY AND SERVICE CAPABILITY OF ALL DOH HOSPITALS
EXPLANATORY NOTE
With the enactment of Republic Act No. 11223 or the Universal Health Care 
Law, the State is mandated to adopt a people-oriented approach for the delivery of 
health services that is centered on people’s needs and well-being.
In 2017, there were 1,161 licensed hospitals in the Philippines, 405 of which 
were owned by the government, and 73 of which were retained by the Department 
of Health, including four governm ent corporate specialty hospitals. The DOH 
hospitals com plem ent the district and provincial hospitals managed by local 
government units, and the private hospitals in providing health care services.
When the Philippine Health Facility Development Plan was approved by the 
President in 2017, the ratio of general hospital beds to the population was 1:1,142, 
exceeding the ideal ratio of 1:1,000. Often serving patients beyond their authorized 
bed capacities, DOH hospitals are further constrained by the lack of adequate 
staffing, maintenance and operating resources to fully provide the quality of health 
care that their patients deserve. In one study, the average bed occupancy rate of 
DOH hospitals reached 121 percent, above the benchm ark range of 80 to 85


percent. This situation result to longer waiting times for patients and delays in their 
treatment.
Under current regulations, a DOH hospital can only increase its bed capacity 
and improve its service capability through legislation. Proposals to adjust hospital 
capacity and capability compete with multitudes of other proposals in Congress.
To expedite the process for improving the capacity and capability of hospitals 
that are under the jurisdiction of the DOH, this measure seeks to authorize the DOH 
to increase the bed capacity and service capability of its retained hospitals, and to 
allow it to promulgate evaluation and approval guidelines for changes in capacity 
and capability.
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is sought.
SENATOR CHRISjroPHER LAWRENCE “ BONG” T. GO


■f
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
Senate
(0ftur of tl)f ^ffrrtarp
*19 
DEC 10 P5 54
First Regular Session
SENATE
Senate Bill No. 1 2 2 6
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR CHRISTOPHER LAWRENCE “BONG” T. GO
AN ACT
AUTHORIZING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH (DOH) TO SET AND APPROVE THE 
BED CAPACITY AND SERVICE CAPABILITY OF ALL DOH HOSPITALS
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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Section 1. Short Title. -  This Act shall be known as the “DOH Hospital Bed 
Capacity and Service Capability Rationalization Act of 2019.”
Sec. 2. Purpose, Scope and Coverage. — This Act shall stream line the 
process for approving changes in the authorized bed capacities and corresponding 
service capabilities of all Department of Health (DOH) hospitals.
Sec. 3. Authority to Approve. -  The DOH is hereby authorized to adjust and 
approve the authorized bed capacities and corresponding service capabilities of its 
retained hospitals. Thereafter, the DOH shall, through an administrative issuance, 
determine the bed capacities and service capabilities of DOH hospitals, subject to
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specific guidelines that shall be issued and promulgated, within three (3) months
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after the effectivity of this Act.
Sec. 4. Annual Report to Congress. -  The DOH shall provide Congress, 
through the Committee on Health of the House of Representatives and Committee 
on Health and Demography of the Senate, an annual report of hospitals with


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approved bed capacities, along with the necessary funding requirements.
Sec. 5. Philippine Health Facility Development Plan (PHFDP). -  The DOH shall 
develop the Philippine Health Facility Development Plan (PHFDP) to guide the 
modernization and development plans of all government health facilities, and in 
order to access capital outlay investment through the Health Facilities Enhancement
Program of the DOH and other national government capital outlay investm ent 
mechanisms.
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The Secretary of Health shall include in the Departm ent's programs the 
funding requirements for the adjustment in bed capacity and service capabiiity of 
each DOH hospital in accordance with the PHFDP and the hospitai's modernization
and deveiopment plan, the funding of which shall be included in the annual General 
Appropriations Act.
Sec. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). -  The DOH shall formulate 
the IRR of this Act within ninety (90) days of its effectivity.
Sec. 7. Repealing Clause. -  All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and 
regulations, or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby 
repealed, amended or modified accordingly.
Sec. 8. Effectivity Clause. -  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
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publication in the Official Gazette, or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,