NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) * RECN

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES _)
First Regular Session ) DATES.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H. B. No. 2561

Introduced by Representative Ralph G. Recto

AN ACT
CREATING ONE REGIONAL LUNG CENTER IN EACH OF THE
ADMINISTRATIVE REGIONS IN THE PHILIPPINES, PROVIDING FUNDS
THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Lung and chest diseases are one of the top 10 causes of death in the
Philippines. The most common of these diseases affecting millions of Filipinos every
year are pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), tuberculosis,
and other respiratory system illness which ranked 3", 5, 7. and 10" respectively,
as leading causes of mortality. Many cases of pulmonary illnesses also remain
unreported and untreated as most incidences occur in a poorer population with no
access to medical facilities.

For tuberculosis alone, the Department of Health (DOH) is now exerting
efforts to detect at least 2.5 million tuberculosis cases to prevent it from spreading
further.! Tuberculosis is still considered a deadly disease worldwide and the
Philippines was reported to have the most number of cases in Southeast Asia last
year.

Meanwhile, according to the Philippine College of Chest Physicians, one in five

Filipinos has COPD but only 3% of them will consult a doctor and 50% are not even
aware that they are afflicted with the disease.

* huaps://news.abs-cbn com/lfe/08/25/19/pulmonologists push-for-more-lung-disease-awareness


Pneumonia cases have been consistently on the rise over the years. In the
last three years, PhilHealth paid an average of P10 Billion on claims for pneumonia,
making the disease the highest-paid medical case rate.

Other respiratory system diseases including asthma also made it to the top
ten medical cases with the highest PhilHealth reimbursements last year.

Data from the Lung Center of the Philippines (LCP) indicate that almost 80%
of Filipino patients with lung diseases are aged 36 years old and above. This means
that lung diseases hit the most productive years of a man’s life. These are said to
be caused by several factors such as unabated pollution, industrialization, and
cigarette smoking, among others.

Respiratory diseases have been a priority concern of the government since
many decades ago. The increasing cases of these diseases led to the creation of the
LCP in 1981. The LCP was envisioned to provide the Filipino people with specialized
care for lung and other chest diseases — from prevention to treatment to
rehabilitation.

Lung diseases to some extent, are said to be preventable and curable with
early and adequate medical care, immunization, and prompt and _ intensive
preventive and health education programs. Hence, it is important to make the
facilities that provide the necessary pulmonary care and services available to as
many Filipinos as possible.

It is in this regard that this bill aims to create one Regional Lung Center in
each of the administrative regions in the country. By doing so, the government will
be able to bring the specialized lung and chest care closer to many Filipinos in the
countryside as the LCP and other tertiary hospitals that provide quality medical care
are mostly concentrated in Metro Manila. Bringing this specialized lung and chest
care will not only lessen the burden of our fellow Filipinos in terms of cost and time


spent traveling to the city, but it will also lead to more patients benefiting from
specialized care, hence, will prevent the further spread of lung diseases.

The Regional Lung Centers shall be administered by the DOH and may be
created within the existing DOH Regional Hospitals and Medical Centers. The Centers
shall be equipped with essential pulmonary care equipment and necessary medical
supplies and shall tap the services of lung and chest specialists and other
professionals who shall render services at a subsidized cost.

In light of the foregoing, immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

//mksbc


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

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

2561

H.B. No.

Introduced by Representative Ralph G. Recto

AN ACT
CREATING ONE REGIONAL LUNG CENTER IN EACH OF THE
ADMINISTRATIVE REGIONS IN THE PHILIPPINES, PROVIDING FUNDS
THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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 “Regional Lung
Centers Act”.

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared as the policy of the State
to secure the well-being of its people by providing them with specialized pulmonary
care services and to address the increasing incidences of lung and chest diseases in
the country. It is also the policy of the State to ensure that every region in the
country shall have an equal opportunity to benefit from public specialty healthcare
services. Towards this end, the State shall create regional lung centers throughout
the country.

Sec. 3. Regional Lung Centers. — There is hereby created one (1) Regional
Lung Center in each of the administrative regions in the country. The Regional Lung
Centers shall provide specialized pulmonary care services for Filipinos suffering from
lung and chest diseases with special consideration for the marginalized members of
the society: Provided, That the Regional Lung Centers shall pursue excellence in
developing and establishing the highest level of pulmonary-related training and
research for physician and paramedical personnel: Provided, further, That the
operation and maintenance of the Regional Lung Centers shall be under the
Department of Health (DOH): Provided, even further, That the Regional Lung
Centers may be created within the existing DOH Regional Hospitals and Medical


Centers as deemed feasible by the DOH: Provided, finally, That the Regional Lung
Centers shall provide comparable quality of pulmonary care as that of the Lung
Center of the Philippines.

Sec. 4. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the implementation of
this Act and the initial operation and maintenance of the Regional Lung Centers shall
be charged against the Contingent Fund. Thereafter, such sums as may be
necessary for the implementation of this Act shall be included in the subsequent
annual General Appropriations Act under the budget of the DOH.

Sec. 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety days (90) after
the effectivity of this Act, the DOH and the Department of Budget and Management
shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the proper implementation
of this Act.

Sec. 6. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen days (15) days following
its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation or in the Officia/
Gazette.

Approved,