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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ke RECEIVED
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MAY.
Quezon City OMTEF
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bill No. _'7668

Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative
HON. GARY C. ALEJANO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Article I1, Section 15 of the Constitution provides that the State shall protect and promote the right to
health of the people and instill health consciousness among them. In pursuit of this policy, it is the
objective of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to continuously endeavor to
improve its benefit package to meet the needs of its members. It is in this light that this bill secks to
provide coverage for the diagnostic services for breast and cervical cancer.

Breast cancer and cervical cancer are the leading causes of cancer and cancer deaths in Filipino women.
‘The Philippines is rad frat in breast cancer incidence in Asi and hms a higher prevaicnor rai than
those in several Western countries, including Spain, Italy, and most eastern European countries. Based on
the most recent data, relative survival rates for women diagnosed with breast cancer are: 88 percent at 5
years after diagnosis, 80 percent after 10 years, 71 percent after I5 years and 63 percent after 20 years.
From 1990 to 2002, death rates have decreased. The decline has been attributed to both improvements in
breast cancer treatment and early detection.'

Cervical cancer, also known as cancer of the cervix, is the second leading cause of death among Filipino
women. According to the 2005 Philippine Cancer Facts and Estimates, 7, 277 new cases and 3,807 deaths
due to cervical cancer were estimated to have occurred. This meant that there were approximately 10
Filipino women dying each day due to cervical cancer. This is mainly due to late detection and lack of
awareness of the disease among Filipino women.”

Based on the above data, it is safe to deduce that there is a direct correlation between the time of detection
and the odds for survival of women afflicted with these killer diseases. Thus, it is but urgent to include the
periodic diagnostic services or breast cancer and cervical cancer in the benefit package under the
PhilHlcalth. The intent of this measure rests on the premise that prevention and promotion of health
services are essential for reducing the need and spending for personal health services.

In view of the foregoing circumstances, approval of this measure is earnestly sought.
.

GARW C. ALEJANO
Representative
Magdalo Para sa Pilipino Party-List

* Breast Cancer Fact Sheet. Infonnation Retrieved from: htp://werw gskcom phibeastcancer. html. Retrieved on 03 February 2009.
* information retrieved from: http://www. doh gow ph/node19782. Retrieved on 08 February 2008.


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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bill No. "766.8

Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative
HON. GARY C. ALEJANO

AN ACT
REQUIRING THE PHILIPPINE HEALTH INSURANCE CORPORATION TO
PROVIDE COVERAGE FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES FOR BREAST AND
CERVICAL CANCER, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES

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 the "Breast and Cervical Cancer
Protection Act.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is hereby declared the policy of the State to adopt an
integrated and comprehensive approach to health development which shall endeavor to make
essential goods, health and other social services available to everyone at an affordable cost.
Priority for the needs of underprivileged, sick, elderly, disabled, women and children, shall be
recognized.

SEC. 3. Breast and Cervical Cancer Diagnostic Coverage. — The Philippine Health
Insurance Corporation (hereinafter referred to as PhilHealth) is hereby directed to include
mandatory periodic diagnostic services for breast cancer and cervical cancer in its benefit
package. The expenses for the mandatory diagnostic services shall be covered by Philhealth.

‘The diagnostic services shall include but not limited to Clinical Breast Cancer (CBE) and
Mammogram Examination for breast cancer; and Pap Smear Testing for cervical cancer
whichever is applicable at determined by the physician.

SEC. 4. Periodic Exam. — The mandatory diagnostic examination shall be done once a
year, or as often as may be necessary as determined by the Department of Health (DOH).

SEC. 5. Funding. — The amount necessary for the effective implementation of this Act
shall be based on the evaluated and adjusted cost-sharing schedule and cost containment feature
of the PhilHealth, as determined by the same on the basis of applicable actuarial studies.

SEC. 6. Implementing Rules. — The Department of Health and PhilHealth shall
promulgate the rules and regulations necessary for the effective enforcement of the provisions of
this Act.


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SEC. 7. Separability Clause. — \f any provision or part thereof is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or provision not otherwise affected shall remain valid
and subsisting.

‘SEC. 8. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive order,
letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to, or inconsistent with, the
provisions of this Act, is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly

SEC. 9. Effectivity Clause. - this Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,