EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
S. No.
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Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR.
AN ACT
TO INSTITUTIONALIZE A STANDARD UPGRADE AND MODERNIZATION OF 
REGIONAL HOSPITALS TO CREATE AND ESTABLISH REGIONAL CENTER OF 
EXCELLENCE FOR HEALTH CARE
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The novel Corona virus (COVID-19) pandemic which crippled the health 
systems across the world, even those of the developed countries, due to rapid 
transmission and treacherous nature of infection, has offered us an opportunity to 
take a closer and a more serious look at our public health care systems.
Once again, grave limitations of our health facilities came to light - scarce 
hospital beds to accommodate patients, insufficient number of medical and health 
professionals to properly attend to the sick, and inadequate equipment and 
laboratories to support our doctors and nurses in the conduct of their duty.
As of 14 April 2020, the Department of Health reported 5,223 COVID-19 
cases nationwide. As experts believe that the number of cases will still go up and 
has yet to reach its peak, hospitals are bracing for the worst.
It is high time that the national government initiate a massive upgrading and 
modernization of our public hospitals across the country, beginning with our regional 
health facilities, to arm them with the necessary and satisfactory infrastructure, 
equipment, manpower and training.
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This bill aims to provide the best health care service possible to the people, 
especially those outside Metro Manila, by establishing fully operational and world 
class regional hospitals which will also function as a Center of Excellence for Health 
Care. In consonance with intent of the landmark Universal Health Care Act, this 
measure seeks to strengthen the government's resolve in providing quality, 
accessible and affordable health service to all Filipinos.
In this light, the immediate approval of this bill is highly recommended.
RAMCM BONG REVILLA, JR.


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
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SENATE
1425
S. No.
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR.
AN ACT
TO INSTITUTIONALIZE A STANDARD UPGRADE AND MODERNIZATION OF 
REGIONAL HOSPITALS TO CREATE AND ESTABLISH REGIONAL CENTER OF 
EXCELLENCE FOR HEALTH CARE
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representative of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Institution of
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Regional Center of Excellence for Health Care Act."
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Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to adopt an
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integrated and comprehensive approach to health development, which shall be
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available and accessible to all the people at affordable cost. Towards this end,
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reforms shall be introduced and implemented within the Philippine health delivery
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system that must be available, accessible and affordable in order to achieve the
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common objective of universal health care for Filipinos.
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Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act, the terms enumerated
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below shall have the following meaning:
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(a) "Anatomic and Clinical Pathology Laboratory System"- shall refer to a
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laboratory facility that provides the diagnosis of disease using laboratory
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testing of blood and other bodily fluids, tissues and microscopic evaluation
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of individual cells. The laboratory testing shall cover the following areas:
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(1) Anatomic pathology, which includes histopathology, cytopathology, and
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electron microscopy, and


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(2) Clinical pathology, which typically includes - Clinical Microbiology, 
Clinical Chemistry, Hematology, Blood Bank, and Molecular diagnostics 
or DNA testing.
(b) "Angiogram"- refers to a diagnostic procedure that outlines blood vessels, 
usually arteries, in various areas in the body that is used in identifying 
narrowing or blockages in the arteries of the body.
(c) "Computed Tomography (CT) Scan"- refers to an X-ray image made 
using a form of tomography in which a computer controls the motion of 
the X-ray source and detectors, processes the data, and produces the 
image. The detailed images of internal organs are obtained by this type of 
sophisticated X-ray device can reveal anatomic details of internal organs 
that cannot be seen in conventional X-rays.
(d) "Dialysisf' - refers to the process of removing waste products and excess 
fluid from the body. Dialysis is necessary when the kidneys are not able to 
adequately filter the blood.
(e) "Dialysis Facility System"- refers to a facility that provides treatment for 
chronic kidney disease.
(f) "High Risk Pregnancy Unit (HRPU)"- a unit in the hospital where women 
are confined, with complications arising from pregnancy, whose treatment 
requires constant supervision or further investigation and assessment. The 
unit is operated by a staff of experts such as but not limited to 
perinatologists, obstetricians, pediatricians, with the assistance, as 
needed, of other specialists. It is a fully equipped obstetric ICU that can 
handle high risk cases and with a corresponding high-risk neonatal ICU 
(NICU) to handle high risk neonates.
(g) "Intensive Care Unit (ICU)"- a hospital unit in which patients requiring 
close monitoring, continuous attention and intensive/critical care are kept. 
An ICU contains highly technical monitoring devices and equipment and is 
staffed by personnel trained to deliver critical care.
(h) "Mammograni' - refers to an X-ray test that produces an image of breast 
tissue on film. This technique called mammography, is used to visualize 
normal and abnormal structures within the breasts.


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(i) "Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)"- refers to a procedure that uses a
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strong magnetic field and radio waves to create detailed images of the
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organs and tissues within the body.
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0) "Medicai Speciaiist" - refers to a doctor of medicine that practices a
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specific branch of medicine.
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(k) "Neonatai Intensive Care Unit (NICU)' - a hospital unit containing a
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variety of mechanical devices and special equipment for management and
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care of premature/preterm and seriously ill newborns. The unit is staffed
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by a team of neonatologists, other pediatric subspecialists, and nurses
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who are highly trained in the management of medical and surgical
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conditions of the newborn.
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(I) "Rehabiiitation Care Facility System" - refers to hospital facility that
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provides a specialized medical care and/or rehabilitation services to
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injured, sick or disabled patients, which includes speech therapy and
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physical rehabilitation.
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(m) "Regional Government Hospital"- refers to a hospital operated and
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maintained either partially or wholly by the national government or by any
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department, division, board or other agency thereof.
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Sec. 4. Coverage. - The provisions of this Act shall apply specifically and
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exclusively to Regional Hospitals with service mandate of a general hospital and at
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least five hundred (500) authorized bed capacity and identified by the Department of
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Health to have full operational potential to maintain and operate as a Center for
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Excellence on Health Care Facility that provides affordable, quality, accessible and
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efficient hospital services and health care to the general population throughout their
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respective regions.
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Sec. 5. Regional Hospital Modernization Program. - Within five (5) years
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from the effectivity of this Act, all the DOH identified Regional Hospitals under
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Section 4 of this Act shall be upgraded to have a minimum functional capacity of a
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Regional Center of Excellence for Health Care that is comparable to health care
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institution with a world class quality medical services and international standards
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accreditations, such as but not limited to, Joint Commission International, and the


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likes. In order to achieve this goal, there shall be a Regional Hospital Modernization
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Program to facilitate improvement and enhancement of the physical facilities,
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equipment and instruments, and service delivery of all the DOH identified Regional
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Hospitals, specifically:
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(a) Physical Facilities and Equipment and Instruments. - At the minimum, all
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DOH identified Regional Hospitals shall establish, operate and maintain the
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following physical facilities, complete with the necessary equipment and
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instruments, including, but not limited to:
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(1) 
Isolation facilities;
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(2) 
General Intensive Care Unit;
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(3) Neonatal Intensive Care Unit;
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(4) Surgical Facility/Maternal Facility;
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(5) High Risk Pregnancy Unit;
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(6) Ambulatory Surgical Clinic;
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(7) Anatomic and Clinical Laboratory;
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(8) Blood Station;
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(9) Dialysis Facility;
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(10) Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Facility;
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(11) Radiologic Facilities, such as X-Ray, CT Scan, Mammogram, MRI,
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ECG, Angiogram, Ultrasound, and others;
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(12) Psychiatry Facility;
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(13) Nuclear Medicine Facility; and
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(14) Other necessary medical facilities as may be identified by the
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Department of Health.
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(b) Support staff. - All the facilities enumerated in Section 5 (a) must have
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competent and trained staff, nurses, therapists, medical technicians,
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and/or other ancillary and support staff that can perform the highly
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specialized procedures required in the abovementioned facilities. Required
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plantilla positions for the said professional health care services for the
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respective regional hospitals are hereby created to conform and to be
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commensurate to the requirements of the facilities and services offered of
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the Regional Hospital.


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(c) Service Delivery. - All DOH identified Regional Hospitals shall offer the
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services for ail kinds of illnesses, diseases, injuries or deformities. It shall
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have certified/eligible medical specialists, to facilitate timely, efficient,
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affordable and accessible diagnosis and treatment Plantilla positions for
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the required medical specialists are hereby created for the following areas.
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(1) Clinical Services
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(i.) 
Family Medicine;
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(ii.) 
Pediatrics;
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(iii.) 
Internal Medicine;
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(iv.) 
Obstetrics and Gynecology; and
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(v.) 
Surgery.
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(2) Emergency Services
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(3) At least one (1) Medical specialist on the following areas:
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(i.) 
Pulmonology;
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(ii.) 
Cardiology;
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(iii.) 
Urology;
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(iv.) 
Neurology;
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(v.) 
Pathology;
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(vi.) 
Oncology;
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(vii.) 
Psychiatry;
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(viii.) 
Rehabilitation Medicine; and
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(ix.) 
Other specialists as recommended by the Department of Health.
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(d) Teaching and/or training hospital. - Within three (3) years from the
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effectivity of this Act, all the DOH identified Regional Hospitals must be
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expanded to be teaching and/or training hospital with an accredited
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residency training program for physicians in the four (4) major specialties
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namely: Medicine, Pediatrics, Obstetrics, and Surgery.
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Sec. 6. Creation of Regional Hospital Modernization Commission. - There is
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hereby created a Regional Hospital Modernization Commission, hereinafter referred
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to as the Commission, which shall be attached to the Department of Health (DOH),
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which shall function as the implementing body for the proper execution and for
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policy and coordination of the Regional Hospital Modernization Program.


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The Commission shall be composed of seven (7) members, to wit: the
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Secretary of the Department of Health as ex officio chairman; a vice chairman to be
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appointed by the President of the Philippines; a representative from the Philippine
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Medical Association (PMA); two (2) representatives from other health professionals;
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a representative from the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines (PHAP);
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and the Executive Director of the Commission Secretariat, ail to be appointed by the
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President of the Philippines upon recommendation of the Secretary of the
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Department of Health to be made on the basis of the list of nominees submitted by
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their respective organizations and who shall serve for a term of five (5) years. The
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Executive Director of the Commission Secretariat shall also be a member of the
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Commission.
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The Commission shall be assisted by a Secretariat to be headed by an
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Executive Director and two (2) Deputy Directors, who shall be appointed by the
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President of the Philippines, upon recommendation of the Secretary of the
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Department of Health.
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The Executive Director shall have the same rank, salary, benefits, and other
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emoluments as that of a Department Assistant Secretary, while the Deputy Directors
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shall have the same rank, salary, benefits and emoluments as that of a Bureau
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Director. The members of the Commission representing the PMA, other health
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professionals, and PHAP shall have the same rank, emoluments, allowances, and
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other benefits as those of a Regional Hospital Director.
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Sec. 7. Powers and Functions of the Commission. — The Commission shall
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have the following powers and functions:
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(a) To act as the national consultative and advisory body to the Department
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of Health on matters relating to the Regional Hospital Modernization
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Program;
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(b) To prescribe rules and criteria for the determination of the regional
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hospitals that will be included in the program;
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(c) To formulate policies and guidelines on the required upgrade and
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modernization of the physical facilities, procurement of equipment and
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instruments, hiring and training medical specialists, nurses, therapists,
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technicians, and other ancillary and support staff;


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(d) To study the upgrading and modernization plan and to determine if these
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are in accordance with the objective to create a health care facility with a
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world class quality medical services and international standards
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accreditations;
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(e) To undertake studies, researches, and surveys, necessary for the
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attainment of its functions and objectives, and to collect and compile data
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on the latest developments in the health care industry;
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(f) To exercise technical and administrative supervision over the DOH
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identified Regional Hospital during the upgrade and modernization
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program and until the Regional Hospital becomes self-sufficient and self-
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sustaining; and
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(g) To exercise such powers and functions as may be necessary to implement
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this Act.
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Sec. 8. Inventory/Audit of Regional Hospitals. - An inventory/audit of the
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physical facilities, equipment and instruments as well as the personnel of the
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Regional Hospitals shall be conducted within six (6) months from the promulgation
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of the implementing rules and regulations of this Act, to determine the present
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classification of the respective regional hospitals based on their functional capacity.
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The resuit of the audit and inventory shall be the basis of the respective upgrade
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and modernization plan for each DOH identified Regional Hospitals. Priority shall be
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given to the regional hospital that requires the most upgrade.
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Sec. 9. Appropriations. - The Secretary of Health shall immediately include in
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the Department of Health's priority the Regional Hospital Modernization Program, the
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funding of which shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
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Sec. 10. Implementing Rules and Regulations. The Department of Health
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(DOH) shall promulgate the implementing rules and regulations as may be necessary
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to carry out the provisions of this Act.
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Sec. 11. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid
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or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision or part not otherwise
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affected shall remain valid and subsisting.


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Sec. 12. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance,
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executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule, or regulation
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contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repeaied,
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modified, or amended accordingly.
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Sec. 13. EffectMty. - This Act shail take effect fifteen (15) days after its
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publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
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Approved,