Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Batasan Hills, Quezon City

RECEIVED

DATE _July 13, 2022
* TIME 457pm

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NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. _ 1942 -

Introduced by

HON. YEDDA MARIE K. ROMUALDEZ
and
HON. JUDE A. ACIDRE

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A STANDARD OF CARE AND TREATMENT CENTERS
FOR PERSONS WITH BLEEDING DISORDERS, AND APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR

EXPLANATORY NOTE

In the Philippines, statistics have shown that around ten thousand
(10,000) Filipinos are estimated to have hemophilia, while the prevalence of
Von Willebrand Disease and other bleeding disorders is estimated to be 1% of
the population or about 1,000,000 Filipinos. However, only about 1,500 are
registered with the Philippine Hemophilia Foundation and about 20 people with
Von Willebrand Disease are registered in the Philippines.

Bleeding disorders are a group of conditions that result when the blood
cannot clot properly. Spontaneous bleeding can be life-threatening, especially
when it occurs to a vital organ as it can cause permanent damage. Medical
Practitioners and scientists haven't found a cure for this condition. However,
this can be properly managed by getting regular and proper treatments.


Hence, this bill seeks to establish a standard of care and mandate the
establishment of hemophilia treatment facilities in key cities and regions
nationwide in designated hospitals with Cancer and Hematology Departments
to provide patients with better access to appropriate and quality treatment. The
measure ensures the adequate treatment of hemophilia and other bleeding
disorders at the lowest possible cost and to provide it for free to indigent
patients.

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

Rep. YEDDA MARIE K. ROMUALDEZ
Representative,“Tingog Sinirangan

Rep. JUDE/A. ACIDRE
ive, Tingog Sinirangan


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Batasan Hills, Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS:
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 1942 _

Introduced by

HON. YEDDA MARIE K. ROMUALDEZ
and
HON. JUDE A. ACIDRE

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A STANDARD OF CARE AND TREATMENT CENTERS
FOR PERSONS WITH HEMOPHILIA AND OTHER BLEEDING DISORDERS,
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of the Representatives of the

Philippines in Congress assembled:

Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Bleeding
Disorder Standards of Care Act.”

Section 2. Declaration of Policy. — \t is hereby declared the policy of
the State to ensure the adequate treatment of hemophilia at the lowest possible
cost and endeavor to make them available for free to indigent patients, to
ensure the establishment of treatment centers in public hospitals and to
establish a standard of care so that patients with severe bleeding disorders can
receive necessary and appropriate medical care.

Section 3. Definition of Terms. As used in this Act, the terms

(a) “Bleeding Disorder’ shall reter to a medical condition characterized
by a severe deficiency or absence of one or more essential blood
clotting proteins in the human blood, often called factors, including


all forms of hemophilia, von Willebrand disease, and other bleeding
disorders which result in uncontrolled bleeding or abnormal blood
clotting;

(b) “Blood Clotting product’ shall mean an intravenously administered
medicine manufactured from human plasma, recombinant
biotechnology techniques and other processes, approved for
distribution by the BFAD and which is used for the treatment and
prevention of symptoms associated with bleeding disorders. The
term includes, but is not limited to:

(1) Factor Vila, Factor Vill and Factor 1X products;

(2) Von Willebrand Factor products;

(3) Prothrombin complex concentrates;

(4) Activated prothrombin complex concentrates; and

(5) Other products approved by the BFAD for the treatment of
bleeding disorders and associated inhibitors.

(c) “Indigent Patient’ shall mean any patient deemed unable to pay for
services or medical treatment, laboratory testing of blood and/or
coagulation studies, or blood coagulating product and/or ancillary
infusion equipment:

(d) “DOH' shall refer to the Department of Health;

(e) “BFAD" shall refer to the Bureau of Food and Drugs;

(f) “Hemophilia” shall refer to a human bleeding disorder caused by a
hereditary deficiency of the Factor VIII, Factor XI or Factor XI blood
clotting protein in human blood; and

(g) ‘von Willebrand disease" shall refer to a human bleeding disorder
caused by a hereditary deficiency or abnormality of the von
Willebrand Factor in human blood;

Section 4. State Treatment Facilities. - The State shall establish
hemophilia treatment facilities in key cities and regions nationwide in
designated hospitals with Cancer and Hematology Departments.


Each Hemophilia Treatment Facility shall provide to all hemophilia

patients:

(a) Care by qualified hematologists and medical doctors and shall also
provide, free of charge, the necessary blood clotting products and
ancillary infusion equipment necessary for the infusion of such blood
clotting products;

(b) A room exclusively for hemophilia patients; and,

(c) A clinical coagulation laboratory for the screening, diagnosis,
provisional diagnosis, and treatment of bleeding disorders or
suspected bleeding disorders and such services shall be provided
free of charge to all indigent patients.

Section 5. Funding. — The amount necessary for the initial
implementation of this Act shall be sourced from the current budget of the
Department of Health. Thereafter, the funds necessary for the continuous
implementation of this Act in the ensuing years shall be included in the General
Appropriations Act.

The treatment facilities are allowed to use five percent (5%) of the
amount given to it for the maintenance of the rooms that will be used exclusively
for hemophilia patients. However, ninety percent (90%) of the amount shall be
used exclusively for necessary blood clotting products and ancillary infusion
equipment necessary for the infusion of such blood clotting products to
hemophilia patients. The remaining five percent (5%) shall be used for blood

screening of hemophilia patients.

Each treatment facility shall submit an annual report to the DOH on how
the amount given to it is used.

Section 6. /mplementing Rules and Regulations. — Within sixty (60)
days from the approval of this Act, the Department of Health (DOH) shall, in


consultation with hemophilia groups, promulgate the Implementing Rules and
Regulations (IRR) to carry out the provisions of this Act.

Section 7. Separability Clause. — \f any provision of this Act is declared
invalid or unconstitutional, the provisions not affected thereby shall remain in
full force and effect.

Section 8. Effectivity.— This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general

circulation.

Approved,