SIXTEENTl-: CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF T -IE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
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'13 
JUL r) 1'1\:13 
SENATE 
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Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 11, Section 15, provides: 
The State shall protect and promote the right to health of 
the people ancl instill health consciOLlsness among them, 
Hepatitis e is a blood-borne pathogen that is, according to the American Liver 
Foundation, the most common cause of chronic liver disease, liver cirrhosis, and liver cancer. It 
is also the rr ost C0111111011 indication for JiveI' transplant, and the leading cause of death ill people 
with l-jull1an hmllnt10deficiency Virus or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, In addition, 
there may b" links between the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) and certain other diseases, given that a 
high numbel of people infected with HeV also suffer from Type 2 Diabetes, lymphoma, thyroid 
and certain t lood disorders and autoimmune diseases. 
Indi\ icluals infected with I-ICV serve as a source of transmission to others and, since few 
individuals me aware that they arc infected, they are unlikely to take precautions to prevent the 
spread or e~ acerbation of their infcction. To date, there is no known cure [ell' Ilepatitis C. The 
government should expand efforts to increase knowledge and a\vnrcness of HeV among its 
citizens. I-Ience, this bill seeks to provide for a study to determine the prevalence of Hepatitis C 
infection in the country ane! undertake a program to provide training, testing, and treatment 
regarding cases of the disease,l 
1 'I his bill was origillally filed during the Thirteenth Congress, first Regular Sesskm. 
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~:n l'tHl t 1" 
a;itfl(f l'~ tf!" ;">rrtf'L:lr~ 
SIXTFENTt CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLJC 
) 
OF T -IE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
'13 
JUL 1 ') 
P 11 :13 
J ntroduccd by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
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MANDA'~JNG COMPREHENSIVE RESEARCH FOR THE PREVENTION, CONTROL, 
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MID MEDICAL MANAGEMENT OF HEPATITIS C VIRUS INFECTION 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of Ihe Philippines il1 
Congress as: el11bied: 
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SEC"ION I. Shari nt/e . .. This Act may be citcd as the "Hepatitis C Epidemic Control 
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and l'reventi J!1 Act." 
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SEC"ION 2. Definition oj'Terms. - As used in this Act, the term: 
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(A) 
"Secretary" means the Secretary oflleahh. 
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(Il) 
"DOH means the Department of Health. 
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(C) 
"I-ICV" meallS Hepatitis C Virus. 
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SEc'rON 3. Prevention, Control, and Medical Management o/Hepatitis C. --
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(A) 
In General. .. The Secretary shall develop amI impJcmeut a plan for the 
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prevention, control, and medical management of tlie HCV that includes strategies for education 
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8l1l1 training, survcillance and early detection. and research. 
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(Il) 
Input in Development of Piau ... In developing the [Jlan uncler subsection (Al, the 
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Secretary:;b,lll--
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(1) Be guided by existing recommendations orthe DOH; and 
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(2) Consult with the Director of the National Center [or Disease Prevention and 
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Control (NCDPC); the Board of Adviscrs of the National Institutes of Health 
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the med ical advisory bodies that address issues related to I ICV; and tile 


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(C) 
public, including individuals infected with the l-ICV anu advocates conccrucd 
with issues related to Hev. 
Biennial Assessment of Plan. --
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(I) In General. - The Secretary shaH conduct a biennial assessment of the plan 
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developed under subsection (A) for the purpose of incorporating into such 
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plan new knowledge or observations relating to HeV and chronic HCV. such 
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as knowledge and observations that may be derived fro111 clinical, laboratory, 
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and epidemiological research and disease detection, prevention, and 
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surveillance outcomes, and addressing gaps in the coverage or effectiveness of 
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the plan. 
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(2) Publication of Notice of Assessments. - Not later than October 1 of the first 
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even numbered year beginning after the date of enactment of the Hepatitis C 
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Epidemic Control and Prevention Act, and October 1 of each even numbered 
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year thereafter, thc Secrctary shall publish in the Official Gnzette a notice of 
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thc results of the assessments conducted nnder paragraph (1). Such notice 
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shall include -
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(a) A description of any revisions to the plan developeuuncler subsection (A) 
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as a result oflhe assessment; 
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(b) An explanation of the basis for any such revisions, including the ways in 
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which such revisions can reasonably be expected to fnrtller promote the 
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original goals and objectives of the plan; and 
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(c) In the case ora determination by the Secretary that the plan docs not neeel 
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revision, an explanation of the basis for snch determination. 
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SECTION 4. Elements of the National Plan jiJr the Prevention, Control, and ivfedical 
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Managell1en' ojHepa/itis C. -
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(1\) 
Education and Training. - The Secretary, acting tllrough the [)irector of the 
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NCDPC, sl all implemcnt programs to increase awareness and enhance knowledge and 
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understnndiI 19 0 f HCV. Such programs shall include --
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(13) 
(I) The conduct of health education, public awareness campaigns, and 
conullunity outreach activities to promote public awareness and knowledge 
about risk factors, the transmission and prevention of infection with I-ICV. tbe 
value of screening for the early detcction of HCV infcction, and options 
available for the trcatment of chronic HCV; 
(2) The training 0(" healthcare professionals regarding the prevention, detection, 
and medical management of the hepatitis B virus (I-lBV) anci HCV, mid the 
importance of vaccinating HCV -infected individuals and those at risk for 
I-ICV infcction against the hepatitis A virus and HI3V; ancl 
(3) The development and distribution of cU11"icula, including information relating 
to the special needs or individuals infected with I-lBV or HCV, such as the 
importance of early intervention and treatment and the recognition of 
psychosocial needs, for individuals providing hepatitis counseling, as well itS 
support for the implementation of such curricula by State and local public 
health agencies. 
Early Dctection and Surveillance. -
(1) In Gencral. - The Secretary, acting through the Director of the NCDPC, shall 
support activities described in paragraph (2) to promote tile early detection of 
HCV infection, identify risk factors for infection, and coneluct surveillance of 
HCV infection trends. 
(2) Activitics. -
(a) Voluntary Testing Programs. -The Secretary shall support anel promote the 
development of national and local voluntary Hev testing programs to aid 
in the early identification of infected individua.ls. 
(b) Confidentiality of Test Results. - The results of an HeV tcst conelncted by 
a testing program developcd or snpported under this subparagraph shall be 
considered protectcd health information. 
(e) Counseling Regarding Viral Hepatitis. - The Secretary shall support 
national and local programs in a wide varicty of settings, ineiliding those 
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(C) 
providillg primary and specialty healthcare servIces in nonprofit private 
and public sectors, to provide individuals with inflJrmalion about ongoing 
risk fadors for HCV infection with 
client~cel\tercd cchlcation and 
counseling that concentrates on changing behaviors that place them at risk 
f()[" infection; and provide individuals infected with I-ICV \vith education 
and counseling to reduce the risk of harm to themselves and transmission 
of the virus to olhers, 
(d) Vaccination against Vim I Hepatitis. - With respect to individuals infected, 
or at risk for infection, with I~ICV, the Secretary shall provide €or the 
vaccination of such individuals against hepatitis A virus, HBV, HeV, and 
other infectious diseases, as appropriate, for which such individuals may 
be at increased risk; and the counseling of such individuals rcgarding 
hepatitis A, HBV, I-ICV, and other viral hepatides. 
(e) Medical Referral. - The Secretary shall support ~ referral of persons 
illfcctcci with or at risk Jor I-lCV, for drug or alcohol abuse treatment 
where appropriate; and referral of persons infected with j-ICV for medical 
evaluation to determine their stage of chronic I-ICV and suitability for 
antiviral LreatmenL and for ongoing medical managcmenl of HeV. 
Hepatitis C Coordinators. - The Secretary, acting through the Director of the 
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NCDPC, sh: ll, upon request, provide a Hepatitis C Coordinator to a local health department in 
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order La en lance the management, networking, and technical expertise needed to ensure 
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successful 
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programs. 
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htegralion of HeV prevention and control activities into existing public health 
Surveillance and Epidemiology. -
(I) In General. - The Secretary shall promole and support the establishment and 
maintenance of State I-ICV surveillance databases., in order to ~ 
(a) Identify risk factors for HCV infection; 
(b) Idcntify trends in the incidence ofaeute and chronic HeV; 
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(c) Identify trcnds in thc prevalence ofI-!CY infection among groups that may 
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be disproportionately affected by Hey, including individuals living witli 
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Human Immunodeficiency Yirus, military veterans, emergency iirst 
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responders, racial or etlmic minorities, and individuals who engage ill high 
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risk behaviors, such as intravenous drug use; and 
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(d) Assess and improve HCY infection prevention programs. 
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(2) Seroprevalence Studies. - The Secretary shall conduct a populatjon-based 
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seroprevalcnce study to estimate the current and future impact of HCY. Such 
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studies shall consider the economic and clinical impacts of Hey, as well as 
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the impact of HCY on quality of life. 
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(E) 
Research Network. - The Secretary, acting through the Director of the NCDPC 
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alllithc Boad of Advisers oCthc National Institutes o[Health, shall-
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(1) Conduct epidemiologic research to idcntify best practices for Hev 
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prevention; 
(2) Establish and support a Hepatitis C Clinical Research Net work for the purpose 
of conducting research related to the treatment and medical management of 
HCV; and 
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(3) Conduct basic research to identify new approaches to prevention, sucb as 
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vaccines, and treatment for HCY. 
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(F) 
Referral for Medical Management of Chronic HCY. - The Secretary shall support 
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alld prol1lote State, local, and tribal programs to provide Hey -positive incJivicJuals witb referral 
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[or medical evaluation and management, including currently recommended antiviral therapy 
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when appropiatc. 
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Undcrscrved and Disproportionately Affected Populations. - In carrying out this 
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section, the Secretary shall provide expanded support for individLlals with limited [lccess to 
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health educftion, testillg, and healthc8l'e services and groups that may be disproportionately 
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afCectecl by HCY. 
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(II) 
Evaluation of Program. - The Secretary shall develop benchmarks far cvaluating 
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the clTectiv( ness 0[' thc programs and activities conducted under this section and make 
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cictcnninatio 15 as to whether SllCh benchmarks have been achieved. 
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SEC"]ON 5. Appropriations. - There shall be authorized to be appropriated such 
5 . amounts as J ecessary to carry out the provisions of this Act, to be included in the annual budget 
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oflbe Depar ment of Health in the General Appropriations Act. 
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SEC"[ON 6. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is declared invalid or 
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uncollstitutic nal, the remainder of the law no( otherwise affected shall remain valid and 
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subsisting. 
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SEC"]ON 7. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
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order, leUer of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
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with, the provisions of this Act, are hereby modified, repealed, or amended accordingly. 
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SEC]ON 8. T'ffectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) clays afler its 
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publication i 1 at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
ApprJvecl, 
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