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THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
INTRODUCED BY HON. MANUEL B. VILLAR, JR. 
EXPLANATORYNOTE 
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This bill seeks to prevent the undesirable practice of hospitals and medical clinics in 
preventing the discharge of fully- recovered or otherwise dead patients for 
non-payment, either partially or fully, of hospital bills. 
The said practice unnecessarily delay in the discharge of patient, thus resulting to 
more expensive hospital bill for the distressed patients. Unchecked and continuously 
tolerated, the practice is a simple case of detention, which is an act against the will of 
the patients constituting deprivation of liberty without legal cause. In any language, it 
is a legally and morally unacceptable posture. 
The bill allows the underprivileged patient to leave the hospital upon the execution of a 
duly secured promissory note and imposes a penal sanction for violation of any of its 
provisions. 
While the rights of hospital owners and/or medical practitioners must be respected, 
there must be a better and more human way of treating patients who, having been 
adequately attended to, already wish to leave the hospital were it not for their unpaid 
bills. To the financially incapable patient, it is a matter of liberty and livelihood; to the 
hospital owners and the 
sacrifice. 
In view of all the foregoing, 
medic& practitioners, it simply means a little financial 
the approval of the Bill is fervently called. 
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THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
INTRODUCED BY HON. MANUEL B. VILLAR. JR. 
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AN ACT PROHIBITING THE DETENTION OF LIVE OR DEAD PATIENTS IN 
HOSPITAL BILLS OR MEDICAL EXPENSES 
HOSPITALS AND MEDICAL CLINICS ON GROUNDS OF NON-PAYMENT OF 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
Assembled; - 
SECTION 1. It shall be unlawful for any hospital or medical clinic in the country 
to detain or otherwise cause, directly or indirectly, the detention of patients who have 
fully or partially recovered or have been adequately attended to or who may have died 
for reasons of non-payment in part or in full, of hospital bills or medical expenses. 
SEC. 2. Patients who have fully or partially recovered and who already wish to 
leave the hospital or medical clinic but are financially incapable to settle, in part or in 
full, their hospitalization expenses, including professional fees and medicines, shall be 
allowed to leave the hospital or medical clinic, with the right to demand the issuance 
of the corresponding medical certificate and other pertinent papers upon the execution 
of a promissory note covering the unpaid obligation. The promissory note shall be 
secured by either a mortgage or by a guarantee of a co-maker, acceptable to the 
hospital management, who will be jointly and severely liable with the patient for the 
unpaid obligation. In the case of a deceased patient, the corresponding death 
certificate and other documents required for interment and other purposes shall be 
released to any of his surviving relatives executing the promissory note. 
SEC. 3. Any officer or employee of the hospital or medical clinic responsible for 
releasing patients, who violates the provisions of this Act shall be punished by a fine of 
not less than Five Thousand Pesos (P5,OOO.OO) but not more than Fifteen Thousand 
Pesos (P15,OOO.OO) or imprisonment of not less than one (I) month, but not more than 
six (6) months, or both such fine and imprisonment. 
SEC. 4. The Department of Health shall promulgate the necessary rules and 
regulations to carry out the provisions of this Act. 
SEC. 5. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in two (2) 
newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved.