SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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First Regular Session 
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S E N A T E  
S.B. No. 1 3 2 9
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FEB 14 P 4 :l0
RECEIVro flV: 
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Introduced by Senator SONNY ANGARA
AN ACT
REQUIRING ALL NATIONAL, REGIONAL, AND PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT 
HOSPITALS TO ESTABLISH, OPERATE AND MAINTAIN A DIALYSIS WARD 
OR UNIT IN THEIR RESPECTIVE HOSPITAL AND PROVIDING FREE DIALYSIS
TREATMENT TO INDIGENT PATIENTS
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Department of Health (DOH) has expressed alarm over the rising cases of 
kidney disease-the country's 6th leading cause of death in 2013. Based on the data 
from the DOH's Philippine Network for Organ Sharing, close to 23,000 patients 
underwent dialysis treatment due to kidney failure in 2013, a huge jump from the 4,000 
cases recorded in 2004. This figure, the DOH noted, does not include those suffering 
from kidney failure but who are not able to undergo dialysis treatment due to its high 
cost and inaccessibility especially in the rural areas. It is estimated that about 3 51 
million Filipinos aged 20-79 have diabetes in 2015.
Patients from the provinces, who are suffering from kidney disorder, have to 
travel all the way to urban cities just to avail themselves of dialysis treatment, which is 
needed on a regular and sustained basis. The optimum frequency of dialysis is three 
times a week but because of its high cost and inaccessibility, some patients settle with 
less but with their health deteriorating more progressively. Worse, some patients have 
died without given a chance to undergo dialysis because they could not afford it.
In line with the government's efforts to reform the health sector and provide 
Filipinos with comprehensive health services, local government units must be tapped to 
make healthcare services more affordable and accessible. Thus, this bill requires all 
national, regional and provincial government hospitals to establish, operate and 
maintain a dialysis ward or unit to ensure that dialysis treatment will be available, 
accessible and cost-effective especially to those living in the rural areas. Moreover, this 
bill requires that dialysis treatment be provided to indigent patients free of charge.
The aim of this bill is in consonance with the Constitutional mandate to make 
health services available to our countrymen at affordable cost. For more efficient 
delivery of healthcare services to the Filipino people, the immediate approval of this 
proposed measure is earnestly sought.
ONNY ANGARA


SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
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’17 FEB 14 P4:l0
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S E N A T E
S.B. No. 1329
RECtIVi D  BV:
Introduced by Senator SONNY ANGARA
AN ACT
REQUIRING ALL NATIONAL, REGIONAL, AND PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT 
HOSPITALS TO ESTABLISH, OPERATE AND MAINTAIN A DIALYSIS WARD 
OR UNIT IN THEIR RESPECTIVE HOSPITAL AND PROVIDING FREE DIALYSIS
TREATMENT TO INDIGENT PATIENTS
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
I 
SECTION 1. Short Title. -  This Act shall be known as the "Dialysis Center Act."
SEC 2. Declaration of Policy. -  It is the declared policy of the State to improve the 
delivery of health care services to the people and to ensure hospital facilities are 
available, affordable and accessible to the people.
SEC 3. Definition of Terms. -  For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall mean:
a) "Secretary" shall refer to the Secretary of the Department of Health;
b) "National Government Hospital" shall refer to a hospital operated and maintained 
either partially or wholly by the national government or by any department, 
division, board or other agency thereof;
c) "Regional Government Hospital" shall refer to a hospital operated and 
maintained either partially or wholly by the national government or by any 
department, division, board or other agency thereof;
d) "Provincial Government Hospital" shall refer to a hospital operated and 
maintained either partially or wholly by the provincial government or other 
political subdivision, or by any department division, board or other agency 
thereof; and
e) Indigent Patient" shall refer to a patient whose combined annual family incomes 
does not exceed Thirty Thousand (P30.000.00) annually.


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SEC 4. Establishment, Operation and Maintenance of a Dialysis Ward or Unit. -  
Within two (2) years from the effectivity of this Act, all national, regional, and provincial 
government hospitals are hereby required to establish, operate and maintain a dialysis 
ward or unit in their hospital. The dialysis ward or unit shall be equipped with complete 
dialysis machine, equipment and supplies.
SEC 5. Free Dialysis Treatment to Indigent Patients. -  Dialysis treatment in all 
national, regional and provincial government hospitals shall be provided free of charge 
to indigent patients as defined in Section 3 (e) hereof.
SEC 6. Penalty. -  Any hospital chief, administrator or officer-in-charge who fails to 
comply with this Act shall be punished with a fine of Fifty Thousand Pesos (P50,000.00) 
but not more than One Hundred Thousand Pesos (P100,000.00).
SEC 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. -  The Secretary shall promulgate the 
necessary rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act.
SEC 8. Appropriations. -  Such amount as may be necessary to implement the 
provisions of this Act is hereby authorized to be appropriated from the National 
Treasury. Thereafter, the amount necessary for the continuous implementation of this 
Act shall be included in the government hospital’s annual appropriations.
SEC 9. Separability Clause. -  If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall 
remain valid and subsisting.
SEC 10. 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 are hereby repealed, modified or amended 
accordingly.
SEC 11. Effectivity. -  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in 
at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,