SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
Second Regular Session
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SENATE
S.B. No. 1507
RECliVi I) S
.
Introduced by Senator JOEL VILLANUEVA
AN ACT REQUIRING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF DIALYSIS CLINICS 
IN ALL NATIONAL, REGIONAL AND PROVINCIAL HOSPITALS AND 
PROVIDING FOR FREE DIALYSIS TREATMENTS TO INDIGENT 
PATIENTS AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Dialysis is the process of removing waste products from the blood and removing 
excess fluid from the body. Patients undergoing dialysis suffers from End Stage 
Renal Disease (ESRD), largely caused by chronic hypertension and diabetes.
In the Philippines, it is estimated that there are around 28,000 patients undergoing 
dialysis treatment as of 2016. Kidney disease has also been identified as one of the 
top 10 causes of death in the Philippines.1 It is also reported that the number of 
dialysis patients have also been steadily increasing at 10% to 15% annually.
In 2014, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) paid a total of 
Php4.7 Billion arising from 691,489 claims for dialysis treatment.2
Considering the large number of patients who needs to undergo dialysis treatment 
regularly, dialysis treatment centers should not only be accessible to these patients, 
but should also be affordable.
For example, a popular city like Baguio City does not even have government-run 
dialysis centers. This situation is alarming considering that Baguio City is already 
highly urbanized and is considered a major city in northern Luzon. Thus, patients 
there are forced to go to farther places or pay the exorbitant fees collected by private 
dialysis clinics.
1 http://www doh.gov ph/node/1058 (date last accessed: June 29, 2017)
2 https://vmw.philhealth.gov.ph/news/2015/extends dialysis.html (date last accessed: June 29, 2017)


This situation is further exacerbated by the cost of dialysis treatments. Kidney 
patients normally has to undergo dialysis treatment two to three times a week, with 
one treatment costing around Php2,500. This means that a kidney patient has to 
spend around Php5,000 to Php7,500 per week to survive. While the Philippine 
Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) has increased its coverage from 45 to 90 
dialysis treatments, some, if not all, patients still have to pay for the treatment 
sessions outside of the 90 days.
Indeed, the accessibility of dialysis centers and the cost of treatments place a great 
burden on kidney patients, on top of battling their condition.
This bill mandates the establishment of dialysis centers in national, provincial and 
regional hospitals to ensure that all kidney patients can easily access these centers 
for their treatment without having to travel far. This bill also recognizes the financial 
burden faced by dialysis patients and mandates that indigents shall be given free 
treatments in these centers.
The immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
EL VILLANUEVA


SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
Second Regular Session
? 
^ciinir
of file »*i,crftnrjp
*17 Jli 25 All :20
SENATE
S.B. No. 1507
REQilVLD&Y
Introduced by Senator JOEL VILLANUEVA
AN ACT REQUIRING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF DIALYSIS CLINICS 
IN ALL NATIONAL, REGIONAL AND PROVINCIAL HOSPITALS AND 
PROVIDING FOR FREE DIALYSIS TREATMENTS TO INDIGENT 
PATIENTS AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
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Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. It is hereby declared the policy of the State to 
protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness 
among them. For this purpose, the State shall ensure that patients suffering from 
End Stage Renal Disease are accorded timely and appropriate treatment with the 
provision of accessible dialysis clinics and free dialysis treatments.
SEC. 2. Establishment of Dialysis Clinics in all National, Regional and 
Provincial Hospitals. There shall be established dialysis clinics in all national, 
regional and provincial hospitals in the country. The dialysis clinics shall be equipped 
with sufficient machines, equipment, paraphernalia and supplies and staffed with the 
appropriate number of medical and other personnel.
The Department of Health (DOH), in coordination with the local government units 
and other relevant government agencies, shall lead the establishment of these 
clinics.
SEC. 3. Free Dialysis Treatment to Indigent Patients. The Department of Health, 
in coordination with the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, shall ensure that 
indigent patients are accorded free dialysis treatments in national, regional or 
provincial hospitals. For this purpose, “indigent patient" refers to a patient who has 
no visible means of income, or whose income is insufficient for the subsistence of his 
family, as identified by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).


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SEC. 4. Authority to Receive Donations and Exemption from Donor’s Taxes, 
Customs and Tariff Duties. The DOH shall have the authority to receive donations, 
gifts and bequests in order to augment the funding for the establishment of the 
dialysis clinics created in accordance with this Act. All donations, contributions or 
endowments which may be made by persons or entities to the dialysis clinics in 
national, regional and provincial hospitals and the importation of medical equipment 
and machineries, spare parts and other medical equipment used solely and 
exclusively by the dialysis clinics shall be exempt from income or donor’s taxes, any 
other direct or indirect taxes, wharfage fees and other charges and restrictions.
SEC. 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. Within sixty (60) days from the 
implementation of this Act, the Department of Health, upon consultation with relevant 
stakeholders, shall issue the implementing rules and regulations to implement the 
provisions of this Act.
SEC. 6. Appropriations. An initial amount of One Billion Pesos (P1,000,000,000) 
shall be appropriated for the implementation of this Act. Thereafter, its appropriation 
shall be included in the General Appropriations Act.
SEC. 7. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and 
regulations or part thereof deemed inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are 
hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
SEC. 8. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from the 
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspapers of 
general circulation.
Approved.