Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 933

Introduced by Representative Crispin Diego “Ping” D. Remulla

AN ACT
FURTHER PROMOTING ORGAN DONATION AFTER DEATH FOR SPECIFIED
PURPOSES BY AMNEDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7170 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS
THE ORGAN DONATION ACT OF 1991

EXPLANATORY NOTE

In the Philippines, many Filipino families continue to face the painful reality of
watching their loved ones struggle with organ failure while waiting for a transplant. For these
patients, each day that passes without a donor is a step closer to losing their fight for survival.
While organ transplantation can save lives, the shortage of available donors has made access

to this life-saving treatment extremely difficult for most Fi

In February 2024, the Department of Health appealed to the public to consider organ
donation. The agency highlighted the growing number of patients in need of transplants.
According to a report by GMA News, almost 300 individuals were on the transplant waiting
list, most of whom were in need of kidney replacements. Chronic Kidney Disease remains one
of the leading causes of death in the country. The NKTI estimates that approximately 2.3

million Filipinos are currently living with this illness.

These figures show the growing demand for organ donations in the country. Although
awareness efforts have increased, the number of actual donors continues to fall short. Many

patients do not make it in time to receive the transplant they need.


This proposed measure seeks to strengthen the promotion of organ donation after death.
Through this measure, we aim to give hope to Filipino patients and families and build a

healthcare system that makes life-saving treatments more accessible to those in need.

In view of the foregoing, the approval of this measure is earnestly sought.

CRISPIN DIEGO “PING” D. REMULLA


eCeavnueune

1
12
13
14
15

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 533

Introduced by Representative Crispin Diego “Ping” D. Remulla

AN ACT
FURTHER PROMOTING ORGAN DONATION AFTER DEATH FOR SPECIFIED
PURPOSES BY AMNEDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7170 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS
THE ORGAN DONATION ACT OF 1991

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:
SECTION 1. Section 7 of Republic Act No. 7170 or the Organ Donation Act of
1991 shall be amended to read as follows:
"SECTION 7. Duty of Hospitals. — A hospital authorized to
receive organ donations or to conduct transplantation shall train
qualified personnel and their staff to handle the task of introducing the
organ donation program in a humane and delicate manner to the
relatives of the donor-decedent enumerated in Section 4 hereof. The
hospital shall accomplish the necessary form or document as proof of
compliance with the above requirement.
“HOSPITALS SHALL ALSO BE MANDATED TO
INCORPORATE IN THEIR ADMISSION FORMS A QUERY ON
WHETHER OR NOT THE INDIVIDUAL ACCESSING HEALTH CARE
SERVICES IS AN ORGAN DONOR AND IF HE/SHE IS WILLING
TO BE AN ORGAN DONOR WHICH SHALL FORM PART OF THE
HOSPITAL'S DATABASE.”
SEC. 2. Section 15 of Republic Act No. 7170 is further amended to read as.


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

10
1
12
23
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
2
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34

follows:
"SECTION 15. Information Drive. — \n order that the public will
obtain the maximum benefits from this Act, the Department of Health, in cooperation
with HEALTH CARE institutions, such as the National Kidney AND
TRANSPLANT Institute, PHILIPPINE HEART CENTER, LUNG CENTER OF
THE PHILIPPINES and civic and non-government health organizations
INVOLVED IN THE DONATION AND TRANSPLANTATION OF HUMAN
ORGANS, PHILIPPINE INFORMATION AGENCY, and other [health-related]
RELEVANT GOVERNMENT  agencies[;—invelved—in—the-—donation—and
transplantation-of human-organs,] shall undertake fa} public information programS
AND ADVOCACY CAMPAIGNS HIGHLIGHTING THE IMPORTANCE OF
ORGAN DONATION
‘The Secretary of Health shall endeavor to persuade all health professionals, both
government and private, to make an appeal for human organ donation.
PUBLIC HEALTH CARE INSTITUTIONS SHALL ALSO BE
MANDATED TO ESTABLISH MANNED AREAS WITHIN THEIR PREMISES
THAT ARE EASILY SEEN AND ACCESSED BY THE PUBLIC FOR THE
PURPOSES OF ACQUIRING ORGAN DONOR CARDS AND LEARNING
MORE ABOUT ORGAN DONATION."
SEC. 3. A new section is hereby inserted after Section 14 of Republic Act No. 7170 to
read as follows:
“SEC. 15. ETHICAL OVERSIGHT AND SAFEGUARDS - TO ENSURE
TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND THE HIGHEST ETHICAL
STANDARDS IN THE DONATION AND TRANSPLANTATION OF HUMAN
ORGANS, AN ORGAN DONATION AND TRANSPLANTATION ETHICS BOARD
SHALL BE ESTABLISHED UNDER THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.
THE BOARD SHALL PERFORM THE FOLLOWING FUNCTIONS:
(A)FORMULATE AND REGULARLY UPDATE ETHICAL GUIDELINES TO
GOVERN THE PROCUREMENT, DONATION, AND
TRANSPLANTATION OF HUMAN ORGANS, ALIGNED WITH
NATIONAL LAWS AND INTERNATIONALLY ACCEPTED ETHICAL
STANDARDS;

(B)MONITOR AND REVIEW THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ORGAN
DONATION PROTOCOLS TO ENSURE THAT CONSENT IS GIVEN


Cory nnew ne

1
12
123
14
15
16
17
18
19
20

FREELY AND WITHOUT COERCION OR FINANCIAL
CONSIDERATION;

(INVESTIGATE COMPLAINTS AND REPORTS OF UNETHICAL
CONDUCT, COMMERCIAL TRADING, OR TRAFFICKING RELATED
TO ORGAN PROCUREMENT TRANSPLANTATION;

(D)RECOMMEND SANCTIONS OR ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS
AGAINST INDIVIDUALS, INSTITUTIONS, OR ENTITIES FOUND IN
VIOLATION OF THIS ACT OR ITS IMPLEMENTING RULES AND
REGULATIONS; AND

(E) CONDUCT CONTINUING EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAMS
FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS ON ETHICAL PRACTICES IN ORGAN
DONATION AND TRANSPLANTATION.”

SEC. 3. Separability Clause. — If any portion or provision of this Act is declared
unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provision not affected thereby shall remain
in full force and effect.

SEC.4. Repealing Clause. — All laws or parts thereof, decrees, orders, rules and
regulations inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified
accordingly.

SECS. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,