SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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Second Regular Session 
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SENATE
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t i  I I.' ; •; . M t u r n
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AUG 15 
P7.-00
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S.B. No.
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Introduced by Senator SONNY ANGARA
AN ACT
INTEGRATING PALLIATIVE AND HOSPICE CARE INTO THE PHILIPPINE
HEALTH CARE SYSTEM
EXPLANATORY NOTE
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There is a predominant notion that the organizing principle behind the medical 
profession is to cure illnesses or rid the world of disease. While these avowed aims 
are rightly pursued, improving the quality of life of patients ought to be the foremost 
concern of our medical professionals.
No less than the preamble of the Constitution of the World Health Organization 
(WHO) provides: “Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well­
being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity." The 1987 Constitution 
itself is preambled on the nation's desire to build "a just and hum ane society 
[emphasis added]."
Hence, while our healthcare system should work on curing and preventing 
sickness, it should also promote people’s well-being, especially when they are 
enduring intense pain and suffering from chronic diseases.
Many Filipinos today are afflicted with cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and other 
life-threatening and debilitating conditions— imposing costs that are not only 
financial, but also emotional, social, and psychological.
This underscores the importance of formally integrating Hospice and Palliative 
Care into the Philippine Healthcare System— the underlying objective of the 
foregoing measure. Hospice and Palliative Care is comprised of multi-disciplinary 
approaches focused on promoting the quality of life of patients, regardless of age, 
and their families.


In 2014, the World Health Assembly passed a resolution1 calling on the World 
Health Organization (WHO) and Member States, including the Philippines, to 
improve access to palliative care as a core component of their respective healthcare 
systems. Said resolution emphasized that palliative care “is an ethical responsibility 
of health systems” and that health care professionals have “the ethical duty 
to...alleviate pain and suffering, whether physical, 
psychosocial or spiritual, 
irrespective of whether the disease or condition can be cured." The resolution further 
affirmed that “access to palliative care...contributes to the realization of the right to 
the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health and well-being."
By laying down the overall policy for the integration of Palliative and Hospice 
Care into the Philippine Health Care System, the foregoing measure seeks to 
guarantee the right of every Filipino to quality health care, where their full well-being 
is promoted throughout their entire life cycle. Its swift passage is earnestly sought.
SONNY ANGARA
' WHA 67.19


SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
Second Regular Session
SENATE
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T7 AUG 15 P7 -00
S.B. No. 1555
kfcCL 1'/ L L» b I
Introduced by Senator SONNY ANGARA * 1 2
AN ACT
INTEGRATING PALLIATIVE AND HOSPICE CARE INTO THE PHILIPPINE
HEALTH CARE SYSTEM
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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SECTION 1. Title. -  This Act shall be known as the "Palliative and Hospice Care
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Act."
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SEC. 2. Declaration o f Policy. -  The State guarantees the right of the people to 
qualify health care; ensuring that the health status of the people is to be made as 
good as possible over the entire life cycle. As the Constitution mandates, an 
integrated and comprehensive approach to health development shall endeavor to 
make essential goods, health and other social services available to all people at 
affordable cost even to patients suffering from life threatening illnesses.
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SEC. 3. Definition o f Terms. -  As used in this Act, Palliative and hospice care 
refers to an approach that improves the quality of life of patients with life threatening, 
complex and chronic illnesses or those experiencing progressively debilitating 
diseases beyond any benefit from curative or definitive treatment, regardless of life 
expectancy. The approach covers the prevention and relief of suffering by means of 
early identification, assessment and management of pain and symptoms.


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SEC, 4. Accreditation. -  Hospitals, private hospice institutions, medical 
practitioners, health workers, and social workers for palliative and hospice care shall 
be accredited by the Department of Health (DOH). The DOH, in partnership with the 
National Palliative and Hospice Care Council of the Philippines (Hospice Philippines, 
Inc.) shall formulate the rules and guidelines for accreditation to ensure a standard 
qualify of palliative care services.
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SEC. 5. Quality Assurance. -  Key elements necessary to ensure quality 
palliative care services in accredited hospitals and hospices include the following:
a. Adequate number of multi-specialty personnel;
b. Assured financing for health and custodial services;
c. Clear and practical standards for facilities and services;
d. Appropriately designed and equipped facilities; and
e. Regular and systematic supervision and reporting to the DOH.
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SEC. 6. Mandatory Palliative and Hospice Services. -  All government and 
private hospitals shall provide palliative and hospice care services to patients with 
life-threatening illnesses.
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Hospitals are required to link with a referral and aftercare network that is 
organized and made functional by all provincial, city and municipal governments 
under the guidance and monitoring of the DOH.
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Rural health units, health centers and health offices are required to develop 
home-based or near home palliative care program in coordination with government- 
owned and privately-owned hospices in the local government units.
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SEC. 7. Leave Benefits. -  Immediate family members or relatives who are 
employed, whether in the public or private sectors, and are assigned by the family to 
provide palliative and hospice care to a critically-ill relative shall be allowed to use all 
existing leave benefits granted by their employers subject to the guidelines on the 
use of said leave benefits.


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The DOH, in coordination with the Civil Service Commission, the Social Security
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System, the Government Service Insurance System, and the Department of Labor
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and Employment, shall be tasked to formulate the necessary guidelines in the
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implementation of Section 7 of this Act.
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SEC. 
8. Education and Training o f Health Care Professionals and 
Volunteers. -  The DOH, in partnership with the National Hospice and Palliative 
Care Council of the Philippines and other accredited members, shall develop the 
education and training modules for health care professionals and workers.
The Commission on Higher Education shall integrate courses on the principles 
and practice of Palliative Care and Hospice Care into the curriculum of Medicine and 
Nursing, as well as in all paramedical and allied health courses.
SEC. 9. Continuing Research. -  The DOH, in coordination with the Philippine 
Council for Health Research and Development of the Department of Science and 
Technology, shall ensure a continuing research and collection of data on palliative 
and hospice care and availability of funds for this purpose.
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SEC. 10. im plem enting Agency. -  The DOH - Office for Technical Services, in 
coordination with other offices of the Department, is hereby mandated to perform the 
following functions;
a. Promote palliative care in the Philippines through advocacy and social 
marketing;
b. Formulate policies and develop standards on quality palliative and hospice 
care;
c. Monitor the enforcement of standards and implementation of the program on 
palliative and hospice care;
d. Mobilize and generate resources for sustainability of operation;
e. Network with international hospice associations;
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Coordinate research undertakings with other institutions and agencies;
g. Serve as repository of database for policy-making and maintenance of 
palliative care registry;


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h. Organize and develop continuing training programs for physicians, nurses, 
physical therapists, and other professional health workers and volunteers 
workers in the field of palliative care;
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Serve as the coordinating center of a national palliative care network located 
in the different regions of the country; and
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Establish a Code of Ethics and standards in the practice of palliative health 
care.
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SEC. 11. PhilHealth Benefit Package. -  Pursuant to this Act, the Philhealth
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shall increase its present benefit package to include inpatient palliative services, 
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outpatient hospice care and home-based palliative care.
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SEC. 12. Funding Support. -  All non-profit, DOH accredited palliative and 
hospice care institutions which are serving indigent patients shall qualify as 
institutional beneficiaries under the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) 
Institutional Financial Assistance Program: Provided, That the hospice care 
institutions comply with the documentary and other requirements of the said 
Program.
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SEC. 13. Tax Exemptions. -  Any donation or bequest made to the DOH that is 
intended for palliative and hospice care shall be exempt from the donor's tax and the 
same shall be considered as allowable deduction from the gross income of the 
donor, in accordance with the provision of the National Internal Revenue Code of 
1997, as amended: Provided, That such donations shall be disposed of, transferred 
or sold.
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SEC. 14. Appropriations. -  The initial amount necessary to implement the 
provisions of this Act shall be charged against the current year’s appropriation of the 
Department of Health. Thereafter, such sums as maybe necessary for the continued 
implementation of this Act shall be included in the Annual General Appropriations 
Act.
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SEC. 15. Implementing Rules and Regulations. -  Within sixty (60) days from 
the approval of this Act, the Secretary of Health, after consultation with the National
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Palliative and Hospice Care Council of the Philippines (Hospice Philippines, Inc.),
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shall promulgate the rules and regulations implementing the provisions of this Act.
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SEC. 16. SeparabUity Clause. -  In case any provision of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions hereof which are not affected thereby 
shall continue in full force and effect.
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SEC. 17. Repealing Clause. -  All laws, executive orders, rules and regulations 
or any part thereof inconsistent herewith are deemed repealed, modified or amended 
accordingly.
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SEC. 18. Effectivity. -  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,