Republic of the Philipp.Ines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
HousE;I:LNo.  5897
Introduced  by: Hon.  Keith  Micah ``Atty.  Mike"  D.L. Tan
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING BRANCHES OF SPECIALTY HOSPITALS IN ALL REGIONS AND APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Section  11, Article XIll of the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines provides that, "The
State shall adopt an  integrated  and comprehensive approach to health development which
shall  endeavor to  make essential goods,  health  and  other social services available to all the
people  at affordable  cost.  There  shall  be  priority for the  needs of the  underprivileged  sick,
elderly,  disabled,  women,  and  children.  The  State  shall  endeavor  to  provide  free  medical
care to paupers."
Section  2  of Republic Act  No.11223,  otherwise  known  as the  Universal  Health  Care
(UHC)  Act  enunciates  State  policy  of  protecting  and  promoting  the  right  to  health  of  all
Filipinos and  instilling health consciousness among them.
Towards  this  end,  the  State  adopts  an  integrated  and  comprehensive  approach  to
ensure  that  all  Filipinos  are  health  literate,  provided  with  healthy  living  conditions,  and
protected from hazards and risks that could affect their health; and a health care model that
provides all  Filipinos access to a comprehensive set of quality and cost-effective, promotive,
preventive,  curative,  rehabilitative  and  palliative  health  services  without  causing  financial
hardship,, and prioritizes the needs of the population who cannot afford such services.
Consistent  with  the  fundamental  law  and  the  landmark  UHC  Act,  this  bill  seeks  to
bring  specialty  hospitals  such   as  the   Philippine   Heart  Center,  the   National   Kidney  and
Transplant   Institute,   the   Lung   Center   of  the   Philippines,   and   the   Philippine   Children's
Medical Center closer to the people -in the provinces and the countryside.
Currently,   specialty   hospitals   are   all   located   in   Metro   Manila   and   given   their
distance,  many  people  from   provinces  find  it  difficult  and  burdensome  to  seek  medical
attention from these specialty hospitals.
Hence,   in   line  with  the   primordial  objective  of  the   UHC  law  in  ensuring  that  all
Filipinos  are  guaranteed  equitable  access  to  quality  and  affordable  health  care  goods  and
services and  protected against financial  risk, this bill seeks to establish specialty hospitals in


all regions of the country.
In view thereof, immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
fro
Keith Micah "Atty. Mike" D.L. Tan
4th District, Quezon


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE 0F REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
HOus`Ea,[LNO.   5897
Introduced  by:  Hon.  Keith  Micah  ``Atty. Mike"  D.L. Tan
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING BRANCHES OF SPECIALTY HOSPITALS IN ALL REGIONS AND APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted .by the Senate and the  House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:
SECTION  1. Short Tft/e.  -This Act shall  be  known  as the  ``Regional Specialty  Hospitals
Act".
SEC.  2.  Stotemenr  oJ Po/i.cy.  -  Article  11,  Section  15  of the  Constitution  states  that:
"The  State  shall  protect  and  promote  the  right  to  health  of the  people  and  instill  health
consciousness among them." Towards this end,  it shall  be the policy of the State to provide
access to  affordable  and  quality  healthcare  services  to  Filipinos,  including  the  provision  of
specialty hospitals in the different regions of the country.
SEC.  3.  Establishment  of  Regional  Specialty  Hospitals.  -Tl`ere  shall  be  establ.ished
branches  of  the  Philippine  Heart  Center,   National   Kidney  and  Transplant  Institute,   Lung
Center of the  Philippines,  and  Philippine Children's and  Medical  Center to  be established  in
all regions of the country.
Within three (3) years upon the enactment of this Act, there shall be at least one (1)
specialty  hospital  from  the  abovementioned   specialty  hospitals  in  the   Northern   Luzon,
Southern  Luzon, Visayas,  Northern  Mindanao,  and  Southern  Mindanao. The  Department of
Health  shall  determine  the  specialty  hospital  to  be  established  in  the  different  regions,
taking into consideration the prevalent illnesses in the area.
SEC. 4. rvot/.ono/ Govemmenf Shore. -The National Government shall constitute the
necessary  land,  building,  equipment and  facilities to  the  regional  branches  of the  specialty
hospital  and  shall  pay such  obligations for real,  personal  and  mixed  properties arising from
such undertaking under a deferred payment arrangement within five (5) years at a preferred
rate of interest.
SEC.  5.  Property of the  Regional Specialty  Hospital.  -The property  Of the Regjional
Specialty  Hospital  shal,I  consist  of  such  real,  personal,  mixed,  and  other type  of  property,
now  owned  or  reserved  for,  or  may  hereafter  be  given,  donated,  acquired, transferred  or


conveyed   to  the   Regional   Branch   of  the   Philippine   Heart   Center,   National   Kidney  and
Transplant Institute,  Lung Center of the Philippines, and  Philippine Children's Medical Center
by the  Philippine Government,  its  branches and  instrumentalities, any foreign government,
as  well  as  by  trust,  foundations,  corporations,  or  persons,  alien  or  domestic,  in  order  to
carry out its purposes and objectives as set forth herein.
SEC.  6.  Purposes  and  Ob/ecft.yes.  -  The  purposes  and  obj.ectives  of  the  Regional
Specialty Hospital are:
a)  To   construct,   establish,   operate   and   maintain   regional   branches  of  specialty
hospitals for the public welfare;
b)  To  promote,  encourage  and  engage  in  scientific  research  on  the  prevention  of
heart,  kidney,  liver, cancer and  pulmonary diseases and the care and/or treatment of such
diseases  and  related  activities,  including  sponsorship  and  conduct  of  relevant  congresses,
conventions, seminars, and conferences;
c)    To    stimulate    and/or    underwrite    scientific    researches    on    the    biological,
demographic, social, economic, eugenic,  physiological aspects of heart,  kidney,  liver, cancer
and   pulmonary  disorders   and   abnormalities   and   its   control;   and   gather,   compile,   and
publish the findings of such researches for public dissemination;
d)   To   facilitate   and   encourage   the   dissemination   and   exchange   of   ideas   and
information  on  the  prevention,  treatment  and  control  of  heart,  kidney,  liver,  cancer  and
pulmonary diseases,  to  arouse,  enhance  and  develop  public  interest on  such  diseases  and
arouse consciousness or awareness on general health and physical fitness;
e)   To   encourage   and/or   undertake   the   training   of   physicians,   nurses,   medical
technicians,  health  officers  and  social  workers  on  the  practical  and  scientific  conduct  and
implementation   of   heart,   kidney,   liver,   cancer   and   pulmonary   services,   and   related
activities;
f) To  assist  universities,  hospitals  and  research  institutions  in  their studies  of heart,
kidney,  liver,  cancer and  pulmonary anomalies, to encourage  advanced training on  matters
of,  or affecting the  heart,  kidney,  liver,  cancer and  lungs,  and  related  fields and  to  support
educational programs of value to general health;
g)  To  encourage  the  formation  of  other  organizations  on  the  national,  provincial,
city, municipal or barangay level and to coordinate their various efforts and activities for the
purpose  of achieving  a  more  effective  programmatic  approach  on  the  common  problems
relative to the obj.ectives herein enumerated; and
h) To extend  medical  and  heart,  kidney,  liver,  cancer and  pulmonary services to the
general  public,  to  help  prevent,  relieve  or  alleviate  the  innumerable  heart,  kidney,  liver,
cancer  and  pulmonary  afflictions  and  maladies  of  the  people  specially  the  poor  and  less
fortunate in life, without regard to race, creed, color or political belief.


SEC.  7. Govern/.ng Board.  -The Governing Board of the  Regional Specialty Hospitals
shall  be  the  Governing  Board  of their  respective  mother  units:  Provided,  That  the  medical
director or chief of hospital  of the  Regional  Branch  shall  be  present or invited to the  Board
meetings  whenever  matters  concerning  his/her  Regional  Branch  are  in  the  agenda  or  for
discussion of the Board.
SEC.  8.  row Exemptt.ons and Prt.vi./eggs. -All existing tax exemptions and  privileges of
the  Philippine  Heart  Center,  National  Kidney  and  Transplant  Institute,  Lung  Center  of the
Philippines, and  Philippine Children's Hospital shall be availed of by their Regional Branches.
SEC. 9. Transportation  and  Lodging Subsidy for  Medical  Specialists and  Experts. -To
encourage the  assignment and/or temporary practice  of medical  specialists and  experts  in
the   Regional   Branches  of  Specialty  Hospitals,  especially  during  the   initial  stage  of  their
establishment,  the  Regional  Branches  are  allowed  to  provide  transportation  and  lodging
subsidy and  other  necessary  subsidies  over and  above  of their salary,  professional  fee  and
other emoluments.
SEC.  10. Ass/.stance From  Government O#/.ces.  -The  Regional  Specialty  Hospital  may
call  upon  any  department,  bureau,  office,  agency  or  instrumentality  of the  government,
including government-owned  or controlled  corporations,  particularly the  Philippine  Charity
Sweepstakes  Office,  for  such  assistance  it  may  need  in  the  pursuit  of  its  purposes  and
objectives.
SEC.  11.  Government Subs/.dy and Con fr/.but/.on5.  -The amount of Five  Billion  Pesos
(P5,000,000,000) is hereby appropriated as contribution of the National Government for the
initial  establishment,  operations  and  maintenance  of the  Regional  Specialty  Hospitals,  for
the year 2023. Thereafter,  the  amount  necessary to  ensure the  continued  operations and
maintenance  of the  Regional  Specialty  Hospitals  shall  be  duly  provided  for,  appropriated
and  released from the General Appropriations Act. The  respective funds there from shall  be
administered by the respective Board of each specialty hospital.
SEC.  12.  Annuci/  fleport.   -   Each   Regional  Specialty  Hospital  shall  render  to  their
respective mother units, the Department of Health, the President of the Philippines, and the
Congress    of   the    Philippines   annual    reports   of   its   activities,    accomplishments,    and
recommendations.
SEC.13. Effect of Dissolution of the  Regional Specialty Hospital. -If for ar\v reason,
the  Regional  Specialty  Hospital  is dissolved,  its assets and  properties remaining at the time
of dissolution,  shall  revert to the  Philippine Government for disposition  in  accordance with
law.
SEC. 14. Implementing  Rules and  Regulations. -The Secretary Of the Department Of
Health,  in  consultation  with  the  Medical  Director  or  Chief  of  Hospital  of  the  respective
mother unit of the Specialty Hospital, shall issue such rules, regulations, and other issuances
as may be necessary to ensure the effective implementation of the provisions of this Act.
SEC.  15. Sepcrrcrb/.//.fy C/ouse.  -  Any  portion  or provision  of this Act that is  declared


unconstitutional shall  not have the effect of nullifying other portions or provisions hereof as
long as such remaining portions can still subsist and be given effect in their entirety.
SEC.  16.  flapecJ/i.ng  C/cJt/se.  -All  laws,  ordinances,  rules,  regulations,  other  issuances
or  parts  thereof,  which  are  inconsistent  with  this  Act,  are  hereby  repealed  or  modified
accordingly.
SEC.  17.  E#ect/.v/.ty.  -  This  Act  shall  take  effect  after  fifteen  (15)  days  following  its
publication in the official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,