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EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS ype Sy

First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. _ 6885

Introduced by HON. EDGAR M. CHATTO.
First District, Bohol

EXPLANATORY NOTE

“One Filipino suffers chronic kidney failure every hour.”
- National Kidney and Transplant Institute

Some 2.6 million patients worldwide undergo dialysis or transplantation, but
2.3 million succumb to premature deaths due to lack of access to dialysis and
transplantation.

According to the 2018 study of the country’s leading kidney hospital, National
Kidney and Transplant Institute, “Kidney diseases, especially End Stage Renal
Disease (ESRD), are already the 7th leading cause of death among the Filipinos. One
Filipino develops chronic renal failure every hour or about 120 Filipinos per million
population per year. The cost of medical treatment for kidney disease is really
exorbitant, beyond the reach of ordinary patients. Renal transplantation is limited
due to the expense and the shortage of donors.*

The 2017 Philippine Renal Disease Registry annual report shows that 21,535
Filipino patients underwent dialysis due to kidney failure in 2016. That’s a massive
jump from a mere 9,716 cases recorded in 2010—increasing at the rate of 8-18
percent per year. That data does not include patients who are unable to get treatment
due to prohibitive costs or due to inaccessibility to clinics. The cost of one dialysis
session ranges from P2,800 to P4,000 per session. Most patients require at least two
sessions per week, for life.?

Dr. Luis Limchiu, head of the Adult Nephrology Department at the NKTI, said
that kidney diseases are treatable and while kidney failure was uniformly associated
with death before, current kidney patients enjoy an extended life up to 20 years, and
transplant patients live almost normal.3

This proposed legislative measure answers the call for the availability,
affordability and accessibility to necessary medical health service, specifically
dialysis treatments to indigents, through the government hospitals at the national,

* https://www.nkti.gov.ph/index php patients-and-visitors/kidney-health-plus

= https: //lifestyle.inquirer.net/336563/kidney-disease-is-on-the-rise-but-theres-a-new-standard-in-
dialysis-treatment/#ixzz6NpescRxC

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but-lacking-in-donors


regional, and provincial levels. This will complement the dialysis package of
Philhealth to ensure wider access of kidney patients to dialysis and treatment.

More than the mere extension of life, this proposed measure aims at
improving the quality of life of our citizens suffering from advanced renal diseases all
over the country.

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

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REP. EDGAR M. CHATTO


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

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNO.__6885

Introduced by HON. EDGAR M. CHATTO
First District, Bohol

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:

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the “Dialysis Center
Act”,

SECTION 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.

SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. — For purposes of this Act, the following
terms shall mean:

a) Secretary refers to the Secretary of the Department of Health;

b) National Government Hospital refers 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 refers 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 refers 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

Indigent Patient refers to a patient who has no visible means of income,

compensation or financial assistance from his/her relatives to support

his/her basic needs, as determined by the Department of Social Welfare
and Development (DSWD).

3

SECTION 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.

SECTION 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.

SECTION 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 (Php 50,000,00) but not more than One Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php
100,000.00).

SECTION 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The Secretary shall
promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this

SECTION 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 annual appropriation of the
government hospital.

SECTION 9. Repealing Clause. — All laws, presidential decrees, executive
orders and rules and regulations, or parts thereof, inconsistent with the provisions of
this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 10. Separability Clause. — If any portion or provision of this Act is
subsequently declared invalid or unconstitutional, other provisions hereof which are
not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 11. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
following the completion of its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2)
national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved.