Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

4093

House Bill No.

Introduced by
ANAKALUSUGAN REPRESENTATIVE MICHAEL T. DEFENSOR

EXPLANATORY NOTE.

The 1987 Constitution states that:

Article II, Section 15: The State shall protect and promote the right to health of the
people and instill health consciousness among them.

Furthermore, it adds in Article XIII, Section 11 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 recently passed Universal Healthcare Law recognizes the importance of the
primary healthcare of promoting the health and wellness of the Filipino people, as stated in
Chapter II, Section of the said law.' Primary health care includes preventive care, to which
medical check ups fall under. According to the report of the Department of Health, the leading
causes of death are heart diseases, diseases of the vascular system, pneumonias, malignant

neoplasms/cancers, all forms of tuberculosis, accidents, COPD and allied conditions, diabetes

+ Republic Act No. 11223 or the Universal Health Care Law.

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mellitus, nephritis/nephritic syndrome and other diseases of respiratory system, which are
diseases easily detected through physical examination and diagnostic tests.? This bill aims to
secure that each Filipino shall be given the chance to have a free annual medical check up to
promote their right to health and health literacy.

Considering the foregoing reasons, the passage of this

MICHAEL ies DEFENSOR

Representative
ANAKALUSUGAN PARTY-LIST

is earnestly requested.

2 “DOH: Leading Cause of Mortality in the Philippines” https://www.doh.gov.ph/node/1058

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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No, 4093

Introduced by
ANAKALUSUGAN REPRESENTATIVE MICHAEL T. DEFENSOR:

AN ACT ESTABLISHING A FREE ANNUAL MEDICAL CHECK UP FOR
FILIPINOS

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 “Free Annual Medical
Check Up Act of 2019”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Principle. - The state recognizes its duty to protect and
promote the right to health of the people. Pursuant to its duty, the state shall provide
the services needed to ensure the health and wellness of every Filipino. Aside from
enhancing programs that focus on curative medicine, an emphasis on preventive
medicine should also be observed. In line with this, Filipinos shall be entitled to an
annual medical check-up that is free of charge in any government hospital and
institution.
SEC. 3. Coverage.

A. Population Coverage - according to the Universal Health Care Law or RA
11223, Sec. 5., every Filipino Citizen shall be automatically included to the
National Health Identification Program or NHIP, thus making every Filipino a
member of PhilHealth and entitled to avail of this program.

B. Medical check-up coverage -This free annual medical check-up shall
include basic diagnostic and laboratory tests such as the following:

i. Complete blood count
ii, _ Urinalysis (Macroscopic and Chemical Examination)

Stool Analysis

Chest X-ray

v. Complete Physical Exam

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SEC. 4. Schedule of Free Medical Check up. - The duration of availing the free
medical check up shall be for the whole calendar year. PhilHealth shall establish a
system to secure that every Filipino will be accommodated and get the services that
they are entitled to.

SEC. 5. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to implement this Act shall be
charged against the total revenue of PhilHealth, composed of premium contributions
from direct contributors and premium subsidies of the government for the indirect
contributors, of the year following its enactment into law and thereafter.

Sec. 6. Repealing Clause, - All laws, decrees, executive orders, and other
presidential issuances which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed,
amended or modified accordingly.

Sec. 7. Separability Clause. - If, for any reason, any section or provisions of this
Act is held unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions hereof shall
not be affected thereby.

Sec. 8. Effectivity. - This Act take effect fifteen days (15) after its publication in
at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved