FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
.) 
First Regular Session 
) 
:: . 7 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. _6_2_7_ 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution provides that the State shall adopt an integrated and 
comprehensive approach to health development and shall endeavor to make 
essential health and other social seNices available to all the people at affordable 
cost. 
The bill provides for the use of mobile units, in order to render effective 
medical, diagnostic and treatment seNices to the public. It will ensure the 
availability of quality health care seNices for patients who live in remote or rural 
areas, and for patients who need specialized type of medical care. 
The immediate passage of this bill is earnestly solicited. 
Senator 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 
G 2 7 
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) 
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,c; 
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INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
h :\"7 
TO PROVIDE FOR THE USE OF MOBILE UNITS SERVING MEDICAL, 
DIAGNOSTIC, AND TREATMENT SERVICES, IN ORDER TO ENSURE THE 
AVAILABILITY OF QUALITY HEALTH CARE SERVICES FOR PATIENTS 
WHO RECEIVE CARE IN REMOTE OR RURAL AREAS AND FOR PATIENTS 
WHO NEED SPECIALIZED TYPE OF MEDICAL CARE PROVIDED IN A 
COST·EFFECTIVE WAY 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Mobile Health Care 
Services Act. " 
, 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - One of the objectives of the State is to 
ensure the availability of quality health care services in a cost-effective way. To 
attain 'this objective, the State recognizes the use of mobile units serving medical, 
diagnostic and treatment services to provide medical services particularly in 
remote or rural areas. 
SEC 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the following 
terms shall mean: 
1. Department - means the Department of Health; 
2. Mobile Service Unit or Mobile Unit - means a public or private vehicle that 
provides health services, and meets any of the following criteria: 
A. Approved pursuant to this Act by the Department of Health as a service 
of a licensed clinic; 
B. Approved by the Department pursuant to this Act as a service of a 
licensed clinic; 
C. Licensed pursuant to the requirements prescribed by the Department 
as a clinic; 
D. Licensed pursuant to this Act as an "other" type of approved mobile unit 
by the Department. "Other" types of approved mobile units shall be limited 
to mobile units performing services within new health facility or clinic 
licensure categories created after the effectivity of this Act. 
3. Mobile Service Unit or Mobile Unit does not mean a modular, relocatable, or 
transportable unit that is designed to be placed on a foundation when it reaches 
its destination, nor does it mean any entity that is exempt from licensure as 
provided by the Department. 


SEC. 4. Operation of the Mobile Unit - A Mobile Unit may operate as an 
adjunct to a licensed health facility or to a licensed clinic or an "other" type of 
approved mobile unit. 
SEC. 5. The Department shall charge applicants a licensure fee as 
follows: 
A) Pursuant to the rule and regulations of the Department that creates a 
new health facility or clinic licensure category. 
B) No additional licensure fee will be imposed solely because a service is 
to be provided in a mobile unit. 
SEC. 6. Requirements Prior to Licensure. -
A. The mobile unit shall comply with the applicable requirements of the 
Vehicle Code as provided by the Department, shall have a vehicle identification 
number; 
B. The mobile unit shall bear an insignia issued by the Department. 
SEC. 7. Obtaining a License.-
A. Except as provided in subsection (B), no person, political subdivision of 
the state, or governmental agency shall operate a mobile service unit without first 
obtaining a license in addition to existing licensure as provided in this Act unless 
exempted from licensure as provided by the Department. 
B. Any person, political subdivision of the state, or governmental agency 
that has been operating a mobile unit as of January 1, 1997, may continue to 
operate the mobile unit only under the following conditions: 
1) The person, political subdivision of the state, or governmental agency 
shall apply to the Department for a mobile unit license, or an addition to existing 
licensure, via a request for licensure under this Act. 
2) The person, political subdivision of the state, or governmental agency 
shall cease operating the mobile unit upon a final decision of the Department 
denying the application for licensure or addition to licensure under this Act 
SEC. 8. Application. -
a) Any applicant under this Act shall file with the Department an 
application. The application shall be on forms prescribed and furnished by the 
Department that shall contain any information as may be required by the 
Department for the proper administration and enforcement of this Act; 
. b) An applicant health facility or clinic pursuant to this Act shall submit an 
application to the Licensing and Certification Department stating specifically all of 
the following: 
1) The proposed service to be provided. 
2) The expected hours and days of operation 
3) The type and the manufacturer of the mobile unit contemplated. 
4) The proposed area or areas where the mobile unit will be 
providing services. 


c) An applicant for licensure as an independently licensed clinic under this 
Act shall submit a verified application to the Department on the appropriate forms 
for the type of clinic for which it wishes to obtain licensure; 
d) Prior to granting approval to an applicant parent facility for operation of 
a mobile unit under the parent facility's existing licensure pursuant to this Act, or 
prior to granting license for an independent mobile unit, the Department shall 
conduct an onsite inspection, including, but not limited to, a review of policies and 
procedures. 
SEC. 9. Qualifications. -
A. To qualify for a license under this Act, an applicant shall satisfy all the 
applicable regulations as required by the Department. 
B. The applicant shall file a completed application for the Department. 
C. Clinics licensed as mobile units shall be subject to the same 
requirements and regulations as any other clinic, except that, instead of 
complying with the physical plant requirements applicable to the clinic, the mobile 
unit shall comply with the mobile unit requirements contained in this Act. 
SEC. 10. Periodical Inspection . -
A. A licensee using mobile services pursuant to this Act shall, at the 
Department's 
option, 
be 
periodically inspected 
by 
a duly authorized 
representative of the Department. Reports of each inspection shall be prepared 
by the representative conducting it upon forms prepared and furnished by the 
Department and filed with the Office of the Department of Health. The inspection 
shall be for the purpose of ensuring that this Act and the rules and regulations of 
the Department adopted under this Act are being followed. 
B. Any officer, employee, or agent of the Department may enter and 
inspect any building, premises, or vehicle and may have access to and inspect 
any document, file, or other record, of a mobile unit or of a parent facility 
operating a mobile unit, at any reasonable time to assure compliance with, or to 
prevent violation of this Act. 
C. Demonstration of a mock emergency drill shall be observed by 
Department staff in the mobile unit on a site where patient mobility is limited. 
SEC. 11. Specifications of Mobile Unit -
A. The mobile unit shall be sufficient size and shall be arranged in a 
manner that is appropriate for the provision of those health services that is 
licensed to provide; 
B. The mobile unit shall be equipped with appropriate utilities for the 
comfort and safety of patients. The Department shall review and approve 
hospital-provided utility connections for mobile units that require utility hookups 
with general acute care hospitals; 
C. The mobile unit shall be maintain in good repair and in a clean and 
sanitary manner; 


D. All proposed modifications to previously approved services, procedures 
and sites shall be reviewed and approved by the Department before they are 
implemented. Site changes shall also be reported by the licensee to local 
authorities. 
SEC. 12. Responsibilittes of the Licensed Clinic. -
A. The licensed clinic shall be responsible for obtaining approvals for the 
site or sites of the mobile unit from the local planning, zoning, and fire authorities, 
as required. 
B. The mobile unit shall be situated for safe and comfortable patient 
access. The mobile unit shall comply with all local parking ordinances. 
C. The clinic shall ensure that there is sufficient lighting around the 
perimeter of the site from which the mobile unit provides any services. 
SEC 13 . Mobile Services by Licensee. -Any licensee using mobile 
services pursuant to this Act shall comply with the following: 
A. Have written pOlicies established by the governing body of the licensee, 
to govern the services that the mobile unit provides. The policies shall include, 
but shall not be limited to, poliCies related to patient care, personnel training and 
orientation, personnel supervision, and evaluation of services provided by the 
mobile unit; 
B. Have written policies regarding patient selection criteria; 
C. Develop and implement the written policies and procedures for the 
Mobile unit in consultation with other appropriate health care professionals; 
D. Ensure that the written policies and procedures are consistent with the 
policies and procedures of the parent facility, if any; 
E. Ensure that the policies and written procedures shall be approved by 
the governing b9dy, administration, and medical staff of the licensee, 
where appropriate; 
F. Ensure that the written policies and procedures include, but are not 
limited to, all of the following: 
1) Soope of Services; 
2) Procedures for the performance of the services provided; 
3) Quality assurance; 
4) Infection control; 
5) Medical record documentation of services provided, as appropriate; 
6) Transport of patients, including but not limited to, method, special equipment, 
necessary personnel, and protection from inclement weather. 
7) Emergency services and evacuation plan for the mobile unit. 
G. A licensee using mobile services pursuant to this Act shall specify in 
writing policies and procedures for emergencies including fire, natural disaster, 
and medical emergencies. In its policies and procedures, the mobile unit shall 
address the emergency plan required of the parent facility and state how the 
plans shall be coordinated; 


H. A licensee using mobile services pursuant to this Act shall familiarize its 
employees and each patient with the policies and procedures adopted pursuant 
to subparagraph (A). 
I. A licensee using mobile services pursuant to this Act shall maintain 
written transfer agreements that shall include, but shall not be limited to, 
provisions for communication with, and transportation to, one or more nearby 
hospitals and other health facilities as needed to meet medical emergencies. The 
mobile unit shall develop procedures that include personnel needed to assist in 
the transfer, as well as provisions for meeting medical needs to accommodate 
the emergency transfer; 
1 ) Location; 
2) Schedule of mobile unit services 
J. Maintain clinical records on each patient, in accordance with 
regulations; 
, 
K. Maintain a mobile unit services log that shall include, but shall not be 
limited to, all of the following: 
1) Patient chart or Identification Number; 
2) Name, age and sex of patient; 
3) Site, date, time and as appropriate, duration of procedure. 
SEC 14. The Mobile Unit Shall Comply with the following: 
A. It shall have supplies and equipment to meet the needs of the patients 
served; 
B. Any mobile unit X-ray equipment shall be in compliance with the 
requirements issued by the Department; 
C. The mobile unit shall have fire safety equipment as specified by the fire 
authority having jurisdiction, including but not limited to, at least two fire 
extinguishers; 
D. Documented evidence of preventive maintenance and calibration 
procedures of mobile unit equipment shall conform to the manufacturer's 
specifications; 
E. Use of the equipment in mobile units shall conform to the 
manufacturer's specifications; 
F. The mobile unit shall have a telecommunications device. 
SEC 15. Implementing Rule and Regulations. - Within six (6) months 
after the enactment of this Act, the Department shall formulate and issue the 
appropriate rules and regulations necessary to carry out the implementation of 
this Act and to enable the Department to exercise the powers and perform the 
duties conferred upon it by this Act. 
Until the Department adopts regulations relating to provision of services by 
a chronic hemodialysis clinic, a surgery clinic, or a rehabilitation clinic, mobile 
units licensed or seeking licensure, in these categories shall comply with 
Department's certification standards for end stage renal disease clinics, 


ambulatory surgery clinics, or comprehensive outpatient rehabilitation facilities, 
as applicable. 
SEC 16. Separability Clause. - If any provision, or part hereof, is held 
invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise 
affected shall remain valid and subsisting. 
SEC. 17. Repealing Clause. -Any Law, presidential decree or issuance, 
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation 
contrary to or inconsistent with, the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, 
modified or amended accordingly. 
SEC. 18. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,