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THIRTEENTH CONGFG3SS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
RUG -3 P3:19 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
i. 
b\ECEIVED F,Yi,Y:---- 
SENATE 
S.B.NO. 
16 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution provides that the State shall adopt an integrated and comprehensive 
approach to health development, and shall endeavor to make essential goods, health, and other 
social services available to all the people at affordable cost. 
This bill provides for the use of mobile units, in order to render effectively medical, 
diagnostic, and treatment services to the public. It will ensure the availability of quality health 
care services for patients who live in remote or rural areas, and for patients who need specialized 
types of medical care. 
A -4 
TIAG 


THlRTEENTH 
First Regular 
GRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
) 
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RECEIVED BY:-.- 
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Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
TO PROVIDE FPR THE USE OF MOBILE UNITS SERVING MEDICAL, DIAGNOSTIC, 
AND TREATVENT SERVICES, IN ORDER TO ENSURE THE AVAILABILITY OF 
QUALITY HEAVTH CARE SERVICES FOR THE PATIENTS WHO RECEIVE CARE IN 
REMOTE OR R F L  AREAS AND FOR PATENTS WHO NEED SPECZALIZED TYPES 
OF MEDICAL CARE PROVIDED IN A COST-EEFECTIVE WAY 
Be it enacte k by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Mobile Health Care Act." 
SECTION 2. Declaration ofPolicy. - 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 the mobilc units serving medical, diagnostic, and treatment services 
to provide medical services particularly in remote or rural areas. 
SECTION 3. Definition ofTerms. -As used in this Act, the following terms shall mean: 
(1) "Department" means the Depafhnent of Health 
(2) "Mobile service 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 health facility; 
(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 Deparhnent. “Other” types of ap$roved mobile nnits shall be limited to 
mobile units performing services within new health facility or clinic licensure 
categories created after the effective date of this Act. 
(3) “Mobile service unit” or “mobile unit” does not mean a modular, relocatable, 
or transportable unit that is designed to he 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. 
SECTION 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, 
SECTION 5, The Department shall charge applicants a licensure fee as follows: 
(1) Pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Department that creates a new 
health facility or clinic licensure category. 
(2) NO additional licensure fee will be imposed solely because a service is to be 
provided in a mobile unit. 
SECTION 6. Requirementsprior to licensure: 
(1) The mobile unit shall comply with the applicable requirements of the Vehicle 
Code as provided by the Department, and shall have a vehicle identification number. 
(2) The mobile unit shall bear an insignia issued by the Department. 
SECTION 7. obtaining A Licensure. - 
(1) Except as provided in subsection (2), no person, political subdivision of the state, or 
government agency shall operate a mobile service nnit without first obtaining a 
license or an addition to existing licensure under this Act unless exempt from 
licensure as provided by the Department. 


(2) Any person, political subdivision of the state, or governmental agency, that was 
operating a mobile unit as of Januaq 1, 1997, may continue to operate the mobile 
unit only under the following conditions: 
(A) 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. 
(B) 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. 
SECTION 8. Application. 
(1) 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 coritain 
any information as may be required by the Department for the proper administration and 
enforcement of this Act. 
(2) An applicant health facility or clinic pursuant to this Act shall submit an 
application to the licensing and certification Department stating with specificity all of the 
following: 
(A) The proposed service to be provided; 
(B) The expected hours and days of operation; 
(C) The type and the manufacturer of the mobile unit contemplated; and 
@) The proposed area or areas where the mobile unit will be providing services. 
(3) An applicant for licensure as an independently licensed clinic under this Act shall 
submit a verified application to the Department rjn the appropriate forms for the type 
of clinic for which it wishes to obtain licensure. 
(4) 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 procedwes. 


SECTION 9.Qualz$cations. - 
(1) To qualify for a license under this Act, an applicant shall satisfy all the 
applicable regulations as required by the Department. 
(2) The applicant shall file a completed application with the Department. 
(3) Clinics licensed as mobile units shall be subject to the same requirements and 
regulations as any other clinic, the mobile unit shall comply with the mobile unit requirements 
contained in this Act. 
SECTION 10. Peviodical Inspection. - 
(1) A licensee using mobile services pursuant to this Act shall, at the 
Department’s option, be periodically inspected by a duly authorized 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 
regulations of the Department adopted under this Act are being followed. 
(2) 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 prevent violation of, this Act. 
(3) Demonstration of a mock emergency drill shall be observed by Department 
staff in the mobile unit on a site where patient mobility is limited. 
SECTION 11. Specijkations of Mobile Unit. - 
(1) The mobile unit shall be of sufficient size and shall be arranged in a manner 
that is appropriate for the provisions of those health care services that it is licensed to provide. 
(2) 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 unit that require utility hookups with general acute care hospitals. 


(3) The mobile unit shall be maintained in good repair and in a clean and sanitary 
manner. 
(4) All proposed modifications to previously approved services, procedures, and 
sites shall he reviewed and approved by the Department before they are implemented. Site 
changes shall also be reported by the licensee to local authorities. 
SECTION 12. Responsibilities of the Licensed Clinic. - 
(1) The licensed clinic shall he responsible or obtaining approvals for the 
site or sites of the mobile unit from the local planning, zoning, and fire authorities, as required. 
(2) The mobile unit shall be situated for safe and comfortable patient 
access. The mobile unit shall comply with all local parking ordinances. 
(3) The clinic shall ensure that there is sufficient lighting around the 
perimeter of the site from which the mobile unit provides any services. 
SECTION 13. Any licensee using mobile sewices'pursuant to this Act shall comply with 
the following: 
(1) Have written policies established by the governing body o f t he 1 icensee, 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 training 
and orientation, personnel supervision, and evaluation of services provided by the mobile unit. 
(2) Have written policies regarding patient selection criteria. 
(3) Develop and implement the written policies and procedures for the mobile unit 
in consultation with other appropriate health care professionals. 
(4) Ensure that the policies and written procedures are consistent with the policies 
and procedures of the parent facility, if any. 
(5) Ensure that the policies and written procedures shall be approved by the 
governing body, administration, and medical staff of the licensee, where appropriate. 
(6) Ensure that the written policies and procedures include, but are not limited to, 
all of the following: 


(A) Scope of services: 
(i) Procedures for the performance of the services provided; 
(ii) Quality assurance; 
(iii)Infection control; 
(iv)Medical record documentation of services provided, as 
appropriate; 
(v) Transport of patients, including, but not limited to, method, 
special equipment, necessary personnel, and protection from 
inclement weather; 
(vi)Emergency services and evacuation plan for the mobile unit; 
(a) 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. 
(b) A licensee using mobile services pursuant to this Act shall 
familiarize its employees and each patient with the policies and 
procedures adopted pursuant subparagraph (i). 
(c) 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. 
(vii) 
Location; and 
(vi$ 
Schedule of mobile unit services. 


(7) Maintain clinical records on each patient, in accordance with regulations. 
(8) Maintain a mobile unit services log that shall include, but shall not be limited 
to, all of the following: 
(A)Patient chart or identification number; 
(B) Name, age, and sex of patient; and 
(C) Site, date, time, and as appropriate, duration of procedure. 
SECTION 14. The mobile unit shall comply with the following: 
(1) It shall have supplies and equipment to meet the needs of the patients served. 
(2) Any mobile unit X-ray equipment shall be in compliance with the 
requirements issued by the Department. 
(3) The mobile unit shall have fire safety equipment as specified by the fire 
authority having jurisdiction, including but not limited to, at least two (2) fire extinguishers. 
(4) Documented evidence of preventive maintenance and calibration procedures 
of mobile unit equipment shall conform to the manufacturer’s specifications. 
(5) Use of the equipment in mobile units shall conform to the manufacturer’s 
specifications. 
(6) The mobile unit shall have a telecommunications device. 
SECTION 15. Implementing Rules 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. 


SECTION 16. Separability Clause. - If any provision or p art hereof i s held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
valid and subsisting. 
SECTION 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 provision of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
SECTION 18. ESfectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved. 
FN: 1210