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26 JUL 2016

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS

First Regular Session Eaany
Honseiilii i 1968 "ON UNIT
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Introduced by Representatives
Estrellita B. Suansing and Horacio P. Suansing, Jr.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

‘The 1987 Constitution provides that the State shall protect and promote the

right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them. Further,
the State shall also adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health
development with the end in view of making essential health services available to all
the people at affordable cost, giving priority to the needs of the underprivileged sick,
elderly, disabled, women, and children.

In consonance with the constitutional mandate, this bill seeks to establish a

free basic medicine assistance program in all government health facilities nationwide
by promoting optimal health and well-being of every Filipino by improved access to
medicines and by addressing the health needs of those who have less in life such as
the underprivileged, ailing, malnourished elderly, women, children, disabled, and the
poorest of the poor.

The Free Basic Medicine Assistance Program shall be administered by the

Department of Health (DOH) through government district hospitals, local health
units and barangay health stations in all cities and municipalities, in coordination
with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD); the eligible
beneficiaries of which shall be restricted to qualified poor recipients as certified by
the barangay and the DSWD officials.

It is common knowledge that some of our countrymen die not because their

illness is incurable but due to lack of medicine or proper medical treatment or
assistance on account of poverty. In this light, this bill seeks to answer the problem
of lack of medicines, the cost of which is now beyond the reach of many Filipinos.

This bill is a re-file of House Bill No. 5955 and approved on Third Reading on

August 24, 2015. Thus, a study has been made on this.

HON.

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

HON. won >. ovansina Rr:

24 District, Sultan Kudarat

‘RELLITA B. SUANS!
1* District, Nueva Ecija


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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

1968

House Bill No.

“Introduced by Representatives
___Estrellita B. Suansing and Horacio P. Suansing, Jr.

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A FREE BASIC MEDICINE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IN ALL
GOVERNMENT HEALTH FACILITIES NATIONWIDE AND APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines
in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Free Basic
Medicine Assistance Act.”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the
State to protect and promote the right to health and well-being of every Filipino and
to adopt a system of implementing the delivery of basic medicines to those who have
less in life in all health facilities in the country, giving priority to the underprivileged,
ailing, malnourished, elderly, women, children, disabled, and the poorest of the poor.

SECTION 3. Objectives. - This Act pursues the following objectives:

a. To promote optimal health and well-being of every Filipino by improved
access to medicines; and

b. To address the health needs of the marginalized sectors such as the
poor, malnourished, elderly, women, children and the disabled through
the establishment of a Free Basic Medicine Assistance Program in all
government health facilities nationwide.

SECTION 4, Establishment of Free Basic Medicine Assistance
Program. ~ There shall be established a Free Basic Medicine Assistance Program,
hereinafter referred to as the “Libreng Gamot Program”, to be administered by the
Department of Health (DOH) through government district hospitals, local health
units and barangay health centers in all cities and municipalities, in coordination
with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

SECTION 5. Eligible Beneficiaries. ~ The Libreng Gamot Program shall
be restricted to qualified poor recipients as certified by the barangay and the DSWD
official.


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SECTION 6. Availment of Free Basic Medicines. - Free basic medicines
shall be made available in all government district hospitals, local health units and
barangay health centers. These health facilities shall account for all the medicines
released to qualified beneficiaries through the submission of quarterly reports to the
DOH.

SECTION 7. Appropriations. - The amount needed for the initial
implementation of this Act shall be charged against the appropriations of the DOH.
‘Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the continued implementation of this
Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SECTION 8. Rules and Regulations. - The DOH, in coordination with the
DSWD and in consultation with the Philippine Medical Association (PMA), shall
promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to effectively implement the
provisions of this Act within six (6) months from the effectivity hereof.

SECTION 9. Separability Clause. ~ If any part or provision of this Act is
declared unconstitutional or invalid, other parts or provisions hereof which are not
affected shall continue to be in full force and effect.

SECTION 10. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules
and regulations and other issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with the
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 11. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,