NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
SENATE 
S. No.
249
Senate
ot ti)f ^
•22 JULII P4:04
RIXEIVED BY,.
Introduced by Senator PIA S. CAYETANO
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING SPECIALTY CENTERS ATTACHED TO EXISTING HOSPITALS 
AND MEDICAL CENTERS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Constitution provides that the State shall protect and promote the right to 
health of the people and Instill health consciousness among them.1 However, even with 
the continuous investment of the government in the country's healthcare system, access 
to hospitals providing specialized healthcare services for every Filipino remains limited 
due to the unavailability of facilities or unaffordable costs.
In the case of specialty hospitals, most are located in Metro Manila and a few are 
in other highly urbanized cities. Seeking treatment and check-ups in these Manila-based 
hospitals is very expensive for patients and their immediate family members who would 
need to pay for transportation and accommodation, as well as other related expenses. 
This Is in addition to the cost of treatment and/or check-ups.
This proposed measure aims to bridge the gaps in accessibility for specialized 
healthcare services by establishing specialty centers within hospitals and medical centers
1 Article II, Section 15, 1987 Constitution.


that are under the Department of Health (DOH). Placing these specialty centers within 
existing DOH hospitals and medical centers Is more cost-efficient and practical, 
considering that the healthcare experts in the region and other personnel are already 
available and accessible in these hospitals. Further, the infrastructure and equipment 
would just have to be upgraded and complemented, as compared to constructing new 
specialty hospitals, which will entail additional budget for capital outlay and corresponding 
service capabilities.
The immediate passage of this bill is a fulfillment of our promise to provide quality, 
accessible, and affordable healthcare services to every Filipino. In view thereof, the 
approval of the same is earnestly requested.
PIA S. CAVCTANO/^


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
SENATE 
S. No.
249
^eUtTiE
tf o{ tljr •■•rtarp
•22 JULll P4:04
fttCElVtOBV:,__I
Introduced by Senator PIA S. CAYETANO
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING SPECIALTY CENTERS ATTACHED TO EXISTING HOSPITALS 
AND MEDICAL CENTERS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Short Title. —This Act shall be known as the 'Specialty Centers in
2 
DOH Hospitals and Medical Centers Act"
3 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to protect and
4 
promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them.
5 
In furtherance of this policy, the State shall provide and deliver accessible health
6 
services for the people.
7 
Sec. 3. Specialty Centers. - The Department of Health (DOH) shall establish
8 
Specialty Centers within DOH hospitals and medical centers.
9 
The creation of Specialty Centers shall increase the availability and accessibility
10 
of specialized healthcare nationwide to ensure equitable healthcare for all and shall
11 
address the medical needs of patients with diseases of a particular organ or group of
12 
organs, and the healthcare needs of a particular group, such as children, women, or
13 
the elderly.
14 
Sec. 4. Criteria for the Establishment of Specialty Centers. — The upgrade,
15 
expansion, relocation, renovation, and rehabilitation of DOH hospitals and medical
16 
centers for the establishment of Specialty Centers shall adhere to guidelines set by
17 
the DOH on planning and prioritizing health facilities based on, but not limited to, the
18 
following criteria:
1


1 
a. 
Evidence of the health needs and demands, including disease burdens,
2 
in the catchment populations of the DOH facilities, in consultation with
3 
concerned stakeholders;
4 
b. 
Existing health goods and services provision of the DOH facilities in
5 
comparison to specialized healthcare standards developed in
6 
consultation with specialized healthcare providers;
7 
c. 
Appropriate level of specialized healthcare provider role in the continuum
8 
of care, including roles of the DOH facilities as referral for province-wide
9 
and city-wide healthcare provider networks;
10 
d. 
Availability of competent health human resources for specialized
11 
healthcare developed in coordination with the Civil Service Commission
12 
(CSC), Department of Budget and Management (DBM), and concerned
13 
DOH facilities; and
14 
e. 
Operational and financial performance of the DOH facilities, including
15 
accreditation to avail of specialized healthcare packages from the
16 
Philippine Health Insurance Corporation.
17 
Sec. 5. Philippine Health Facility Development Rian (PHFDP). - The DOH shall
18 
Include the plans for the establishment of Specialty Centers in DOH hospitals and
19 
medical centers in the PHFDP, which serves as a guide for investments funded by the
20 
national government to rationalize the distribution of capacity and capability of health
21 
facilities.
22 
All government health facilities shall formulate their development plans
23 
consistent with the PHFDP in order to access capital outlay investment through the
24 
Health Facilities Enhancement Program of the DOH.
25 
Sec. 6. Appropriations. — The Secretary of Health shall include in the
26 
Department's program the establishment and operationalization of the Specialty
27 
Centers, the funding of which shall be included in the budget of the DOH under the
28 
annual General Appropriations Act (GAA).
29 
Sec. 7. Implementation. - The DOH, in consultation with the heads of DOH
30 
hospitals and medical centers and other concerned agencies, shall formulate, identity,
31 
and promulgate the implementing guidelines, rules and regulations necessary to carry
32 
out the purposes of this Act.


1 
The DOH, in coordination with the CSC and DBM, shall develop organizational
2 
structures and staffing standards for the types and levels of Specialty Centers.
3 
Sec. 8. Repealing Clause. - All other laws, decrees, orders, rules and
4 
regulations, other issuances, or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this
5 
Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
6 
Sec. 9. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
7 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
8 
Approved,