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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
House Bill No._____ 
Introduced by: Congressman BIENVENIDO M. ABANTE, JR. 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING APEX HOSPITALS IN EVERY REGION OF THE COUNTRY 
AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
No less than the 1987 Constitution specifically provides under Article II, Section 15 that, “The 
State shall protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness 
among them”. 
Additionally, of equal significance are pertinent provisions under Article XIII on Social Justice 
and Human Rights which enumerate the declared responsibility of the State on health, to wit: 
l.
Sec. 12. To “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 a priority for the needs
of the underprivileged, sick, elderly, disabled, women, and children. The State shall
endeavor to provide free medical care to paupers;”
2.
Sec. 12. To “establish and maintain an effective food and drug regulatory system
and undertake appropriate health, manpower development, and research, responsive to
the country's health needs and problems;” and
3.
Sec. 13. To “establish a special agency for disabled persons for their rehabilitation,
self-development, and self-reliance, and their integration into the mainstream of society.”
The Philippines, a nation with a growing population and diverse healthcare needs, is facing a 
critical challenge: the inadequacy of hospital facilities. Despite progress in various sectors, the 
healthcare infrastructure in the country struggles to keep pace with the rising demands.  
Moreover, according to a news article, the one major fault of our health system that COVID made 
deathly obvious is the inadequacy of our health infrastructure. We saw it in Metro Manila, where 
COVID patients have died in hospital driveways or tents because the emergency rooms and ICUs 
had no beds to spare. 
July 12, 2023
5:04 pm
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If health infrastructure is bad in NCR, you can imagine how it is in the countryside. Our 
government has simply neglected to invest in hospitals and health centers for decades. In some 
areas, it is said that people live and die without seeing a doctor or any medical personnel.1 
Sadly, half of Filipinos do not have access to a nearby primary care facility or one that 
patients can reach within 30 minutes, according to the Department of Health. The Philippines has 
only 2,593 rural health units. Under the Philippine Health Facility Development Plan 2020-2040, 
the DOH seeks to double the facilities so all Filipinos can have access to primary care in just half 
an hour.2 
For the foregoing reasons, the passage of the instant bill is earnestly sought. 
BIENVENIDO M. ABANTE, JR. 
1 https://www.philstar.com/business/2021/04/12/2090413/build-health-infrastructure 
2 https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2021/4/29/primary-health-care-facility-access-
philippines.html 


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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
House Bill No._____ 
Introduced by: Congressman BIENVENIDO M. ABANTE, JR. 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING APEX HOSPITALS IN EVERY REGION OF THE COUNTRY 
AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR 
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 “Apex Hospitals Act.” 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to adopt an integrated and 
comprehensive approach to health development which shall make health services available, 
accessible, and affordable for all. To this end, reforms shall be introduced to the Philippine health 
delivery system to achieve universal health care for Filipinos through the upgrading of facilities 
that shall transform regional hospitals into functioning apex hospitals and the establishment of 
new apex hospitals in strategic areas of the country. 
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act: 
(a)
Anatomic and clinical pathology laboratory system - refers to a facility for the diagnosis
of diseases through laboratory testing of blood and other body fluids, tissues, and the microscopic 
evaluation of individual cells. The laboratory testing shall cover the following areas: 
1)
Anatomic pathology, which includes histopathology, cytopathology, and
electron microscopy; and,
2)
Clinical pathology, which includes clinical microbiology, clinical
chemistry, hematology, blood bank, and molecular diagnostics or DNA
testing.
(b)
Angiogram - refers to a diagnostic procedure that outlines blood vessels, usually
arteries, in various areas in the body to identify narrowing of or blockages in the arteries in the 
body. 
(c)
Apex Hospital - refers to an end-referral hospital offering specialized services in
accordance with this Act, and is contracted as a stand-alone facility by the Philippine Health 
Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth). 
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(d) 
Basic emergency care - refers to the response to a situation where there is urgently 
required medical care and attention, and shall include procedures required for initial diagnosis, 
use of equipment, and supplies in sufficiently addressing the emergency situation, considering 
the welfare of the patient. It also includes the necessary medical procedures and treatment 
administered to a woman in active labor to ensure the safe delivery of the newborn.  
(e) 
Computed tomography (CT) scan - refers to an X-ray image that is produced by 
applying tomography, a technique wherein a computer controls the motion of the X-ray source 
and detectors, and processes the data to produce the image. The detailed images of internal 
organs obtained by this type of sophisticated X-ray device can reveal anatomic details of internal 
organs that cannot be seen in conventional X-rays. 
(f) 
Dialysis - refers to the process of removing waste products and excess fluid from 
the body. Dialysis is necessary when the kidneys are not able to adequately filter the blood. 
(g) 
Dialysis facility system - refers to a facility that provides treatment for chronic 
kidney disease. 
(h) 
High-risk pregnancy unit (HRPU) - refers to a unit in the hospital where women 
with complications arising from pregnancy are confined, and whose treatment requires constant 
supervision or further investigation and assessment. The unit is operated by experts such as 
perinatologists, obstetricians, and pediatricians, with the assistance of other specialists. It is a fully 
equipped obstetric intensive care unit (ICU) that can handle high-risk cases including high-risk 
neonates. 
(i) 
Intensive care unit (ICU) - refers to a hospital unit where patients requiring close 
monitoring, continuous attention, and intensive or critical care are confined. An ICU contains 
highly technical monitoring devices and equipment with specially trained personnel for critical 
care. 
(j) 
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) - refers to a procedure that uses a strong 
magnetic field and radio waves to capture detailed images of the organs and tissues within the 
body. 
(k) 
Mammogram - refers to an X-ray test to visualize normal and abnormal structures 
within the breasts. 
(l) 
Medical specialist - refers to a doctor of medicine that practices and has expertise in 
a specific branch of medicine. 
(m) 
Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) - refers to a hospital unit containing a variety of 
mechanical devices and special equipment for the care and management of premature or preterm 
and seriously ill newborn babies. The unit is comprised of neonatologists, pediatric subspecialists, 
and nurses who are highly trained in the management of the medical and surgical conditions of 
the newborn. 


 
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(n) 
Regional government hospital - refers to a hospital operated and maintained, either 
partially or wholly, by the national government or by any department, division, board, or other 
agency thereof. 
(o) 
Rehabilitation care facility system - refers to a hospital facility that provides 
specialized medical care and/or rehabilitation services to injured, sick or disabled patients, which 
includes speech therapy and physical rehabilitation. 
SEC. 4. Coverage. - This Act shall apply to regional hospitals whose service capacities are 
as general hospitals with at least five hundred (500) beds, and which have been identified by the 
Department of Health (DOH) to have full potential to operate as apex hospitals based on the 
Philippine Health Facility Development Plan (PHFDP).  
SEC. 5. Apex Hospital Modernization Program. - Within five (5) years from the effectivity of 
this Act, all the DOH regional hospitals described in Section 4 shall be upgraded or established, 
to have minimum functional capacities of apex hospitals that are at par with international health 
care institutions that provide quality medical services. To achieve this goal, there shall be an Apex 
Hospital Modernization Program for the establishment, development, and enhancement of the 
physical facilities, equipment and instruments, and service delivery of all the apex hospitals, 
including the following: 
a) 
Physical Facilities, Equipment, and Instruments. - At the minimum, all apex 
hospitals shall operate and maintain the following physical facilities, complete with the necessary 
equipment and instruments including: 
1. 
Ambulatory Surgical Clinic; 
2. 
Anatomic and Clinical Laboratory; 
3. 
Blood Station; 
4.  
Dialysis Facility; 
5. 
Genera Intensive Care Unit; 
6. 
High Risk Pregnancy Unit; 
7. 
Isolation Facilities;  
8. 
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit; 
9. 
 Nuclear Medicine Facility; 
10. 
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Facility; 
11. 
Psychiatry Facility; 
12. 
Radiologic Facilities such as X-Ray, CT Scan, Mammogram, MRI, ECG, 
Angiogram, Ultrasound, and others; 
13. 
Surgical Facility and Maternity Facility; and 


 
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14. 
Other necessary medical facilities as may be identified by the DOH. 
All the facilities enumerated herein shall have competent and trained nurses, therapists, 
medical technicians, and other ancillary and support staff. 
b) 
Service Delivery. - All apex hospitals shall offer services for all kinds of illnesses, 
diseases, injuries, or deformities. It shall have certified and eligible medical specialists to facilitate 
timely, efficient, affordable, and accessible diagnosis and treatment for the following areas: 
1. 
Clinical Services 
a. 
Family Medicine; 
b. 
Internal Medicine; 
c. 
Obstetrics and Gynecology; 
d. 
Pediatrics; and, 
e. 
Surgery. 
2. 
Basic Emergency Care Services 
3. 
At least one medical specialist in any of the following areas, to be determined by 
the DOH based on the burden of disease in the region: 
a. 
Cardiology; 
b. 
Neurology; 
c. 
Oncology; 
d. 
Pathology; 
e. 
Pulmonology; 
f. 
Psychiatry; 
g. 
Rehabilitation Medicine; 
h. 
Urology; and 
i. 
Other specialists as determined by the DOH.  
c) 
Teaching and training hospital Within three (3) years from the effectivity of this 
Act, all apex hospitals shall be expanded as teaching and training hospitals with accredited 
residency training programs for physicians in the four (4) major specialties namely, Medicine, 
Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Surgery. 
The secretary of the DOH shall determine the additional positions required for the 
purpose in accordance with the revised compensation and position classification system subject 
to the evaluation and approval of the Department of Budget and Management and in compliance 
with the civil service laws, rules, and regulations. 


 
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SEC. 6. Inventory and Audit of Hospitals. - An inventory and audit of the physical facilities, 
equipment, and instruments, as well as the personnel of the regional hospitals, shall be conducted 
within one hundred eighty (180) days from the effectivity of this Act, to determine the present 
classification of the respective regional hospitals based on their functional capacity. The result of 
the inventory and audit shall be the basis of the plan for each apex hospital. The establishment of 
apex hospitals shall be in areas where they are most needed. 
The DOH shall conduct an annual inventory and audit of Apex hospitals for their 
continuous development and to determine the need to establish new ones, in line with the Apex 
Hospital Modernization Program. 
SEC. 7. Annual Report. - Two (2) years from the effectivity of this Act and every year 
thereafter, the DOH shall submit an annual report on the Apex Hospital Modernization Program 
to the Congress of the Philippines, through the Committee on Health of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Health and Demography of the Philippine Senate. 
SEC. 8. Appropriations. - The initial amount for the implementation of this Act shall be 
charged against the current year’s appropriation of the DOH. Thereafter, the funding of which 
shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
SEC. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Secretary of the DOH shall issue the 
necessary rules and regulations within ninety (90) days after the effectivity of this Act. 
SEC. 10. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act shall be held unconstitutional or 
invalid, the remaining provisions which are not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force 
and effect. 
SEC. 11. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations, and 
other issuances, or parts thereof, contrary to or inconsistent with this Act are hereby modified, 
amended, or repealed accordingly. 
SEC. 12. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the 
Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
Approved,