Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

H. B. No.

Introduced by HONORABLE JUAN EDGARDO “SONNY” M. ANGARA

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The government's efforts to reform the health sector have been set in place through
several innovative projects and programs aimed at providing the people with comprehensive
health services. The participation of local government units has been tapped to make health
care services more affordable and accessible.

However, the fact remains that sophisticated and advanced hospital and medical
equipment and facilities are found in highly urbanized cities, so much so that patients from the
rural areas have to travel all the way to these urban cities just to avail themselves of advanced
medical treatment. The high costs of treatment and the additional travel expenses are financially
draining particularly for patients that need treatment on a regular and sustained basis. This is
especially true for patients who are suffering from kidney disorder who have to undergo dialysis
treatment regularly

In consonance with the constitutional mandate to make health services available to all
the people at affordable cost, this bill requires all national, regional and provincial government
hospitals to establish, operate and maintain a dialysis ward or unit in their respective hospital in
order that dialysis treatment will be available and accessible to the people especially those in
the rural areas in a cost effective manner. Moreover, this bill requires that dialysis treatment
should be provided to indigent patients, free of charge.

For more efficient delivery of health care services to the Filipino people, the immediate
approval of this proposed measure is earnestly urged.

——

JUAN EDGARDO “SONNY” M. ANGARA
Representative
Lone District, Province of Aurora


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session y

4S

H.B.No,__

Introduced by Honorable JUAN EDGARDO “SONNY” M. ANGARA

AN ACT
REQUIRING ALL NATIONAL, REGIONAL, AND PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT
HOSPITALS TO ESTABLISH, OPERATE AND MAINTAIN A DIALYSIS WARD.
OR UNIT IN THEIR RESPECTIVE HOSPITAL AND PROVIDING FREE DIALYSIS
TREATMENT TO INDIGENT PATIENTS

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 "Dialysis Center Act".

““" SEC 2. Declaration of Policy. itis thé declared policy of the State to improve the delivery of
health care services to the people and to ensure hospital facilities are available, affordable and
accessible to the people.

SEC 3. Definition of Terms. For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall mean:
a)
b)
°)

"Secretary" shall refer to the Secretary of the Department of Health

"National Government Hospital” shall refer to a hospital operated and

maintained either partially or wholly by the national government or by any department,
division, board or other agency thereof.
d

"Regional Government Hospital” shall refer to a hospital operated and maintained either
partially or wholly by the national government or by any department, division, board or
other agency thereof.

) "Provincial Government Hospital” shall refer to a hospital operated and maintained either

partially or wholly by the provincial government or other political subdivision, or by any
department division, board or other agency thereof, and

f) "Indigent Patient” shall refer to a patient whose combined annual family incomes does
not exceed Thirty Thousand (P30,000,00) annually

SEC 4, Establishment, Operation and Maintenance of a Dialysis Ward or Unit.
Within two (2) years from the effectivity of this Act, all national, regional, and provincial
government hospitals are hereby required to establish, operate and maintain a dialysis ward or
unit in their hospital. The dialysis ward or unit shall be equipped with complete dialysis machine,
equipment and supplies


SEC 5. Free Dialysis Treatment to Indigent Patients. Dialysis treatment in all national,
regional and provincial government hospitals shall be provided free of charge to indigent
patients as defined in Section 3 (E) hereof.

SEC 6. Penalty. Any hospital chief, administrator or officer-in-charge who fails to comply
with this Act shall be punished with a fine of Fifty Thousand Pesos (P50,000.00) but not more
than One Hundred Thousand Pesos (P100,000.00)

SEC 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. The Secretary shall promulgate the
necessary rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act.

SEC 8, Appropriations. Such amount as may be necessary to implement the provisions
of this Act is hereby authorized to be appropriated from the National Treasury. Thereafter, the
amount necessary for the continuous implementation of this Act shall be included in the

government hospital's annual appropriations.

SEC 9. Separability Clause. If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or

‘unconstititicnal, ‘the retfiainder 6f the laWor thé provision not otherwise affected shall remain

valid and subsisting.
SEC 10. 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 are hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly.

SEC 11. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in at
least two (2) newspapers of general circulation

Approved,