Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL'NO. 73

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to provide for free and mandatory annual physical examination
and other medical-related privileges to all senior citizens.

Section 4, Article XV of the 1987 Constitution provides that:

“Section 4. The family has the duty to care for its elderly members
but the State may also do so through just programs of social security.”

Senior citizens have contributed to our society during the prime of their lives.
Now in the twilight years, they still deserve to have more meaning and purpose.
However, financial and time constraints often lead them to disregard health concerns.

The value of this comprehensive health care package to senior citizens cannot
be overemphasized. It will serve as a prevention-oriented health care so that they can
learn new ways of preventing illnesses through healthy behavioral modifications and
lifestyle changes. Further, it will allow the doctors to monitor their general health aimed
at early detection and treatment of illnesses. It will also give the senior citizens full
support for their total well-being, thereby maximizing their contributions to nation
building.

In view of the foregoing, passage of this bill is highly recommended.

Soin
Al 'Y G. DEL ROSARIO


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
73

HOUSE BILLNO:___*
Introduced by REP, ANTHONY G. DEL ROSARIO
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR FREE AND MANDATORY ANNUAL PHYSICAL EXAMINATION
AND OTHER MEDICAL-RELATED PRIVILEGES TO SENIOR CITIZENS, AMENDING
FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7432, AS AMENDED, ENTITLED, “AN
ACT TO MAXIMIZE THE CONTRIBUTION OF SENIOR CITIZENS TO NATION

BUILDING, GRANT BENEFITS AND SPECIAL PRIVILEGES AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES”

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

SECTION 1. Paragraph(e), Section 4 of Republic Act No. 7432, as amended, is
hereby further amended to read as follows:

“SEC. 4. Privileges for the Senior Citizens. — The senior
citizens shall be entitled to the following:

“(a) xx

xxx 2Xx 2x

(©) free medical and dental services, diagnostic and laboratory
[fees] TESTS, such as, but not limited to, ANNUAL PHYSICAL
EXAMINATION, x-rays, computerized tomography scans, CARDIAC
STRESS TEST, ENDOSCOPY, ULTRASOUND ON KIDNEYS, URETER
AND BLADDER, PULMONARY FUNCTION TEST and blood tests,
INCLUDING PROFESSIONAL FEES OF ATTENDING PHYSICIANS, in
all government HEALTH CARE facilities, subject to the guidelines to be
issued by the DOH in coordination with the PhilHealth.

IN THE AVAILMENT OF THE ANNUAL PHYSICAL

EXAMINATION, THE INDIGENT SENIOR CITIZENS SHALL HAVE


PREFERENCE OVER NON-INDIGENT SENIOR CITIZENS IN THE
ORDER THEY SHALL BE SERVED.

Xxx XK Xxx.”
SEC. 2. Section 11 of the same Act, is hereby amended to read as follows:

“Sec. 11. Appropriations. - The necessary appropriations for
the operation and maintenance of the OSCA shall be appropriated and
approved by the LGUs concerned. For national government agencies, the
requirements to implement the provisions of this Act shall be included in
their respective budgets: Provided, That the funds to be used for the
national health program, INCLUDING THE ANNUAL PHYSICAL
EXAMINATION, and for the vaccination of senior citizens in the first year
of implementation shall be added to the regular appropriations of the DOH
and thereafter, as a line item under the DOH budget in the subsequent
General Appropriations Act (GAA): Provided, further, That the monthly
social pension for indigent senior citizens in the first year of
implementation shall be added to the regular appropriations of the DSWD
and thereafter as a line item under the DSWD budget in the subsequent
GAA”
SEC. 3. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after publication in the

Official Gazette or in two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,