Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House BILL No.“ 8002
Introduced by Representative Manuel Luis T. Lopez

AN ACT
MANDATING ALL CHILD PATIENTS, SEVEN YEARS OLD AND BELOW, TO HAVE A
COMPANION WHILE IN HOSPITALS AND MEDICAL CLINICS, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The proposed measure reaffirms the State's policy to ensure that children
receive protection and care as is necessary for their well-being, especially when
undergoing medical treatment. It declares mandatory for all child patients who are
seven years old and below to have one (1) companion in hospital and medical clinics,
regardless of medical condition or treatment and whether they are being treated for
inpatient or outpatient care. For abandoned or neglected child patients, the concerned
local social welfare and development office shall assign a duly licensed social worker
shall act as his or her companion.

This bill recognizes that the right of the child to access health care services
should be complemented with their right to be protected, care for, and loved. While
medical professionals focus on providing the best healthcare for child patients, a
companion will ensure that the child patient receives comfort, hope, and reassurance in
times of fear, uncertainty, and even confusion.

In order to take into account special circumstances of a child patient contracting
a notifiable disease or requiring special medical treatment, hospital and medical clinics
are likewise required to formulate special rules to accommodate at least one (1)
companion for the child patient.

In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is sought.

HON. khed defor

Representa
15 District, City of Manila


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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS

Second Regular Session

House BILLNo, 8962

Introduced by Representative Manuel Luis T. Lopez

AN ACT
MANDATING ALL CHILD PATIENTS, SEVEN YEARS OLD AND BELOW, TO HAVE A
COMPANION WHILE IN HOSPITALS AND MEDICAL CLINICS, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Child Patient Companion
Act of 2020”.

Sec, 2, Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared policy of the State to ensure
that children receive protection and care as is necessary for their well-being, taking into
account the rights and duties of their parents, legal guardians, or other individuals
legally responsible for them. Moreover, no child shall be deprived of his or her right of
access to health care services.

Sec. 3. Mandatory Child Patient Companion. - It is hereby declared mandatory
for any child-patient to have and be allowed at least one (1) companion in hospital and
medical clinics, regardless of medical condition or treatment, and whether such child-
patient is being treated for in-patient or out-patient care. For the purpose of this Act, a
child-patient is defined as one who is seven years old and below.

SEC. 4. Primary Duty of Parents or Legal Guardians. - It shall be the duty and
responsibility of the child-patient’s parent/s or legal guardian, in cases where one is
appointed by the court or in cases wherein the child no longer has a parent, to
accompany the child-patient or arrange and ensure that such child is accompanied by a
relative of legal age or any responsible caretaker of legal age. Provided, that, in the case
of an abandoned or neglected child, the concerned local social welfare and development
office shall provide and assign a duly licensed social worker to act as the companion of
the child patient. For this purpose, a child-patient is deemed to be abandoned or
neglected who, without any parent/s, legal guardian, relative/s of legal age, caretaker or
companion, comes or is brought to a hospital or medical clinic.

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SEC. 5. - Responsibility in case of abandoned or neglected child-patient. It
shall be the initial duty and responsibility of the hospital or medical clinic to gather all
information about a child-patient deemed abandoned or neglected. Any information
gathered shall immediately, which in no case shall exceed 24 hours from the child-
patient's admission, shall be relayed to the local social welfare and development office,
which shall then first immediately provide and assign a duly licensed social worker to
act as the companion of the child patient. After, it can use all information gathered
about the concerned child-patient to determine and/or locate the child’s parents or
legal guardian, and if found/located/contacted, inform them of the child’s status and
explain the mandate of this Act.

SEC. 6. - Exemptions. In special situations wherein the health and safety of
child-patient, companion, and or other patients can be compromised, or in instances
where companions are generally not allowed, such as but not limited to operating
rooms, intensive care units, nursery areas and such other similar areas, the hospital or
medical clinic may prevent entry of such companion.

SEC. 7. ~ Penalties. Any person or entity who commits any act/s in violation of
the provisions of this Act shall be subject to a fine ranging from Php10,000.00 to
Php1,000,000.00, separate and without prejudice to any administrative penalty in the
case of persons in the government, as maybe provided in the Implementing Rules and
Regulations of this Act.

Sec. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Department of Health, in
consultation with the Department of Social Welfare and Development and hospitals and
medical clinics, shall formulate the such Rules and Regulations for the proper
implementation of this Act, within a period no longer than six (6) months from
effectivity hereof.

Sec. 9. Separability Clause. - If for any reason, any part or provision of this Act
is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not affected
thereby shall remain in full force and effect.

Sec. 10. Repealing Clause. - All laws, rules, or orders inconsistent with the
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed.

Sec. 11. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
completion of its publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general

circulation.

Approved,

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