THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF Tm REPUBLIC ) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
1 
S. B. No 
$9 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 11, Section 15, provides: 
The State shall protect and promote the right to health of the people and 
instill health consciousness among them. 
Hepatitis C is a blood-borne pathogen that is, according to the American Liver Foundation, 
the most common cause of chronic liver disease, liver cirrhosis, and liver cancer. It is also the most 
common indication for liver transplant, and the leading cause of death in people with Human 
Immunodeficiency Virus or Acquired Immune Deficien,cy Syndrome. In addition, there may be 
links between the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) and certain other diseases, given that a high number of 
people infected with I-ICV also suffer from Type 2 Diabetes, lymphoma, thyroid and certain blood 
disorders, and autoimmune diseases. 
Individuals infected with HCV serve as a source of transmission to others and, since few 
individuals are aware that they are infected, they are unlikely to take precautions to prevent the 
spread or exacerbation of their infection. To date, there is no known cure for Hepatitis C. 
The government should expand efforts to increase knowledge and awareness of HCV 
among its citizens. Hence, this bill seeks to provide for a study to determine the prevalence of 
Hepatitis C infection in the country and undertake a program to provide training, testing, and 
treatment regarding cases of the disease. 


Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
TO MANDATE A COMPREHENSIVE RESEARCH 
FOR TEE PREVENTION, CONTROL, AND MEDICAL MANAGEMENT 
OF HEPATITIS C VIRUS INFECTION 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act may be cited as the “Hepatitis C Epidemic Control and 
Prevention Act.” 
SECTION 2. DGjnition of Terms. - The following terms are defined as used in this Act: 
(A) Secretary - refers to the Secretary of the Department of Health 
(B) DOH - refers to the Department of Health. 
(C) HCV - means Hepatitis C Virus. 
SECTION 3. Preven~ionj Contpol, and Medical management of Hepatitis C. - (A) IN 
GENERAL - The Secretary shall develop and implement a plan for the prevention, control, and 
medical management of the HCV that includes strategies for education and training, surveillance 
and early detection, and research. 
(B) INPUT !A DEVELOPMENT OF PLAN - In developing the plan under 
subsection (A), the Secretary shall - 
(I) be guided by existing recommendations of the DOH, and 
(2) consult with - 
(a) the Director of the National Center for Disease Prevention and 
Control (NCDPC); 
(b) the Board of Advisers of the National Institutes of Health; 
(c) medical advisory bodies that address issues related to HCV; and 
(d) the public, including - 
(i) individuals infected with the HCV; and 
(ii) advocates concerned with issues related to HCV. 
(C) BIENNIAL ASSESSMENT OF PLAN - 


(1) IN GENERAL - The Secretary shall conduct a biennial assessment of 
the plan developed under subsection (A) for the purpose of incorporating into such 
plan new knowledge or observations relating to HCV and chronic HCV, such as 
knowledge and observations that may be derived from clinical, laboratory, and 
epidemiological research and disease detection, prevention, and surveillance 
outcomes, and addressing gaps in the coverage or effectiveness of the plan. 
(2) PUBLICATION OF NOTICE OF ASSESSMENTS - Not later than 
October 1 of the first even numbered year beginning after the date of enactment of 
the Hepatitis C Epidemic Control and Prevention Act, and October I of each even 
numbered year thereafter, the Secretary shall publish in the Official Gazette a notice 
of the results of the assessments conducted under paragraph (1). Such notice shall 
include - 
(a) a description of any revisions to the plan developed under 
subsection (A) as a result of the assessment; 
(b) an explanation of the basis for any such revisions, including the 
ways in which such revisions can reasonably be expected to hrther promote 
the original goals and objectives of the plan, and 
(c) in the case of a determination by the Secretary that the plan does 
not need revision, an explanation of the basis for such determination. 
SECTION 4. EIeimr7i.s qf the Nafionul Plan for the Prevention, Control, and Medical 
Managenzenf of Hepatitis C. 
- 
(A)Education and Training - The Secretary, acting through the Director of the 
NCDPC, shall impleiiient programs to increase awareness and enhance knowledge and 
understanding oi' HCV. Such programs shall include - 
( I )  (lie conduct of health education, public awareness campaigns, and 
community outreach activities to promote public awareness and knowledge about 
risk factors, the transmission and prevention of infection with HCV, the value of 
screening for the early detection of HCV infection, and options available for the 
treatment oi'chronic HCV; 
(2) the training of healthcare professionals regarding the prevention, 
detectioii, and medical management of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) and HCV, and 
the importance of vaccinating HCV-infected individuals and those at risk for HCV 
infection asainst the hepatitis A virus and HBV, and 
(2) the development and distribution of curricula, including information 
relating to the special needs of individuals infected with HBV or HCV, such as the 
inipoitance ol' ea!-ly intervention and treatment and the recognition of psychosocial 
needs, Ibr individuals providing hepatitis counseling, as well as support for the 
implementation of such curricula by State and local public health agencies. 
(B) Early Detection and Surveillance - 
( I )  IN GENERAL, - The Secretary, acting through the Director of the 
NCUPC, shall sqjiort activities described in paragraph (2) to promote the early 


detection of HCV infection, identify risk factors for infection, and conduct 
surveillance ofHCV infection trends 
(2) ACTIVITIES - 
(a) VOLUNTARY TESTING PROGRAMS - 
(i) IN GENERAL - The Secretary shall support and promote 
the development of national and local voluntary HCV 
testing programs to aid in the early identification of 
infected individuals. 
(ii) CONFIDENTIALITY OF TEST RESULTS - The results 
of an HCV test conducted by a testing program 
developed or supported under this subparagraph shall be 
considered protected health information. 
(b) COUNSELING REGARDING VIRAL HEPATITIS - The 
Secretary shall support national and local programs in, a wide variety of 
settings, including those providing primary and specialty healthcare services 
in nonprofit private and public sectors, to - 
(i) pi-ovide individuals with information about ongoing risk 
factors for HCV infection with client-centered education 
and counseling that concentrates on changing behaviors 
that place them at risk for infection; and 
(ii) provide individuals infected with HCV with education 
and counseling to reduce the risk of harm to themselves 
and transmission of the virus to others. 
(c) VACCTNATION AGAINST VIRAL, HEPATITIS -With respect 
to individuals infected, or at risk for infection, with HCV, the Secretary 
shall provide for - 
(i) the vaccination of such individuals against hepatitis A 
virus, FBV, HCV, and other infectious diseases, as 
appropriate, for which such individuals may be at 
increased risk: and 
(ii) the counseling of such individuals regarding hepatitis A, 
. HBV, HCV, and other viral hepatides 
(d) MEDICAL REFERRAL- The Secretary shall support - 
(i) referral of persons infected with or at risk for HCV, for 
di-ug or alcohol abuse treatment where appropriate; and 
(ii) rererral of persons infected with HCV - 
(I) for medical evaluation to determine their stage of 
chronic HCV 
and 
suitability 
for 
antiviral 
treatment; and 


(11) for ongoing medical management of HCV. 
(3) HEPATITIS C COORDINATORS - The Secretary, acting through the 
Director of the NCDPC, shall, upon request, provide a Hepatitis C Coordinator to a 
local health department in order to enhance the management, networking, and 
technical expertise needed to ensure successful integration of HCV prevention and 
control activities into existing public health programs. 
(C) Surveillance and Epidemiology - 
(1) 1N tiENERAL - The Secretary shall promote and support the 
establishment atid maintenance of State HCV surveillance databases, in order to - 
(A) identicy risk factors for HCV infection; 
(B) identify trends in the incidence of acute and chronic HCV; 
(C) identify trends in the prevalence of HCV infection among groups 
that may be disproportionately affected by HCV, including individuals 
living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus, military veterans, emergency 
first responders, racial or ethnic minorities, and individuals who engage in 
high risk behaviors, such as intravenous drug use; and 
(D) assess and improve HCV infection prevention programs 
[2) SEKOPREVALENCE STUDIES- The Secretary shall conduct a 
population-based sei-opi-evalence study to estimate the current and future impact of 
HCV. Such studies shall consider the economic and clinical impacts of HCV, as 
well as the impact oTt-lCV on quality of life. 
(D) Research Network- The Secretary, acting through the Director of the NCDPC 
and the Board oFAdvisei-s oftlie National Institutes offlealth, shall - 
( I )  coiicluct epidemiologic research to identify best practices for HCV 
prevention, 
(2) establish and support a Hepatitis C Clinical Research Network for the 
purpose oi' conclucting iresearch related to the treatment and medical management of 
I-1CV; aid 
(3) coriduct basic research to identify new approaches to prevention, such as 
vaccines, snd ti-ecllment for HCV 
(E) Rei'el-rai cbl- Medical Management of Chronic HCV - The Secretaq shall 
support anti promole Slate, local, and tribal programs to provide HCV-positive individuals 
with refeerral for medical evaluation and management, including currently recommended 
antiviral therapy \vlieti appi-opriate. 
(F) Underserved aiid Disproportionately Affected Populations -In carrying out this 
section, the Secretary shall provide expanded support for individuals with limited access to 
health educalioii, testing, and healthcare services and groups that may be disproportionately 
affected by I-IC?/ 


(G) Evaluation of Pi-ograni - The Secretaly shall develop benchmarks for 
evaluating the effectiveness of the programs and activities conducted under this section and 
make determinations as to whether such benchmarks have been achieved 
SECTION 5 Appivpmtions. - 'There shall be authorized to be appropriated such amounts 
as necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act, to be included in the annual budget of the 
Department of Health in the General Appropriations Act. 
SECTION 6. S e p r a h / ~ l y  
Cini~se. - If any provision, or part hereof, is declared invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law not otherwise affected shall remain valid and subsisting. 
SECTION 7. I&qwdi//g C/irzm. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
order, letter of instruction, adiiiinistrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent with, 
the provisions of this Act, are hereby modified, repealed, or amended accordingly. 
SECTION 8 /$/i?C//V;ZJJ 
C:/truw. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,