Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
‘Quezon City

‘SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

‘tous No. 4 1 85

INTRODUCED BY: REPRESENTATIVE CRISTAL L. BAGATSING

EXPLANATORY NOTE
Article Il. Section 15 of the 1987 Constitution mandates that:

“The State shall protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill
health consciousness among them.”

Also under the Social Justice provision particularly Section Il., Article XIll, it provides that:

“The State shall adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health
development which shall endeavour to make essential * * * health * * * services
available to all the people at affordable cost. xxx”

In one news item entitled “Free Maintenance meds at DOH’s Hypertension and Diabetes Club”
it states that “Non-communicable diseases such as diabetes are the top killers in the Philippines
according to World Health Organization.” “To combat non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the
Philippines the health department has established the Hypertension and Diabetes Club where
patients can avail themselves of free maintenance medicines.” (Rappler)

The problem right now with the program was that it is so limited that very few of our citizens
knew the DOH project. This bill therefore seek that this program be institutionalized, so that in every
district including the rural areas, at least the working class for every family whether they be farmers ,
fishermen, labourer, office worker etc., would be benefitted from the program. Further this bill have
expanded the maintenance medicines not only for hypertension or diabetes but in all cases of
maintenance medicines provided that it will not go beyond P500.00 of generic maintenance medi
per month.

Therefore, the early passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

io
CRISTAL IE AGATSING


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bit No. 4185

INTRODUCED BY: REPRESENTATIVE CRISTAL L. BAGATSING

AN ACT
MANDATING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH (DOH)
‘TO PROVIDE FREE MAINTENANCE MEDICINES AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR

SECTION 4. Short Title. This Act shall be known as “FREE MAINTENANCE MEDICINES
act".

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. It is hereby declared the policy of the state to protect and
Promote the right to health and well-being of every Filipino and to adopt a system implementing
the delivery of free maintenance medicines for those who have been found to be in need.

SEC.3. Establishment of the Program. There shall be established Free Maintenance
Medicines Program to be administered by the Department of Health (DOH), that will provide
free maintenance medicines such as but not limited to High Blood Pressure, Cholesterol and
Diabetes, and be implemented by all DOH government district hospitals, health centers, and
barangay centers.

SEC. 4. Eligibility of Beneficiaries. Any person to be eligible under this program shall
undergo the blood examinations for free to be undertaken in any government district hospitals,
health centers and barangay centers. The only basis for eligibility of beneficiary shall be the result
of the patient's blood examination. The attending government doctor after reading the results
of the blood examination shall recommend to the person in charge of the program that the
patient be included in the alpha list of beneficiaries. The result of the blood examination shall be
released within the day but in no case shall it be more than three (3) days.



SEC.5. Limitations for Eligibility of Beneficiaries. In every district there shall be ten
thousand (10,000) qualified beneficiaries who shall receive their free generic maintenance
medicines equivalent to one (1) month supply but in no case shall be more than the equivalent
of Five hundred pesos (Php 500.00).

SEC.6. Appropriations. There is hereby appropriated the sum of Ten Billion Pesos (Php
10,000,000,000.00) to be charged against the sin taxes.

A portion of the funds generated by Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO)
and Philippine Amusement Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) in the amount of Four billion pesos
each or a total of eight billion pesos (Php8,000,000,000.00)are hereby constituted as a special
account in the in the general fund of the DOH for the implementation of this Act.

SEC. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. Within three (3) months from the approval
of this Act, the DOH shall promulgate the Implementing Rules and Regulations of this Act.

Sec. 8. Repealing Clause. All laws, Presidential Decrees, Executive Orders, and rules and
regulations, or parts thereof, inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or

modified accordingly.

Sec. 9. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from the date of its complete
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved.