NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHIQPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
161
of tiif I.'* ■ !'• i,,.>
72 JUL-7 P4 -05
RECEIVED br . /
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR JOSEPH VICTOR "JV" G. EJERCITO
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING SPECIALTY CENTER 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
IN
EVERY REGION AND
EXPLANATORY NOTE
•mis bill seeks to establish Regional Specialty Centers in select Department of 
Health-run regional hospitals. It shall ensure that each region has one established 
specialty center, me specialty care services that will be offered in each center shall 
be primarily based on the top burden of disease in the region and significant laws and
mandates, among others.
Currently, the Specialty Hospitals - Philippine Heart Center created under 
Presidential Decree No. 673; National Kidney and Transplant Institute created under 
Presidential Decree No. 1832; Lung Center of the Philippines created under 
Presidential Decree No. 1823; and the Philippine Children's Medical Center created 
under Presidential Decree No. 1631 are all situated in Metro Manila, mis burdens 
patients from far-flung areas to access the services they need from these hospitals. 
More often than not, the patients are left alone with their ailments without option to
access specialty care.
It Is the objective of this measure to provide accessible, available, and 
affordable specialty rare service. This bill will complement the Universal Health Care 
(UHC) Act of 2019 which protects and affords the right to health of every Filipino.


The immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
JOSEPH VICTOR "JV" G. E3ERCITO


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
SENATE 
S. No. ^61
Senate
72
ftHCErjF.ue.-
-7 P4 *05
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR JOSEPH VICTOR "JV" G. EJERCITO
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING SPECIALTY CENTER 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
IN EVERY REGION AND
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Regional Specialty
2 
Care Act of 2022."
3 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to protect and
4 
promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them
5 
by making health services available, accessible, and affordable for all. To this end, the
6 
State shall adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development
7 
by providing them specialized health services which shall be available and accessible
8 
to all Filipinos at affordable cost.
9 
SEC. 3. Establishment of Specialty Center in Every Region. - There shall be
10 
established a specialty center in select Department of Health (DOH) hospitals in every
11 
region.
12 
Provided, That the DOH, through its existing regional hospitals, and in
13 
consultation with the specialty hospitals in the country, shall develop standards for the
14 
creation of Regional Specialty Centers to increase the accessibility of specialty health
15 
care services to patients.
16 
SEC. 4. Regional Specialty Centers Development Plan. - The DOH, in
17 
consultation with the stakeholders, shall formulate a ten (lO)-year development plan
18 
that will Identify and expedite the establishment of Regional Specialty Centers In DOH-
19 
regional hospitals. It shall include among others, the following:


1 
1. Infrastructure-lhQ necessary infrastructure, basic facilities and equipment
2 
needed for the establishment of Regional Specialty Centers; and,
3 
2. Personnel- The DOH, in coordination with CSC, shall Include the human
4 
resources needed to run and manage the Regional Specialty Centers.
5 
SEC. 5. Tax Exemptions. - All donations, contributions or endowments which
6 
may be made by entities or persons to the Regional Specialty Centers for their benefit
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shall be exempt from income and gift taxes. The importation of medical equipment to
8 
be used by the Regional Specialty Centers shall likewise be exempt from import duties,
9 
taxes, and other fees.
10 
SEC. 6. Report to Congress. - Within one hundred twenty (120) days from the
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effectivity of this Act, the executive directors of the Regional Specialty Centers shall
12 
present a report to Congress detailing the development and operational plan of said
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Regional Specialty Centers.
14 
SEC. 7. Sunset Review. - As the need arises or within five (5) years after its
15 
effectivity, the Congress shall conduct a sunset review of this Act. The term ’sunset
16 
review' shall mean a systematic evaluation of the accomplishments and impact of this
17 
Act for purposes of determining remedial legislation.
18 
For this purpose, the Congress shall establish a Joint Congressional Oversight
19 
Committee composed of five (5) members of each House to be appointed by the
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Senate President and the House Speaker, respectively.
21 
SEC. 8. Appropriations. - The Secretary of Health shall include in the
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Department's program the establishment and operationalization of Regional Specialty
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Centers, the funding of which shall be included in the budget of DOH under
24 
the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA).
25 
SEC. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. -The DOH, in coordination with
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the specialty hospitals enumerated in Section 3 hereof, shall promulgate the rules and
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regulations Implementing the provisions of this Act within sixty (60) days from its
28 
effectivity.
29 
SEC. 10. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or
30 
unconstitutional, the provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force
31 
and effect.
32 
SEC. 11. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders.


1 
rules and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are
2 
hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
3 
SEC. 12. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
4 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of national circulation.
Approved,