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Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 5828

INTRODUCED BY
REP. ALFRED VARGAS

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE OFFICE OF RESEARCH ON WOMEN'S HEALTH

EXPLANATORY NOTE

It is the policy of the State to protect and promote the right to health of
every Filipino. Given the dynamic and vital roles that Filipino women play in
the society and the numerous risks on their health and well-being, it is
imperative that we adopt the best practices of developed countries and find
ways to address these kinds of issues on health.

In 2015, almost 92 percent of all maternal deaths in Asia Pacific -
around 78,000 - occurred in just 12 countries. The Philippines is one of these
12 countries with 1,721 registered maternal deaths. The number of maternal
deaths in the country is dropping by only about 2% per year. This means that
the number of Filipino pregnant women who die every year remains
alarmingly high.

The United States of America established the Office of Research on
Women’s Health (ORWH) at the National Institute of Health in September
1990 in order “to strengthen, develop, and increase research on diseases,
disorders, and conditions that are unique to, more prevalent among, or more
serious in women, or for which there are different risk factors for women than
for men”!

‘The research undertaken by the OWRH has found out that sex and
gender identity play crucial roles in health, wellness, and disease progression.
Hence, a research center focused on the nuances and specifics tailored for
women’s health is important.


This bill seeks to establish the Office of Research on Women’s Health in
the Philippines.

In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

/ALFRED V1

1Pinn, V.M. (1994) “The Role of the NIH’s Office of Research on Women's Health.” Academic Medicine:
Journal of the Association of American Medical Colleges 69(9): 698-702.


Republic of the Bjilippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City, Meteo Marila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 5825

INTRODUCED BY
REP. ALFRED VARGAS

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE OFFICE OF RESEARCH ON WOMEN'S HEALTH

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

SECTION 1, Short Title. - This Act shall be known as "Research on Women's
Health Act".

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to give
priority to the needs of women. Taking into account the inherent disparity
between men and women, the State shall undertake a research focusing on
women's health which shall be responsive to the needs of every Filipino
woman.

SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the term:
a. "Secretary" shall refer to the Secretary of Health;

b. "Women's health condition" shall refer to all diseases, disorders, and
conditions —

i, Unique to serious, or more prevalent to women;
ii. For which the factors of medical risk or types of medical

intervention are different for women, or which it is unknown
whether such factors or types are different for women; or


With respect to which there has been insufficient clinical
research involving women as subjects or insufficient clinical
data on women;

c. "Research on women's health” shall mean research on women's health
conditions, including research on preventing such conditions; and

d. "Committee" shall refer to the Advisory Committee on Women's
Health.

SECTION 4. Establishment of the Office of Research on Women’s Health.
— The Research Office shall be headed by the Secretary with the following

functions:

A.

B.

Cc.

D.

To identify projects of research on women's or supported by both
the government and non-government agencies;

To promote coordination and collaboration among entities
conducting research identified under paragraph A;

. To recommend an agenda for conducting and supporting such

research; and
To encourage the conduct of such research.

SECTION 5. Advisory Committee on Women's Health. - In carrying out the
provision of Section 4, the Secretary shall establish a Committee to be known
as the "Advisory Committee on Women's Health."

SECTION 6. Composition. - The Committee shall be composed of nine (9)
members which shall include the following:

a.
b.
io

Two (2) representatives from the Department;

Four (4) physicians, practitioners and other health personnel;
Two (2) representatives from a non-governmental organization
which conducts research on women!

d. One (1) representative from the general public;

cs

Majority of the members of the Committee shall be women.

SECTION 7. Meetings. - The Advisory Committee shall determine the
number, time, place and conduct of meetings, except that it shall hold at least
one (1) public meeting each year at which the general public is given an
opportunity to express views concerning the conduct of research on women's
health by the Office.


SECTION 8. Term of Office. - Members shall be appointed by the Secretary
for a term of three (3) years. Of those first appointed, three (3) members shall
serve for three (3) years, three (3) members for two (2) years, and last three (3)
members for one (1) year.

Any vacancy in the membership of the committee shall be filed in the manner
as the original appointment. Any member of the Committee be removed for
cause in accordance with procedures established by the Committee.

SECTION 9. Functions. - The Committee shall have the following functions:

A. Advise the Secretary on appropriate research activities to the Office with
respect to -

i. Research of women's health;

ii, Research on gender differences in clinical drugs trials, including
responses;

iii, Research to gender differences in disease etiology, course and
treatment;

iv. Research on obstetrical gynecological health conditions, diseases
and treatment; and

v. Research on women's health conditions which require a
multidisciplinary approach.

B. Report to the Secretary on such research;

C. Provide recommendation to the Secretary regarding activities of the
Office; and

D. Prepare a report regarding the activities of the Committee.

SECTION 10. Appropriations. - To carry out the provisions of this Act, such
amount as may be necessary is hereby authorized to be appropriated from
the National Treasury. Thereafter, the amount necessary for the continuous
operation of the Office of the Research on Women's Health shall be included
in the annual appropriations of the Department of Health.

SECTION 11. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and
regulations or other issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with the
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.


SECTION 12, Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act
is declared unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provision not
affected thereby shall remain in force and effect.

SECTION 13. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days
following the completion of its publication either in the Official Gazette or in

a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,