E-Filed
RECEIVED

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Quezon City

House BILL No, 6536

- Introduced by Representative Stephen James T, Tan

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE MODERNIZATION OF MATUGUINAO RURAL
HEALTH UNIT INTO A SUPER HEALTH CENTER IN MATUGUINAO,
SAMAR, UNDER THE DIRECT SUPERVI
ARTMENT OF HEAL

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The 1987 Philippine Constitution, in s 15 Article I, declares that “the
State shall protect and promore the right 10 health of the people and instill health
consciousness among them”, Section 11, Article XII thereof also provides that “7
State shall adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development
which shall endeavor to make essential goods, health and other social services available
10 all the people at affordable cost. There shall be a priority for the needs of the
underprivileged sick, elderly, disabled. women, and children, The State shall endeavor to
provide free medical care to paupers.”

¢n (7) hospitals, three (3) infirmaries', and 30 rural |
hhealth units. The hospital bed-to-population ratio is 1:2,514 while the rural health units-
to-popuilation ratio is 1:21,371. This is extremely problematic as per the Department of
Health ~ to meet the health needs of the population, the current supply of hospital beds
‘must increase to 2.7 per 1,000 population.’ Health stations, Rural Health Units (RHUs),
and Health Centers (HHCs) are supposedly the entry points of individuals, families, and
‘communities into the health system. In practice, however, patients go directly to hospitals
and other specialized clinics, resulting in large health system inefTiciene

Currently, Samar has sey

‘Thus, this bill secks to rehabilitate, upgrade and convert Matuguinao Rural Health
Unit into a modern Super Health Center that will cater to the medical needs of the
residents and its neighboring towns. This bill aims to provide a higher standard of care
than a regular rural health center meant to address the demands of the community
‘considering the ongoing public health issues, such as lack of access to better healthcare
facilities, and prevent the rise in hospital occupancy in regional

| tpt 8 doh gov phiwp-contertiploads/2017/1 HOSPITAL and.INFIRMARY REGION. pat

2 Province of Samer: Social Services. Samar News. hips samarigu-ph comocialservice Nm Accessed
‘on 25 October 2022

Department of Heath. (2020) Phppine Heath Facity Development Plan 2020-2040 Manila, Phippines:
Department of Health

Spe eh ox etter DON, PMLIPPNEX2ONEALTHR2ACLITYA2OOEVEL,
‘OPMENT2OPLAN%202020, 2040.0,

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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No, 6536

Introduced by Representative Stephen James T. Tan

AN ACT.

PROVIDING FOR THE MODERNIZATION OF MATUGUINAO RURAL
MEALTH UNIT INTO A SUPER HEALTH CENTER IN MATUGUINAO,
SAMAR, UNDER THE DIRECT SUPERVISION AND CONTROL OF THE,
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the “Matuguinao Super
Health Center Act”.

SECTION 2. State Policy. - It is the policy of the State to protect and promote the
Fight to health of all Filipinos and instill health consciousness among them. Towards
this end, the State shall adopt a people-oriented approach to the delivery of health
services that are centered on people’s needs and well-being,

SECTION 4. Facilities and Services. - ‘The Super Health Center will have amenities
and facilites that will cater to basie tests and the primary care needs of the residents
and its neighboring towns which include, among others, outpatient department,

laboratory, x-ray, ultrasound, birthing services, dental, diagnostic, pharmacy. and
emergency services.

SECTION $. Matuguinao Super Health Center. - The modemization project of
Matuguinao Rural Health Unit into a Super Health Center shall be under the
Department of Health's Health Facilities Enhancement Program.

SECTION 6. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to cary out the provisions of

this Act is hereby authorized to be appropriated in the General Appropriations Act of
the year of its enactment and every year thereafter,

SECTION 7. Implementation. - The DOH, in consultation and coordination with
‘other concerned agencies, shall formulate, identify, and promulgate the implementing
‘guidelines, rules and regulations necessary to eary out the provisions ofthis Act.

SECTION 8. Effecivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days alter its
‘publication in the Official Gazettr in a newspaper of general cireulation,

Approved,