tA PRESS
Republic of the Philippines Ss A

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH (18") CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNo. _ 260

Introduced by HON. ELISA T. KHO, M.D., FPCCP

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill aims to exempt public hospital doctors from the coverage of R.A. 6758,
otherwise known as the Salary Standardization Law, providing them with competitive
remuneration, thus encouraging our medical doctors to work in government hospitals and
clinics instead of leaving the country in search forgreener pastures.

Based on the data from the Professional Regulation Commission, there are
currently 72,000 licensed doctors in the country, which makes the ratio of seven (7)
doctors per 10,000 patients or one physician to 1,429 people, which is way below the
standard ratio prescribed by the World Health Organization (WHO) of 1 to 1,000. The
shortage is even more evident in rural areas where only one doctor is available to serve
33,000 people.

This shortage results from our medical professionals leaving our country because
of economic needs, lower salaries and inhumane working conditions. With our doctor
migrating, the Philippines is said to be the second biggest importer of doctors in the world.

To this end, our public hospital doctors will be provided with a more competitive
salary structure thus, discouraging our medical professionals to leave the country and at
the same time addressing the governments’ crisis in health workforce leading to providing
quality health care and services for the Filipinos.

Immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

Cerpeaiger: wd
HON. i a KHO, M.D.,FPCCP

Representative
2%! District, Masbate

RECEIVED “A

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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH (18") CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 460

Introduced by HON. ELISA T. KHO, M.D., FPCCP

AN ACT
GRANTING EXEMPTION TO MEDICAL DOCTORS FROM THE
COVERAGE OF REPUBLIC ACT 6758, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE
SALARY STANDARDIZATION LAW AND AUTHORIZING
APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. It shall be the policy and responsibility
of the State to provide quality health care and services to its people through the
retention of its highly qualified practitioners by providing them with adequate
remuneration and benefits, to encourage them to work for the government and at
the same time addressing the government’s crisis in health workforce most
especially in rural areas. To this end, this Act provides for the granting of
exemption of public hospital doctors from the coverage of the Salary
Standardization Law, and enabling the Department of Health to come up with a
salary structure for them that is responsive enough to enable them to cope up with

the demands of rising costs of living.

SECTION 2. Eligibility. — All doctors with proper employment

requirements and documents in the government service and passed the Board


Examinations for Medical Doctors with permanent status shall be eligible under

this Act.

SECTION 3. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The Department of
Health in consultation with the Department of Budget and Management shall
study, review, analyse, revise, adjust and implement a comprehensive and
competitive salary structure for public hospital doctors, independent from the
provisions of the Salary Standardization Law. The implementing rules and
regulations necessary for the implementation of this Act shall be issued by the
Department of Health, in consultations with the Department of the Budget and

Management within ninety (90) days from the approval thereof.

SECTION 4. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to effectively
implement the provisions of this Act shall be charged against the Department of
Health’s budget for the year following the approval of this Act. Thereafter, such
funds as may be necessary for its continuous implementation shall be included in

the Annual General Appropriations Act of the above-mentioned agency.

SECTION 5. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules
and regulations and other issuances or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with

this Act, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 6. Separability Clause. — If any part or provision of
this Act is held invalid or unconstitutional, other provisions not affected thereby

shall remain in force and effect.

SECTION 7. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15)
days after publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) national newspaper of

general circulation.

Approved,