Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ________ 
Introduced by: CONG. “KUYA” JOSE ANTONIO R. SY-ALVARADO 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
There has been a non-stop increase of COVID-19 cases in the country. This surge has 
resulted to shortage of hospital beds. Families of COVID-stricken patients are scrambling 
to find hospital that has enough facilities to cater them. 
Heart-breaking photos of patients lying on the ground outside a hospital building went 
viral. Hospital were overwhelmed as ambulances, along with private cars, carrying 
COVID patients lined up for laboratory tests and admission. 
As we face this kind of challenge, it is very depressing to know that some hospitals choose 
not to make their beds available while detaining recovered patients with unpaid bills. 
The worst part is, they will continue to charge you until you fully paid the whole bill. 
This measure aims to free more bed to accommodate the increasing demand of hospital 
bed and to penalize this outrageous system of some hospitals detaining their patients due 
to unpaid bills. 
Thus, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
       CONG. “KUYA” JOSE ANTONIO R. SY-ALVARADO 
Representative 
1st District, Bulacan 
August 30, 2021
1:52 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ________ 
Introduced by: CONG. “KUYA” JOSE ANTONIO R. SY-ALVARADO 
AN ACT 
PROHIBITING THE DETENTION OF COVID PATIENTS IN HOSPITALS AND 
MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS DUE TO THEIR UNPAID HOSPITAL BILLS OR 
MEDICAL EXPENSES, AND PROVIDING PENALTIES THEREOF 
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 “Lingkod No Patient Detention Act 
of 2021”.  
SECTION 2. Prohibition. It shall be unlawful for any hospital or medical institution in 
the country to detain or to otherwise cause, directly or indirectly, the detention of COVID 
patients who have fully or partially recovered or have been adequately attended to or 
who may have died, for reasons of nonpayment in part or in full of hospital bills or 
medical expenses. 
SECTION 3. Coverage. COVID patients who have fully or partially recovered and who 
already wish to leave the hospital or medical clinic but are financially incapable to settle, 
in part or in full, their hospitalization expenses, including professional fees and 
medicines, shall be allowed to leave the hospital or medical clinic, with a right to demand 
the issuance of the corresponding medical certificate and other pertinent papers required 
for the release of the patient from the hospital or medical clinic upon the execution of a 
promissory note covering the unpaid obligation. The promissory note shall be secured 
by either a mortgage or by a guarantee of a co-maker, who will be jointly and severally 
liable with the patient for the unpaid obligation. In the case of a deceased patient, the 
corresponding death certificate and other documents required for interment and other 
purposes shall be released to any of his surviving relatives requesting for the same: 
Provided, however, That patients who stayed in private rooms shall not be covered by this 
Act. 
SECTION 4. Penalties. Any officer or employee of the hospital or medical institution 
responsible for releasing patients, who violates the provisions of this Act shall be 
punished by a fine of not less than Two hundred fifty thousand pesos (P250,000.00), but 
not more than Five hundred thousand pesos (P500,000.00), or imprisonment of not less 
than one year, but not more than five years, or both such fine and imprisonment, at the 
discretion of the proper court. 
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SECTION 5. Write-Offs. All accumulated bills at the start of the detention shall be written 
off on the final billing. 
 
SECTION 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations.  Within thirty (30) days from the 
effectivity of this Act, the Department of Health shall promulgate the necessary rules and 
regulations for its effective implementation. 
 
SECTION 7. Separability Clause. If any provision of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the other 
provisions hereof. 
 
SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, orders, issuances or portion thereof, 
which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are repealed or modified 
accordingly. 
 
SECTION 9. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in 
two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
 
Approved,