EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHIUPPINES 
)
F irst Regular Session 
)
'%  
of liic  S ’c c rrts r j’
S E N A T E  
S. No.
287
’19 
J li- 8  P3:19
RECEIVED a :.
Introduced by Senator P I A  S. CAYETANO
AN  ACT
E S T A B LIS H IN G  S PEC IALTY CENTERS ATTACHED TO  E X IS T IN G  H O S PITA LS  
A N D  
M E D IC A L 
CENTERS 
OF 
THE 
D EPARTM ENT 
OF 
HEALTH, 
A N D  
A P P R O P R IA T IN G  FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Despite the Constitutional right o f the people to  quality and equitable 
healthcare services, access to hospitals is a right that, unfortunately, is not made 
available tx) every Juan. This Is due either to  the hospital being inaccessible or 
unaffordable, or both.
Take the case o f specialty hospitals. At present, these specialty hospitals are 
located m ostly in Metro Manila. This has resulted in its inaccessibility and 
unaffordability. Seeking treatm ent and check-up in these Manila-based hospitals 
puts, not ju s t the patient, but also th e ir im m ediate fam ily members, in a very 
challenging 
position. 
Their 
accrued 
disbursem ent 
fo r 
transportation 
and 
accommodation, as well as unprecedented expenses, make the ir inelastic and tig h t 
finances too com plex to  stretch.
This proposed measure aims to  bridge the existing huge disparity o f 
accessibility to  specialized healthcare services by establishing specialty centers in 
DOH hospitals and medical centers. These specialty centers w ill provide the patients


and the ir fam ilies a cost-efficient spending fo r the ir medical condition. Hence, this 
would translate to better access to specialized health services.
The im m ediate passage o f this bill is a fulfilm ent o f our promise to provide 
quality, accessible, and affordable healthcare services to every Juan. In view thereof, 
the approval o f the same is earnestly requested.
ixJi
7^
P IA  S( CAYEt Wn O


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
F/rst Regular Session 
)
S E N A T E
287
o f llU'
*19 
JUL-8 P3:19
S. No.
RECEIVED BY;
Introduced by Senator P IA  S. CAYETANO
AN  ACT
E S T A B LIS H IN G  S PEC IALTY CENTERS ATTACHED TO  E X IS T IN G  H O S PITA LS  
A N D  
M E D IC A L 
CENTERS 
OF 
THE 
DEPARTM ENT 
OF 
HEALTH, 
A N D  
A P P R O P R IA T IN G  FUNDS THEREFOR
Be i t  enacted b y  the Senate a n d  the House o f  Representatives o f  the Philippines in 
Congress assembled.
1 
Section 1. 
S hort Title. -T h is  Act shall be known as the "Specialty Centers
2 
in  DO H Hospitals a n d  M edical Centers A c t."
3 
Sec. 2. Declaration o f  Policy. -  It is the policy o f the State to protect and
4 
prom ote the right to health o f the people and instill health consciousness among
5 
them . In furtherance o f this policy, the State shall provide and deliver accessible
6 
health services fo r the people.
7 
Sec. 3. Specialty Centers -  The Departm ent o f Health (DOH) shall establish
8 
Specialty Centers w ithin DOH hospitals and medical centers.
9 
The 
creation 
o f Specialty 
Centers 
shall 
increase the 
availability 
and
10 
accessibility o f specialized healthcare nationwide to ensure equitable healthcare for
11 
all and shall address the medical needs o f patients w ith diseases o f a particular
12 
organ or group o f organs, and the healthcare needs o f a particular group, such as
13 
children, wom en, or the elderly.
14 
Sec. 4. Criteria fo r th e  Establishm ent o f  Specialty Centers. -  The upgrade,
15 
expansion, relocation, renovation, and rehabilitation o f DOH hospitals and medical
16 
centers fo r the establishm ent o f Specialty Centers shall adhere to guidelines set by


1 
the DOH on planning and prioritizing health facilities based on, but not lim ited to,
2 
the following criteria:
3 
(a) 
Evidence o f the health needs and demands, including disease burdens,
4 
in the catchm ent populations o f the DOH facilities, in consultation w ith
5 
concerned stakeholders;
6 
(b) 
Existing health goods and services provision o f the DOH facilities in
7 
comparison 
to 
specialized 
healthcare 
standards 
developed 
in
8 
consultation w ith specialized healthcare providers;
9 
(c) 
Appropriate 
level 
o f specialized 
healthcare 
provider role 
in the
10 
continuum  o f care, including roles o f the C)OH facilities as referral for
11 
province-wide and city-w ide healthcare provider networks;
12 
(d) 
Availability o f com petent health human resources fo r specialized
13 
healthcare developed in coordination w ith the Civil Service Commission
14 
(CSC), Departm ent o f Budget and Management (DBM), and concerned
15 
DOH facilities; and
16 
(e) 
Operational and financial perform ance o f the DOH facilities, including
17 
accreditation to avail o f specialized healthcare packages from  the
18 
Philippine Health Insurance Corporation.
19 
Sec. 5. Philippine Health Facility D evelopm ent Plan (PHFDP). -  The DOH shall
20 
include the plans fo r the establishm ent o f Specialty Centers in DOH hospitals and
21 
medical centers in the PHFDP, which serves as a guide fo r investm ents funded by
22 
the national governm ent to rationalize the distribution o f capacity and capability o f
23 
health facilities.
24 
All governm ent health facilities shall form ulate their developm ent plans
25 
consistent w ith the PHFDP in order to access capital outlay investm ent through the
26 
Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP) o f the DOH.
27 
Sec. 6. Appropriations. -  The Secretary o f Health shall include in the
28 
Departm ent's program  the establishm ent and operationalization o f the Specialty
29 
Centers, the funding o f which shall be included in the budget o f the DOH under the
30 
annual General Appropriations Act (GAA).
31 
Sec. 7. Im plem entation. -  The DOH, in consultation w ith the heads o f DOH
32 
hospitals and medical centers and other concerned agencies, shall form ulate.


1 
identify, 
and 
prom ulgate the im plem enting 
guidelines, 
rules and 
regulations
2 
necessary to carry ou t the purposes o f this Act.
3 
The DOH, in coordination w ith the CSC and DBM, shall develop organizational
4 
structures and staffing standards fo r the types and levels o f Specialty Centers.
5 
Sec. 8. Repealing Clause. -  All other laws, decrees, orders, rules and
6 
regulations, other issuances, or parts thereof inconsistent w ith the provisions o f this
7 
Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
8 
Sec. 9. 
Effectivity. -  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
9 
publication in the O fficial Gazette ox in a newspaper o f general circulation.
Approved,