NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
SENATE 
S. B. NO. 744
senate
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72 JUL18 P5:13
RECEIVED 3V.
Introduced by SENATOR JOEL VILLANUEVA
AN ACT PROVIDING A STANDARD OF CARE FOR THE 
TREATMENT OF PERSONS WITH BLEEDING DISORDERS, 
ESTABLISHING TREATMENT CENTERS AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The global incidence of hemophilia is still unknown, but medical experts 
estimated that there are around 400,000 individuals diagnosed with it.1 Based 
on the World Federation of Hemophilia Report on the 2020 Annual Global 
Survey, the Philippines has only around 1,604 persons that have been 
registered as persons with hemophilia, and 46 with von Willebrand disease.2 
There are estimates that the number of Filipinos with hemophilia may reach 
10,000, and prevalence of von Willebrand Disease is estimated to be equivalent 
to 1% of the population.3 The gap in estimates and recorded data may partly 
be due to the lack of awareness and understanding on this group of medical 
conditions.
Bleeding disorder is a genetic condition where the blood does not clot 
properly. It is caused by deficiency of proteins in the blood caHed clotting factors. 
There are 13 factors in the blood, and when one of it is missing or is deficient, 
it results in a bleeding disorder.
at
Makati Medical Center, Hemophilia: A Rare Genetic Blood Disease, April 6, 2020, accessible 
https://www.makatimed.net.ph/bloqs/hemophilia-a-rare-qenetic-blood-disease/ (last accessed July 17, 2022).
2 World Federation of Hemophilia, Report on the Annual Global Survey 2020, October 2021, accessible at 
https://www1 .wfh.orq/publications/files/pdf-2045.pdf? oa=2.227444824.496073867.1658053117- 
2081625859.1658053117& ql=1*o99f5e* oa*MiA4MTYvNTo1QS4xNiU4MDUzMTE3* oa 7974KH9LH5*MTY10DA 
1 MzExNi4xLiEuMTY 10DA1 NDQ2Mv4w (last accessed July 17, 2022).
3 Hemophilia Advocates Philippines, accessible at https://vmw.hemophilia.ph/ (last accessed July 17, 2022).


People with bleeding disorders can bleed for longer than normal, and 
some may experience spontaneous bleeding into joints, muscles, or other parts 
of their bodies. Women with bleeding disorders may experience menorrhagia 
(excessive menstruation) and post-partum hemorrhage, on top of other 
bleeding problems.
The most known of this group of medical conditions is Hemophilia, 
classified as Hemophilia A (Factor VIII deficiency) and Hemophilia B (Factor IX 
deficiency), which occurs mostly in males. But the most prevalent is von 
Willebrand Disease (deficiency in von Willebrand factor), which affects around 
1 percent of the population - both males and females. Other factor deficiency 
disorders are: I, II, V, VII, X, XI, XIII. (Source: World Federation of Hemophilia)
Bleeding disorders like Hemophilia, von Willebrand Disease and other 
factor deficiencies are usually inherited and genetic. Thus, there may be 
multiple members in a family affected by the condition and they will have it for 
life. There is no known cure yet for bleeding disorders.
The World Health Organization and the Department of Health cited post­
partum hemorrhage as one of the top causes of maternal deaths. Incidentally, 
the Philippines did not meet the Millennium Development Goal on maternal 
health. It is very possible that a big percentage of those mothers who died of 
post-partum hemorrhage had undiagnosed bleeding disorders.
Bleeding disorders are treated by replacing the missing or deficient 
factors either through blood products such as cryo-precipitate, cryo-supernate, 
fresh frozen plasma, packed red blood cells (RBC) and whole blood or by 
manufactured plasma-derived factor concentrates and recombinant 
(genetically engineered) factor concentrates.
The cost of treatment is very high, and therefore, inaccessible to majority 
of Filipino patients. For example, it was reported that “a mild bleed in the joints 
can cost Php30,000 to Php50,00Q per treatment,” and “severe bleeds like those 
in internal organs... may reach hundreds of thousands if not millions.”4 Many of 
them suffer with chronic pain and deformities in the joints because of lack of 
access to proper treatment. Availability of factor concentrates in the country is 
also inconsistent. Other countries like India and Malaysia give free treatment to 
their citizens who have bleeding disorders. This bill seeks to provide medical 
and financial support to patients affected with this condition.
The immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
SENATOR J
L VILLANUEVA
4 Inquirer, Many Filipinos with hemophilia can’t get treatment, April 20, 
2015, accessible at
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/686539/manv-filipinos-with-hemophilia-cant-aet-treatment {last accessed July 17, 2022).


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
® Senate
o( ti)C gvcc-ctnip
•22 JUL 18 P5 :13
SENATE
S.B.N0.744
RtCElViD 8V;, _
Introduced by SENATOR JOEL VILLANUEVA
AN ACT PROVIDING A STANDARD OF CARE FOR THE 
TREATIVlENT OF PERSONS WITH BLEEDING DISORDERS, 
ESTABLISHING TREATMENT CENTERS AND APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Bleeding 
Disorder Standards of Care Act"
State:
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the
a) 
To ensure the adequate treatment of hemophilia at the lowest 
possible cost and endeavor to make them available for free to 
indigent patients;
b) 
To ensure the establishment of treatment centers in public 
hospitals: and
c) 
To establish a standard of care so that patients with severe 
bleeding disorders can receive necessary and appropriate medical 
care.
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. - The following words and phrases when 
used in this Act shall have the meanings given to them in this Section unless 
the context clearly indicates otherwise:
a) Bleeding Disorder refers to a medical condition characterized by 
a severe deficiency or absence of one or more essential blood


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clotting proteins in the human blood, often called factors, including 
all forms of hemophilia, von Willebrand disease, and other bleeding 
disorders which result in uncontrollable bleeding or abnormal blood 
clotting;
b) 
Blood clotting product refers to an intravenously administered 
medicine manufactured from human plasma, recombinant 
biotechnology techniques and other processes, approved for 
distribution by the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), and which 
is used for the treatment and prevention of symptoms associated 
with bleeding disorders. The term includes, but is not limited to:
1) Factor Vila, Factor VIII and Factor IX products;
2) Von Willebrand Factor products;
3) Prothrombin complex concentrates;
4) Activated prothrombin complex concentrates; and
5) Other products approved by the BFAD for the treatment of 
bleeding disorders and associated inhibitors.
c) 
Financially Incapacitated Patient refers to a patient who is not 
classified as indigent, but who demonstrates clear inability to pay 
or spend for necessary expenditures for services or medical 
treatment, laboratory testing of blood and/or coagulation studies, or 
blood coagulating products and/or ancillary infusion equipment, as 
assessed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development 
(DSWD), local government social worker or the medical social 
worker of the health facility:
d) 
Indigent Patient refers to a patient who has no visible means of 
income, or whose income is insufficient for the subsistence of his 
or her family, as assessed by the DSWD, local government social 
worker or the medical social worker of the health facility;
e) 
DOH refers to the Department of Fiealth.
f)
g)
Hemophilia refers to a human bleeding disorder caused by a 
hereditary deficiency of the Factor VIII, Factor IX or Factor XI blood 
clotting protein in human blood.
von Willebrand disease refers to 
caused by a hereditary deficiency 
Willebrand Factor in human blood.
a human bleeding disorder 
or abnormality of the von
SEC. 4. State Treatment Facilities. - The State shall establish 
hemophilia treatment facilities in key cities and regions nationwide in 
designated hospitals with Cancer and Hematology Departments.
Each
patients:
Hemophilia Treatment Facility shall provide to all hemophilia


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a) 
Care by qualified hematologists and medical doctors and shall also 
provide free of charge the necessary blood clotting products and 
ancillary infusion equipment necessary for the infusion of such 
blood dotting products;
b) 
A room exclusively for hemophilia patients; and
c) 
A clinical coagulation laboratory for the screening, diagnosis, 
provisional diagnosis and treatment of bleeding disorders or 
suspected bleeding disorders and such services shall be provided 
free of charge to all ;ndigent patients and financially incapacitated 
patients.
SEC. 5. Funding. - The amount necessary for the initial implementation 
of this Act shall be sourced from the current budget of the DOH. Thereafter, the 
funds necessary for the continuous implementation of this Act in the ensuing 
years shall be included in the General Appropriations Act.
The funds given to the treatment facilities shall be used as follows;
a) 
Five percent (5%) shall be used for the maintenance of the rooms 
that will be used exclusively for hemophilia patients;
b) 
Ninety percent (90%) shall be used exclusively for necessary 
blood clotting products and ancillary infusion equipment necessary 
for the infusion of such blood clotting products to hemophilia 
patients; and
c) 
Five percent (5%) shall be used for blood screening of hemophilia 
patients.
Each treatment facility established under this Act shall submit an annual 
report to the DOH on the utilization of the amount given to it.
SEC. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days 
from the approval of this Act, the DOH, in consultation with hemophilia groups 
and other relevant stakeholders, shall promulgate the rules and regulations to 
implement the provisions of this Act.
SEC. 7. Separability Clause. - If for any reason, any provision of this 
Act is declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other parts or provisions hereof 
which are not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.
SEC. 8. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of 
general circulation.
Approved,