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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

17 Congress
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 5914

Introduced by: HON, LORNA C. SILVERIO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The number of dialysis patients have been rising over the past decade
and is becoming a concern for us Filipinos. Kidney related diseases according
to the Department of Health (DOH) is the country’s 6" cause of death for the
year 2013. Patients’ profile have become younger and their number more
than doubled from 4,000 cases last 2004 to more or less 23,000 in the 2013
figures released by the DOH. The accessibility of dialysis treatment especially
in the public sector has been a challenge to people who are in dire need of this.
For the treatment, the patient must travel to urban cities for dialysis and it has
become burdensome, because we must remember that this is a regular
treatment which is availed almost thrice a week. The high cost and
inaccessibility has been a concern for the patients especially the indigents
who could not afford to travel and pay for a regular dialysis cycle. In
consonance with the government's efforts to make health services accessible
and affordable, the local governments must play an active role in being the
first line of providers for these people. A dialysis ward must be maintained
and operated by national, regional, and provincial government hospitals and
prioritize indigents living in the rural areas thus making the treatment free of
any charge. Let us make an efficient system wherein our constituents can
freely avail of the basic healthcare services the State is tasked to provide and
promote.

In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

LORNA C. SILVERIO

Os. a’
ES RECEIVED @
© 27 ANTE



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Introduced by: HON. LORNA C. SILVERIO

AN ACT REQUIRING ALL NATIONAL, REGIONAL, AND PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT
HOSPITALS TO ESTABLISH, OPERATE AND MAINTAIN A DIALYSIS WARD OR UNIT
IN THEIR RESPECTIVE HOSPITAL AND PROVIDING FREE DIALYSIS TREATMENT
TO INDIGENT PATIENTS

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 "Dialysis Center Act of 2017."

SEC 2. Declaration of Policy, - It is the declared policy of the State to improve the delivery of
health care services to the people and to ensure hospital facilities are available, affordable and
accessible to the people

SEC 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall mean.

a) "Secretary" shall refer to the Secretary of the Department of Health;
b) "National Government Hospital” shall refer to a hospital operated and maintained either
partially or wholly by the national government or by any department, division, board or other
agency thereof,

©) "Regional Government Hospital” shall refer to a hospital operated and maintained either
partially or wholly by the national government or by any department, division, board or other
agency thereof,

d) "Provincial Government Hospital” shall refer to a hospital operated and maintained either
partially or wholly by the provincial government or other political subdivision, or by any
department division, board or other agency thereof, and

¢) Indigent Patient” shall refer to a patient whose combined annual family incomes does not
exceed Thirty Thousand (P30,000.00) annually.

SEC 4, Establishment, Operation and Maintenance of a Dialysis Ward or Unit. - Within two
(2) years from the effectivity of this Act, all national, regional, and provincial government
hospitals are hereby required to establish, operate and maintain a dialysis ward or unit in their
hospital. The dialysis ward or unit shall be equipped with complete dialysis machine, equipment
and supplies.


SEC 5, Free Dialysis Treatment to Indigent Patients. - Dialysis treatment in all national,
regional and provincial government hospitals shall be provided free of charge to indigent patients
as defined in Section 3 (e) hereof.

SEC 6. Penalty. - Any hospital chief, administrator or officer-in-charge who fails to comply
with this Act shall be punished with a fine of Fifty Thousand Pesos (P50,000.00) but not more
than One Hundred Thousand Pesos (P100,000.00).

SEC 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Secretary shall promulgate the necessary
rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act.

SEC 8. Appropriations. - Such amount as may be necessary to implement the provisions of this
Act is hereby authorized to be appropriated from the National Treasury. Thereafter, the amount
necessary for the continuous implementation of this Act shall be included in the government
hospital's annual appropriations.

SEC 9, Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or unconstitutional,
the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain valid and
subsisting.

SEC 10. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive order, letter of
instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions
of this Act are hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly.

SEC 11, Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in at least
two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

‘Approved,