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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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First Regular Session 
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Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 11, Section 15, provides: 
The State shall protect and promote the right to health of the people and 
instill health consciousness among them. 
Hepatitis C is a blood-borne pathogen that is, according to the American Liver Foundation, 
the most common cause of chronic liver disease, liver cirrhosis, and liver cancer. It is also the most 
common indication for liver transplant, and the leading cause of death in people with Human 
Immunodeficiency Virus or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. In addition, there may be 
links between the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) and certain other diseases, given that a high number of 
people infected with HCV also suffer from Type 2 Diabetes, lymphoma, thyroid and certain blood 
disorders. and autoimmune diseases. 
Individuals infected with HCV serve as a source of transmission to others and, since few 
individuals are aware that they are infected, they are unlikely to take precautions to prevent the 
spread or exacerbation of their infection. To date, there is no known cure for Hepatitis C. 
The government should expand efforts to increase knowledge and awareness of HCV 
among its citizens. Hence, this bill seeks to provide for a study to determine the prevalence of 
Hepatitis C infection in the country and undertake a program to provide training, testing, and 
treatment regarding cases of the disease.* 
* This bill was originally filed during the Thirteenth Congress, First Regular Session. 


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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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First Regular Session 
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SENATE 
S. No. 
/ 
.A. 
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Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
TO MANDATE A COMPREHENSIVE RESEARCH 
FOR THE PREVENTION, CONTROL, AND MEDICAL MANAGEMENT 
OF HEPATITIS C VIRUS INFECTION 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. -This Act may be cited as the “Hepatitis C Epidemic Control and 
Prevention Act of 2007.” 
SECTION 2. DeJnition of Terms. -The following terms are defined as used in this Act: 
(A)“Secretary” means the Secretary of the Department of Health. 
(B) “DOH means the Department of Health. 
(C) “HCV” means Hepatitis C Virus. 
SECTION 3. Prevention, Control, and Medical management of Hepatitis C. - 
(A) In General. - The Secretary shall develop and implement a plan for the prevention, 
control, and medical management of the HCV that includes strategies for education and training, 
surveillance and early detection, and research. 
(B) Input in Development of Plan. - In developing the plan under subsection (A), the 
Secretary shall - 
(1) Be guided by existing recommendations of the DOH; and 
(2) Consult with the Director of the National Center for Disease Prevention and 
Control (NCDPC); the Board of Advisers of the National Institutes of Health the medical 
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advisory bodies that address issues related to HCV; and the public, including individuals 
infected with the HCV and advocates concerned with issues related to HCV. 
(C) Biennial Assessment of Plan. - 
(1) In General. - The Secretary shall conduct a biennial assessment of the plan 
developed under subsection (A) for the purpose of incorporating into such plan new 
knowledge or observations relating to HCV and chronic HCV, such as knowledge and 
observations that may be derived from clinical, laboratory, and epidemiological research 
and disease detection, prevention, and surveillance outcomes, and addressing ,gaps in the 
coverage or effectiveness of the plan. 
(2) Publication of Notice ofAssessrnents. -Not later than October 1 of the first even 
numbered year beginning after the date of enactment of the Hepatitis C Epidemic Control 
and Prevention Act, and October 1 of each even numbered year thereafter, the Secretary 
shall publish in the Official Gazette a notice of the results of the assessments conducted 
under paragraph (1). Such notice shall include - 
(a) A description of any revisions to the plan developed under subsection 
(A) as a result of the assessment; 
(b) An explanation of the basis for any such revisions, including the ways in 
which such revisions can reasonably be expected to further promote the original 
goals and objectives of the plan; and 
(c) In the case of a determination by the Secretary that the plan does not 
need revision, an explanation of the basis for such determination. 
SECTION 4. Elements of the National Plan for the Prevention, Control, and Medical 
Management of Hepatitis C. - 
(A) Education and Training. - The Secretary, acting through the Director of the NCDPC, 
shall implement programs to increase awareness and enhance laowledge and understanding of 
HCV. Such programs shall include - 
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(1) The conduct of health education, public awareness campaigns, and community 
outreach activities to promote public awareness and knowledge about risk factors, the 
transmission and prevention of infection with HCV, the value of screening for the early 
detection of HCV infection, and options available for the treatment of chronic HCV; 
(2) The training of healthcare professionals regarding the prevention, detection, and 
medical management of the hepatitis B vims (HBV) and HCV, and the importance of 
vaccinating HCV-infected individuals and those at risk for HCV infection against the 
hepatitis A virus and HBV; and 
(3) The development and distribution of curricula, including information relating to 
the special needs of individuals infected with HBV or HCV, such as the importance of 
early intervention and treatment and the recognition of psychosocial needs, for individuals 
providing hepatitis counseling, as well as support for the implementation of such curricula 
by State and local public health agencies. 
(B) Early Detection and Surveillance. - 
(1) In General. - The Secretary, acting through the Director of the NCDPC, shall 
support activities described in paragraph (2) to promote the early detection of HCV 
infection, identify risk factors for infection, and conduct surveillance of HCV infection 
trends. 
(2) Activities. - 
(a) Voluntaly Testing Programs. -The Secretary shall support and promote 
the development of national and local voluntary HCV testing programs to aid in the 
early identification of infected individuals. 
(b) Confidentiality ofTest Results. - The results of an HCV test conducted 
by a testing program developed or supported under this subparagraph shall be 
considered protected health information. 
(c) Counseling Regarding yiral Hepatitis. - The Secretary shall support 
national and local programs in a wide variety of settings, including those providing 
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primary and specialty healthcare services in nonprofit private and public sectors, to 
provide individuals with information about ongoing risk factors for HCV infection 
with client-centered education and counseling that concentrates on changing 
behaviors that place them at risk for infection; and provide individuals infected with 
HCV with education and counseling to reduce the risk of harm to themselves and 
transmission of the virus to others, 
(d) Vaccination against Viral Hepatitis. - With respect to individuals 
infected, or at risk for infection, with HCV, the Secretary shall provide €or the 
vaccination of such individuals against hepatitis A virus, HBV, HCV, and other 
infectious diseases, as appropriate, for which such individuals may be at increased 
risk; and the counseling of such individuals regarding hepatitis A, HBV, HCV, and 
other viral hepatides. 
(e) Medical Referral. - The Secretary shall support - referral of persons 
infected with or at risk for HCV, for drug or alcohol abuse treatment where 
appropriate; and referral of persons infected with HCV for medical evaluation to 
determine their stage of chronic HCV and suitability for antiviral treatment and for 
ongoing medical management of HCV. 
(C) Hepatitis C Coordinators. - The Secretary, acting through the Director of the NCDPC, 
shalt, upon request, provide a Hepatitis C Coordinator to a local health department in order to 
enhance the management, networking, and technical expertise needed to ensure successful 
integration of HCV prevention and control activities into existing public health programs. 
(0) Surveillance and Epidemiology. - 
(1) In General. - The Secretary shall promote and support the establishment and 
maintenance of State HCV surveillance databases, in order to - 
(a) Identify risk factors for HCV infection; 
(b) Identify trends in the incidence of acute and chronic HCV; 
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(c) Identify trends in the prevalence of HCV infection among groups that 
may be disproportionately affected by HCV, including individuals living with 
Human Immunodeficiency Virus, military veterans, emergency first responders, 
racial or ethnic minorities, and individuals who engage in high risk behaviors, such 
as intravenous drug use; and 
(d) Assess and improve HCV infection prevention programs. 
(2) Seroprevalence Studies. - The Secretary shall conduct a population-based 
seroprevalence study to estimate the current and future impact of HCV. Such studies shall 
consider the economic and clinical impacts of HCV, as well as the impact of HCV on 
quality of life. 
(E) Research Network. - The Secretary, acting through the Director of the NCDPC and the 
Board of Advisers of the National Institutes of Health, shall - 
(1) Conduct epidemiologic research to identify best practices for HCV prevention; 
[2) Establish and support a Hepatitis C Clinical Research Network for the purpose 
of conducting research related to the treatment and medical management of HCV; and 
(3) conduct basic research to identify new approaches to prevention, such as 
vaccines, and treatment for HCV. 
(F) Referral for Medical Management of Chronic HCV. - The Secretary shall support and 
promote State, local, and tribal programs to provide HCV-positive individuals with referral for 
medical evaluation and management, including currently recommended antiviral therapy when 
appropriate. 
(G) Undersewed and Disproportionately Affected Populations. - In carrying out this 
section, the Secretary shall provide expanded support for individuals with limited access to health 
education, testing, and healthcare services and groups that may be disproportionately affected by 
HCV. 
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(H) Evahation of Program. - The Secretary shall develop benchmarks for evaluating the 
effectiveness of the programs and activities conducted under this section and make determinations 
as to whether such benchmarks have been achieved. 
SECTION 5. Appropriutions. - There shall be authorized to be appropriated such amounts 
as necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act, to be included in the annual budget of the 
Department of Health in the General Appropriations Act. 
SECTION 6. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof, is declared invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law not otherwise affected shall remain valid and subsisting. 
SECTION 7. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rnle or regulation contrary to or inconsistent with, 
the provisions of this Act, are hereby modified, repealed, or amended accordingly. 
SECTION 8. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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