—
HCUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Republic of the Philippines RECEIVED
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIV!
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

REGISTRATION UNIT
4
HOUSE BILL NO. 934 BILLS AND INDEX SERVICE

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE TOBIAS “TOBY” M. TIANGCO.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

It is a declared policy that “[t]he State shall protect and promote the
right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them
(Article II, Section 15, 1987 Philippine Constitution).

Likewise, the 1987 Constitution is specific that the State shall
“adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development
which shall endeavor to make essential goods, health and other social
services available to all the people at affordable cost. There shall be
priority for the needs of the underprivileged sick, elderly, disabled,
women, and children. The State shall endeavor to provide free medical
care to paupers (Article XII, Section 11, 1987 Philippine Constitution).

There is a need to increase access of poor families to basic services
health, shelter, food and education. While the government, through the
Department of Health, has a medical assistance program, the same is not
as comprehensive as the needs of millions of Filipinos require.

This bill aims to increase access and availability of hospitalization to
the poor by providing for free hospitalization to millions of Filipinos who
are admitted or confined in wards of government hospitals to ensure that
they can avail of health services without worrying about payment of
hospital bills.

Furthermore, this bill aims to provide timely and responsive
assistance to individuals with health-related needs.

Therefore, approval of this bill is earnestly reqypsted.



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

v4
House Bi No,_9°%

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE TOBIAS “TOBY” M. TIANGCO

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR FREE HOSPITALIZATION TO PERSONS
ADMITTED AND CONFINED IN THE WARDS OF SPECIALTY, SPECIAL,
RETAINED HOSPITALS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEATH, OTHER
STATE UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGE HOSPITALS, LOCAL
GOVERNMENT UNIT HOSPITALS, AND OTHER RELATED HEALTH
FACILITIES.

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 Free
Hospitalization Act of 2016.

SECTION 2. Coverage - All Hospital services rendered to patients or
individuals with health-related needs and who are otherwise confined in the
general, charity or pay wards of the covered government hospitals and
facilities defined in Section 3 hereof shall be made of free of charge,
regardless of amount.

SECTION 3. - Definition of Terms -

a. Government Hospital — refers to a hospital created by law under the
supervision of the national government through the DOH, Local
Government Unit (LGU), Department of National Defense (DND),
Philippine National Police (PNP), Department of Justice (DOA
State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), Government Owned and
Controlled Corporations (GOCCs) and others;

=

Retained Hospitals — refers to all hospitals which are or may in the
future be under the management and operation of the DOH Center
For Health Development;

c. Specialty Hospitals — refers to the four (4) corporate hospitals under
the DOH namely, Philippine Heart Center (PHC), National Kidney
and Transplant Institute (NKTI), Lung Center of the Philippines



(LCP) and Philippine Children's Medical Center (PCMC);

4. Special Hospital — refers to the hospitals to all hospitals which are or
may in the future be under the DOH that are primarily engaged in the
provision of specific clinical care and management;

. Health Facility - refers to DOH Specialty, Special and Retained
Hospitals, LGU Hospitals, SUC Hospitals, Infirmaries and such other
facilities determined by the DOH.

2

Section 4. Implementation - The Department of Health shall ensure
compliance by the concerned hospitals and facilities of the provisions of
this Act.

Section 5. Appropriation. - The amount necessary to defray the costs
of the free hospitalization referred to under this Act shall be charged
against the "Assistance to Indigent Patients either Confined or Out-
Patient in Government Hospital / Specialty Hospitals/ LGU Hospitals/
Philippine General Hospital/ West Visayas State University Hospital”
provided for in the GAA for 2016 under the Office of the Secretary, of the
Department of Health in the General Appropriations Act of the current
year. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the full
implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General
Appropriations Act.

SECTION 6. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is
subsequently declared unconstitutional, the validity of the remaining
provisions hereof shall remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 5. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect immediately after
its complete publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general
circulation in the Philippines.

Approved,