Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
Nineteenth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO.______ 
Introduced by Hon. Mark O. Go 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
At present, our universal health care index, which is a measure of access to health, is 
lowest in the Southeast Asian region. The Philippines relative to its income range have poor 
health outcomes due to low access to healthcare. The current bed density of 1 per 1000 
population is comparable to the poorest countries in the world such as the Sub-Saharan 
Africa. The country is positioned to be an upper-middle income country by 2021, yet there is 
a huge difference between our country and these upper middle income countries which 
averages 4 beds per 1,000 population. 
 The covid-19 surges have aggravated and exposed the problems of our health system. 
Although stopgap solutions have been implemented, the need for long-term interventions to 
address the gaps should be planned and pursued moving forward.  
The Universal Health Care (UHC) Act stipulated that health care services should be 
available and accessible to all filipinos. The Department of Health (DOH), in its efforts to 
realize the provisions of the UHC, has developed the Philippine Health Facility Development 
Plan 2020-2040, which is a macro plan for the development of health facilities in the country. 
According to the plan, the projected demand for hospital beds by year 2040 based on the 
burden of disease and population growth is 2.7 beds per 1000 population. However, with our 
current supply, of 109,647 beds, there is a huge estimated gap of 380,955 hospital beds.  
Currently, DOH hospitals can only increase their bed capacity through legislation, 
which poses limitations in increasing hospital beds in the country. thus, there is a need to 
allow the DOH to administratively determine and approve the bed capacity of doh hospitals 
so that these hospitals can expand as necessary without waiting for another legislation. The 
DOH has the capacity and expertise to determine the appropriate bed capacity of government 
hospitals to suit the demand for hospital care in the locality.  
Granting the DOH the authority to determine and approve the bed capacity and service 
capability of existing government hospitals is critical in providing appropriate and accessible 
health care for all filipinos.  
July 1, 2022 
7:03 pm
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This bill has been approved by the House of Representatives in the 18th Congress and was 
transmitted to the Senate for its consideration and approval.  However, due to lack of material 
time, this proposed measure was not enacted into law. 
In view of the foregoing considerations, approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
MARK O. GO 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
Nineteenth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by Hon. Mark O. Go 
AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO SET AND 
APPROVE THE BED CAPACITY AND SERVICE CAPABILITY OF ALL DOH 
HOSPITALS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
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 “DOH Hospital Bed 
Capacity and Service Capability Rationalization Act of 2022 .” 
SEC. 2. Purpose, Scope, and Coverage. -- This Act shall streamline the process of 
approving changes in the authorized bed capacities and corresponding service capabilities of 
all Department of Health (DOH) hospitals. 
SEC. 3. Authority to Approve. -- Authority is hereby granted to the DOH to adjust 
and approve the authorized bed capacities and corresponding service capabilities of hospitals 
under its supervision and control, taking into consideration the development plans of 
hospitals, catchment population, burden of disease, availability of human resources, health 
care provider network and other standards to be determined by the DOH. The DOH shall, 
through an administrative issuance, determine the bed capacities and service capabilities of 
DOH hospitals, subject to specific guidelines that it shall issue and promulgate, within three 
(3) months, upon the effectivity of this Act.
SEC. 4. Philippine Health Facility Development Plan (PHFDP). -- The DOH shall 
develop the Philippine Health Facility Development Plan (PHFDP) to guide the 
modernization and development plans of all government health facilities, and in order to 
access capital outlay investment through Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP) of 
the DOH and other national government capital outlay investment mechanisms. 
The Secretary of Health shall include in the Department’s programs the funding 
requirements for the adjustment in bed capacity and service capability of each DOH hospital 
in accordance with the PHFDP and the hospital’s modernization and development plan, the 
funding of which shall be included in the Annual General Appropriations Act. 
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SEC. 5. Annual Report to Congress. -- The DOH shall provide Congress, through the 
Committee on Health of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health and 
Demography of the Senate, an annual report of hospitals with approved bed capacities, along 
with the necessary funding requirements. 
 
SEC. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. -- The Department of Health shall 
formulate the implementing rules and regulations within ninety (90) days after the effectivity 
of this Act. 
 
SEC 7. Separability Clause. -- If any provision or part of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not affected shall remain in full force and 
effect. 
 
SEC 8. Repealing Clause. -- All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and 
regulations, or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, 
amended, or modified accordingly. 
 
SEC 9. Effectivity. -- This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication 
in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
 
Approved,