EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
SENATE
S. B. NO. 610
6( iij‘ e>i aoiarp
*19 JUL18 PI 27
reCu:^..1-l'
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
In the Philippines, about one million Filipinos are affected by 
Hemophilia, von Willebrand Disease and other bleeding disorders. However, 
only around 1,500 have been registered with the Philippine Hemophilia 
Foundation. This is partly 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 called 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.
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. 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^OEL VILLANUEVA


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
SENATE
S. B. NO. 610
. -L■■ • f U).' iferfrctorp
19 
II'I 18 PI :27
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
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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 “Bleeding Disorder 
Standards of Care Act.”
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. -  It is hereby declared the policy of the State: 
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. Definitions. -  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 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.


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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 Vlll and Factor IX products;
2) Von Willebrand Factor products;
3) Prothrombin complex concentrates;
4) Activated prothrombin complex concentrates;
5) Other products approved by the BFAD for the treatment of bleeding 
disorders and associated inhibitors.
c) 
Indigent Patient refers to any patient deemed unable to pay for services 
and or medical treatment, laboratory testing of blood and/or coagulation 
studies, or blood coagulating products and/or ancillary infusion 
equipment.
d) 
DOH refers to the Department of Flealth.
e) 
Hemophilia refers to a human bleeding disorder caused by a hereditary 
deficiency of the Factor Vlll, Factor IX or Factor XI blood clotting protein 
in human blood.
f) 
von Willebrand disease refers to a human bleeding disorder caused by 
a hereditary deficiency or abnormality of the von Willebrand Factor in 
human blood.
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 Hemophilia Treatment Facility shall provide to all hemophilia patients;
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 
clotting 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 
indigent 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


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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 Department of Health (DOH), in consultation with 
hemophilia groups and other relevant stakeholders, shall promulgate the 
Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) to carry out 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,