SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Third Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
'15 
JUN 23 P5 :01 
SENATE 
S. B. No. 
2849 
H ECEIVED H,\'; 
Introduced by SENATOR SONNY ANGARA 
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 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Department of Health (DOH) has expressed alarm over the rising cases of kidney 
disease-now the country's 7th leading cause of death. Based on the data from the DOH's 
Philippine Network for Organ Sharing, close to 23,000 patients underwent dialysis treatment 
due to kidney failure in 2013, a huge jump from the 4,000 cases recorded in 2004. This figure, 
the DOH noted, does not include those suffering from kidney failure but who are not able to 
undergo dialysis treatment due to its high cost and inaccessibility especially in the rural areas. 
Patients from the provinces, who are suffering from kidney disorder, have to travel all the way to 
urban cities just to avail themselves of dialysis treatment, which is needed on a regular and 
sustained basis. The optimum frequency of dialysis is three times a week but because of its 
high cost and inaccessibility, some patients settle with less but with their health deteriorating 
more progressively. Worse, some patients have died without given a chance to undergo dialysis 
because they could not afford it. 
In line with the government's efforts to reform the health sector and provide Filipinos with 
comprehensive health services, local government units must be tapped to make healthcare 
services more affordable and accessible. Thus, this bill requires all national, regional and 
provincial government hospitals to establish, operate and maintain a dialysis ward or unit to 
ensure that dialysis treatment will be available, accessible and cost-effective especially to those 
living in the rural areas. Moreover, this bill requires that dialysis treatment be provided to 
indigent patients free of charge. 
The aim of this bill is in consonance with the Constitutional mandate to make health services 
available to our countrymen at affordable cost. For more efficient delivery of healthcare services 
to the Filipino people, the immediate approval of this proposed measure is earnestly sought. 
SENAT 
ONNY M. ANGARA 
I~ 
I 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Third Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
S. B. No. 
2849 
Introduced by SENATOR SONNY ANGARA 
AN ACT 
(;"-
, 
,;,rtlJ1e 
t1i}HHr n' !11" ~-l'(r.('tClr~ 
'15 
JUN 23 P5 :01 
HE("EIVED BV:jJ 
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: 
1 
SECTION 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as the "Dialysis Center Act". 
2 
3 
SEC 2. Declaration of Policy. It is the declared policy of the State to improve the delivery of 
4 
health care services to the people and to ensure hospital facilities are available, affordable and 
5 
accessible to the people. 
6 
7 
SEC 3. Definition of Terms. For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall mean: 
8 
a) "Secretary" shall refer to the Secretary of the Department of Health 
9 
b) "National Government Hospital" shall refer to a hospital operated and 
10 
c) maintained either partially or wholly by the national government or by any department, 
11 
division, board or other agency thereof. 
12 
d) "Regional Government Hospital" shall refer to a hospital operated and maintained either 
13 
partially or wholly by the national government or by any department, division, board or 
14 
other agency thereof. 
15 
e) "Provincial Government Hospital" shall refer to a hospital operated and maintained either 
16 
partially or wholly by the provincial government or other political subdivision, or by any 
17 
department division, board or other agency thereof; and 
18 
f) 
"Indigent Patient" shall refer to a patient whose combined annual family incomes does 
19 
not exceed Thirty Thousand (P30,OOO.OO) annually. 
20 
21 
SEC 4. Establishment, Operation and Maintenance of a Dialysis Ward or Unit. 
22 
Within two (2) years from the effectivity of this Act, all national, regional, and provinCial 
23 
government hospitals are hereby required to establish, operate and maintain a dialysis ward or 
24 
unit in their hospital. The dialysis ward or unit shall be equipped with complete dialysis machine, 
25 
equipment and supplies. 
1 


SEC 5. Free Dialysis Treatment to Indigent Patients. Dialysis treatment in all national, 
2 
regional and provincial government hospitals shall be provided free of charge to indigent 
3 
patients as defined in Section 3 (E) hereof. 
4 
5 
SEC 6. Penalty. Any hospital chief, administrator or officer-in-charge who fails to comply 
6 
with this Act shall be punished with a fine of Fifty Thousand Pesos (P50,OOO.OO) but not more 
7 
than One Hundred Thousand Pesos (P100,OOO.OO). 
8 
9 
SEC 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. The Secretary shall promulgate the 
10 
necessary rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act. 
11 
12 
SEC 8. Appropriations. Such amount as may be necessary to implement the provisions 
13 
of this Act is hereby authorized to be appropriated from the National Treasury. Thereafter, the 
14 
amount necessary for the continuous implementation of this Act shall be included in the 
15 
government hospital's annual appropriations. 
16 
17 
SEC 9. Separability Clause. 
If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or 
18 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
19 
valid and SUbsisting. 
20 
21 
SEC 10. Repealing Clause. Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive order, 
22 
letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent with the 
23 
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 
24 
25 
SEC 11. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in at 
26 
least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
27 
28 
Approved, 
2