‘SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF T H E  
) 
REPUBLIC OF TH E PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S.B. NO. 1143
•16 
SEP 14 ?] -M
Ri f f f 
|>Y
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR ANA THERESIA “RISA” HONTIVEROS
BARAQUEL
AN ACT AUTHORIZING TH E DEPARTM ENT OF HEALTH TO SET 
AND APPROVE T H E  BED CAPACITY OF ITS RETAINED HOSPITALS
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
With the devolution of health services, there are now only 70 DOH-retained 
public hospitals nationwide, of which 51 are considered general hospitals while 19 are 
specialty hospitals. These DOH hospitals complement the devolved district and 
provincial hospitals, as well as private hospitals, in providing health care services to 
millions of Filipinos.
Often serving patients beyond their allowed bed capacity, these hospitals are 
constrained by lack of adequate manpower and resources to fully provide the quality 
of health care their patients deserve.
As a result of the mismatch between their authorized bed capacity and 
hospital bed occupancy rate, which according to one study averages at 121%, it is not 
surprising to hear stories of patients spilling over in public hospital hallways or of 2 
patients sharing one bed.
Under current regulations, a DOH hospital can only increase its bed capacity 
via legislation. As such, adjusting the bed capacity of a public hospital to be able to 
serve patients better has to compete with thousands of proposed bills in Congress 
and more often than not, these do not get approved or once approved, the need has 
already changed.
This is what the bill seeks to address. It authorizes the Department of Health 
to increase the bed capacity of its retained hospitals and allows it to promulgate 
guidelines that will be used in evaluating and approving changes in bed capacity. 
While allowing it to increase bed capacity, it also allows the Department to right-size 
the authorized bed capacity of DOH retained hospitals, as necessary.


By allowing the Department of Health to administratively set and approve the 
authorized bed capacity of its hospitals, we remove one barrier that impedes the 
efficient delivery of health service.
It is for these reasons that approval of this measure is eamesdy sought.
ANA T H E R E SIA  “ RISA” H O N T IV E R O S BARAQUEL
Senator


SEV EN TEEN TIi CONGRESS OF TH E  
)
REPUBLIC OF TFIE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S. B. No. 
1143
•16 
SEP 14 
P I -^4
RF( i.l 
;■ PY
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR ANA THERESIA “RISA” HONTIVEROS
BARAQUEL
AN ACT AUTHORIZING TH E DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO SET 
AND APPROVE T H E  BED CAPACITY OF ITS RETAINED HOSPITALS
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
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Be it enacted bj the Senate and I louse of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as the “DOH Hospital Bed 
Gipaclty Rationalization Act of 2016.”
SECTION 2. Purpose, Scope, and Coverage. This Act shall streamline the process for 
approving changes in the authorized bed capacity of all DOH retained hospitals.
SECTION 3. 
Authority to Approve. Authority is hereby granted to the DOH to 
adjust and approve the authorized bed capacity of its retained hospitals. Thereafter, 
the DOH shall, by administrative or depanment order, 
increase, decrease, or 
maintain the bed capacity of its retained hospitals, subject to specific guidelines that it 
shall issue and promulgate, within six months, after the enactment of this law.
SECTION 4. Appropriations. Amounts necessary to implement and carry out the 
provisions of this Act shall be included in the annual budget of the Depanment of 
Health.
SECTION 5. A nnual Report to Congress - The Depanment of Health shall provide 
Congress, through the House and Senate Committees on Health, an annual repon on 
hospitals with approved bed capacity changes, along with the necessary funding 
requirements.
SECTION 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations flRRj - The Depanment of Health 
shall come up with the IRR, within three (3) months after the law’s effectivity.
SECTION 7. Repealing Clause. -  All laws, decrees, executive orders, mles and 
regulations, or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, 
amended or modified accordingly.
SECTION 8. 
liffectivity. -  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Cassette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general 
circulation.
Approved,