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

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

1
HOUSE BILL NO. 502

Introduced by HON. EDGAR M. CHATTO
First District, Bohol

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to improve the delivery of basic health service through the
rationalization of the procedure in increasing the bed capacity of Department of
Health (DOH) hospitals.

Currently there are 70 DOH-retained public hospitals nationwide, of which 53
are general hospitals, 14 specialty hospitals, two infirmaries and one psychiatric
facility which complement the devolved district, provincial and private hospitals in
providing health care services.

Apart from the low number of DOH hospitals around the country to
adequately serve our ever-growing population, most of these hospitals are running
way below their bed capacities, compounded by the lack of sufficient manpower,
health services and health facilities. This sacrifices the quality health care for patients
and makes it difficult to sustain the growing health needs of the population.

In 2016, the average bed occupancy rate of all DOH hospitals was 136 percent
of its capacity and 61 percent of these hospitals had bed occupancy higher than the
authorized bed capacity.

The current set-up allows the increase of bed capacities of DOH hospitals only
through legislation. Legislation, however, is tedious and time-consuming which
unnecessarily comprises the delivery of health services.

Hence, the need to rationalize the authority to increase the bed capacity of
DOH hospitals by giving the Secretary of Health the task to administratively
determine the necessary increase in accordance with Philippine Hospital
Development Plan and the Modernization/Development Plan of each hospital. Not
only will this expedite the process but properly give the authority to the agency which
has expertise over the matter.

In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

ah

REP. EDGAR M. CHATTO


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

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

1502

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by HON. EDGAR M. CHATTO
First District, Bohol

AN ACT
AUTHORIZING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH (DOH) TO SET AND.
APPROVE THE BED CAPACITY OF ALL DOH HOSPITALS

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines
in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. This Act shall be known as the “DOH Hospital Bed Capacity
Rationalization Act”.

SEC. 2. This Act shall streamline the process for approving changes in the
authorized bed capacities of all Department of Health (DOH) Hospitals.

SEC. 3. Authority is hereby granted to the DOH to adjust and approve the
authorized bed capacities of all DOH hospitals. Th ter, the DOH shall, through
and administrative order, determine the bed i f
hospitals, subject to specific guidelines that shall be ered ana promulgated, within
three (3) years after the enactment of this Act.

8

SEC. 4. The DOH shall provide Congress, through the Committee on Health
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health and Demography of
ate, an annual report of hospitals with approved bed capacity, along with the
ry funding requirements.

SEC. 5. The Secretary of Health shall include in the Department's programs
the funding requirements for the increase in bed capacity of each of the hospitals in
accordance with the Philippine Hospital Development Plan and _ the
Modernization/Development Plan of each hospital, the funding of which shall be
included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 6. The DOH shall formulate the necessary rules and regulations to
implement this Act within ninety (90) days of its effectivity.

SEC. 7. All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders and rules and
regulations, or parts thereof, inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 8. ThisAct shall take effect fifteen (15) days following the completion of


its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) national newspapers of general
circulation,

Approved,