Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by HON. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
AN ACT 
INTEGRATING HOSPICE AND PALLIATIVE CARE INTO THE PHILIPPINE HEALTH 
CARE SYSTEM AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The World Health Organization defines Health as a “state of complete physical, mental, and social 
well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” Over the years, numerous 
measures have been proposed to make our health care system more responsive to the health 
needs of the public. The bulk of the efforts in improving the healthcare system however is geared 
towards the cure and prevention of sickness. While these are undoubtedly essential components 
of healthcare systems, the promotion of people’s overall well-being and quality of life is equally 
important. This is particularly true for individuals afflicted with cancer, diabetes, end-stage renal 
disease, respiratory disease, cardiovascular diseases, dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and similar 
degenerative illnesses. As the number of individuals afflicted with these degenerative increases 
each year, there is an increasing need for the integration of palliative and hospice care into the 
country’s healthcare system.  
This proposed measure seeks to strengthen and expand the availability of palliative care for all 
patients through mandatory palliative and hospice services in all government and private hospitals 
and include in-patient palliative services, outpatient hospice care, and home-based palliative care 
to PhilHealth’s benefits packages. This measure also provides for the development of education 
and training modules for health care professionals, workers, and volunteers. 
On behalf of the people of Parañaque City’s Second District, and for the common good of the 
Filipino people, the approval of the said measure is earnestly sought. 
REP. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
2nd District, Parañaque City 
September 7, 2022
8:00 am
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by HON. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
AN ACT 
INTEGRATING HOSPICE AND PALLIATIVE CARE INTO THE PHILIPPINE HEALTH 
CARE SYSTEM AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
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 “Hospice and Palliative Care Act.” 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. – The State guarantees the right of the people to quality health 
care and ensures that the health status of the people is protected over the entire life cycle. Under 
the Constitution, the State shall adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health 
development which shall endeavor to make essential goods, health, and other social services 
available to all the people at affordable cost, including patients suffering from life-threatening 
illnesses.  
SEC. 3. Definition of Term. – As used in this Act: 
Hospice and Palliative care refer to an approach that improves the quality of life of patients with 
life-threatening, complex , and chronic illnesses or those experiencing progressively debilitating 
diseases beyond any benefit from curative or definitive treatment, regardless of life expectancy. 
The approach ALSO covers the prevention .arid relief of suffering using early identification, 
assessment, and management of pain and symptoms. 
It should not be limited to the terminally ill, or those who have been deemed as having six (6) 
months to live. 
SEC. 4. Accreditation. – Hospitals, private hospice institutions, medical practitioners, health 
workers, and social workers for hospice and palliative care shall be accredited by the Department 
of Health (DOH). The DOH, in partnership with the National Hospice and Palliative Care Council 
of the Philippines, Inc. (NHPCCP) shall formulate the rules and guidelines for accreditation to 
ensure a standard quality of palliative care services. 
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SEC. 5. Quality Assurance. – Key elements necessary to ensure quality hospice and palliative 
care services in accredited hospitals and hospices include the following: 
 
a) 
Adequate number of multi-specialty personnel; 
b) 
Assured financing for health and custodial services;  
c) 
Clear and practical standards for facilities and services;  
d) 
Appropriately designed and equipped facilities; and  
e) 
Regular and systematic supervision and reporting to the DOH. 
 
SEC. 6. Mandatory Hospice and Palliative Care Services. – All government and private 
hospitals shall provide hospice and palliative care services to patients with life-threatening 
illnesses. The purpose is to support the patient’s emotional, social and spiritual needs as well as 
minimize the medical symptoms in seriously ill or terminally ill patients. 
  
Hospitals are required to link with a referral and aftercare network that is organized and made 
functional by all provincial, city, and municipal governments under the guidance and monitoring 
of the DOH.  
 
Rural health units, health centers, and health offices are required to develop home-based or near-
home palliative care programs in coordination with government-owned and privately-owned 
hospices in the local government units (LGUs).  
 
SEC. 7. Leave Benefits. – Immediate family members or relatives who are employed, whether 
in the public or private sectors and are assigned by the family to provide hospice and palliative 
care to a critically-ill relative shall be allowed to use all existing leave benefits granted by their 
employers subject to the guidelines on the use of said leave benefits.  
 
The DOH, in coordination with the Civil Service Commission (CSC), the Social Security System 
(SSS), the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), and the Department of Labor and 
Employment (DOLE), shall be tasked to formulate the necessary guidelines in the availment of 
leave benefits.  
 
SEC. 8. Education and Training of Health Care Professionals and Volunteers.  – The 
DOH, in partnership with the NHPCCP and other accredited members, shall develop the education 
and training modules for health care professionals, workers, and volunteers.  
 
The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) shall integrate courses on the principles and 
practice of hospice and palliative care into the curriculum of Medicine and Nursing, as well as in 
all paramedical and allied health courses. 
 
SEC. 9. Continuing Research. – The DOH, in coordination with the Philippine Council for Health 
Research and Development of the Department (PCHRD) of the Department of Science and 
Technology (DOST), shall ensure continuing research and collection of data on palliative and 
hospice care and the availability of funds for this purpose. 
 
SEC.10. Program Implementor. – The DOH-Office for Technical Services, in coordination with 
other offices of the Department, is hereby mandated to perform the following functions: 


 
a) 
Promote hospice and palliative care in the Philippines through advocacy and social 
marketing; 
b) 
Formulate policies and develop standards on quality hospice and palliative care; 
c) 
Monitor the enforcement of standards and implementation of the program on hospice 
and palliative care;  
d) 
Mobilize and generate resources for sustainability of operation;  
e) 
Network with international hospice associations;  
f) 
Coordinate research undertakings with other institutions and agencies;  
g) 
Serve as   repository of the database for policy-making and maintenance of hospice 
and palliative care registry;  
h) 
Organize and develop continuing training programs for physicians, nurses, physical 
therapists, and other professional health workers and volunteer workers in the field of 
hospice and palliative care; 
i) 
Serve as the coordinating center of a national hospice and palliative care network 
located in the different regions of the country; and  
j) 
Establish a Code of Ethics and Standards in the practice of hospice and palliative health 
care. 
SEC. 11. Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) Benefits Package. – 
Under this Act, PhilHealth shall increase its present benefit package to include inpatient palliative 
services, outpatient hospice care, and home-based palliative care.  
 
SEC. 12. Funding Support. – All non-profit, DOH accredited hospice and palliative care 
institutions which are serving indigent patients shall qualify as institutional beneficiaries under the 
Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) Institutional Financial Assistance Program: 
Provided, That the hospice and palliative care institutions shall ensure funding for health and 
custodial services and shall comply with the documentary and other requirements of the Program. 
Provided, further, that, clear and practical standards for facilities and services are in place.  
 
SEC. 13. Reporting. – One (1) year after the implementation of this Act and every year 
thereafter, the DOH shall submit a written assessment to Congress on the implementation of the 
hospice and palliative care program. 
 
SEC. 14. Tax Exemptions. – All grants, bequests, endowments, donations, and contributions 
made to the DOH to be used, directly, and exclusively for hospice and palliative care programs 
shall be exempt from donor's tax and the same shall be allowed as a deduction from the gross 
income of the donor for purposes of computing the taxable income of the donor, by the provisions 
of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997 as amended. 
 
SEC. 15. Appropriations. – The initial amount necessary to implement the provisions of this 
Act shall be charged against the current year's appropriation of the DOH. Thereafter, such sums 
as may be necessary for the continued implementation of this Act shall be included in the Annual 
General Appropriations Act.  
 


SEC. 16. Rules and Regulations. – Within sixty (60) days from the approval of this Act, the 
Secretary of Health, after consultation with the NHPCCP shall promulgate the rules and 
regulations to implement the provisions of this Act.  
SEC. 17. Separability Clause. – In case any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional 
or invalid, the other provisions hereof which are not affected thereby shall continue in full force 
and effect.  
 
SEC. 18. Repealing Clause. – All laws, executive orders, rules, and regulations or any part 
thereof inconsistent herewith are deemed repealed, modified, or amended accordingly.  
 
SEC. 19. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the 
Official Gazette or any newspaper of general circulation. 
 
Approved,