Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

649

H. B. No.

Introduced by HONORABLE JUAN EDGARDO “SONNY” M. ANGARA

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The attached bill establishes a free medicine assistance program in a health district to
benefit only the underprivileged, the elderly, the disabled and the poorest of the poor which shall
be administered by the Department of Health, in coordination with the Department of Social
Welfare and Development.

It is common knowledge that some of our countrymen die not because their sickness is
incurable, but due to lack of medicine or proper medical treatment or assistance on account of
Poverty. The government cannot always remain indifferent to this reality; it must offer some
direct help somehow for the intended beneficiaries to feel its impact. In this context, the bill
seeks to answer the problem of lack of medicine, the cost of which is now beyond the reach of
many Filipinos on account of poverty.

The proposed legislation is mandated by the constitutional directives that the State shall
protect and promote the right of the people to health (Sec 15, Article I, Constitution) and shall
adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development with the end view of
making essential health services available to all the people at affordable cost, giving priority to
the needs of the underprivileged, the sick, the elderly, the disabled and the women and children.

In this light, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

JUAN EDGARD'
Representative
Lone District, Province of Aurora

SONNY” M. ANGARA.


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE +)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES —_)
First Regular Session )

649

H.B.No.__

Introduced by Honorable JUAN EDGARDO “SONNY” M. ANGARA

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A FREE MEDICINE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR
THE POOR AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. Title. This Act shall be known as the “Free Medicine for the Poor Act.”

SEC. 2, Declaration of Policy. It is hereby the policy of the state to promote the right to
health and well-being of the people and to adopt a system of effecting the delivery of free
medicine to those who have less in life, giving priority to the underprivileged, the sick, the
elderly, the disabled and the poorest of the poor.

SEC. 3. Establishment of Free Medicine Assistance Program. There is hereby
established a Free Medicine Assistance Program, hereinafter referred to as the “Program,” to be
administered by the Department of Health (DOH) through
its authorized government hospital in each particular congressional district, to be known as the
health district, in coordination with the Department of Social
Welfare and Development (DSWD).

SEC. 4. Eligible Beneficiaries. The program shall be limited to eligible beneficiaries to
be identified by the DOH through the government hospital in the health district in coordination
with the DSWD. The implementing rules and
regulations shail to it that the intended beneficiaries come from the ranks of the poorest of the
Poor, the Program being strictly a poverty alleviation measure.

SEC. 5. Appropriations. There is hereby appropriated the sum of Twenty Million Pesos
(P20,000,000.00) for each health district to fund the initial requirements of this Act. The National
Government shall subsequently include in the budget of the Department of Health in the
General Appropriations Act such amount as may be necessary to carry out the objectives of this
Act.


SEC. 6, Rules and Regulations. The DOH, jointly with the DSWD, shall prescribe such
ules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the provision of this Act within six (6)
months from the effectivity hereof.

SEC. 7. Repealing Clause. Alll provisions of laws, orders, decrees, including rules and
regulations inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed and/or modified accordingly.

SEC. 8. Separability Clause. If any part or provision of this Act shall be held to be
unconstitutional or invalid, other provisions hereof which are not affected thereby shall continue

to be in full force and effect.

SEC. 9, Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its publication in
one (1) national newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,