Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 4334

Introduced by Rep. ANGELO MARCOS BARBA
2 District, Hocos Norte

AN ACT ESTABLISHING SPECIALTY HEALTH CARE UNITS
(SHCUs) ATTACHED TO REGIONAL HOSPITALS OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS
THEREFOR

EXPLANATORY NOTE

‘The Universal Health Care (UHC) Law was enacted to provide equitable
access to quality and affordable health care services, and protected against
financial risk. While much of the discussions on the UHC Law focused on the
latter, particularly on financial hardships, equitable access to health care
services, particularly for specialized treatment, is of primary importance.

There are several specialty hospitals in the Philippines which provide
services for a particular disease or illness with the highest medical care
rendered by medical experts using highly specialized equipment, but all of
them are in Metro Manila. Consequently, patients are expected to come to
Quezon City for their treatment, which adds another economic burden to
them and to their families.

Recognizing this, the Philippine Heart Center (PHC) pursued the
Kalusugan Pangkalahatan Program of the Department of Health and
explored the regionalization of health care. Instead of the patients coming to
Manila, it is the PHC who will go to where the patients are. This laudable
move eventually increased access to cardiovascular care in the country, but
there is more to be done.

Bear in mind that universal health coverage means that all people have
access to the health services they need, when and where they need them,
without financial hardship.‘ It includes the full range of essential health
services, from health promotion to prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and
palliative care.?

Hence, this bill.
+ Universal Health Coverage. WHO. Retrieved on August 23, 2021 from

hnttps://www.who.int/health-topics/universal-health-coveragetttab=tab_1
? bid.


This proposed measure seeks to establish specialty health care units
(SHCUs) in all regions of the Philippines. The SHCUs will be attached to
regional hospitals. The creation of SHCUs shall address the medical needs of
patients with diseases of a particular organ or group of organs, the health care
needs by a particular group, such as children, women, or the elderly.
Correspondingly, existing regional hospitals will be upgraded in infrastructure
and manpower resources.

The SHCUs will therefore carry the brand of the country’s specialty
hospitals to inspire confidence among the regional patients on the quality of
specialized care provided in regional facilities. It shall increase the availability
and accessibility of specialty centers nationwide and ensure equitable health
care for all.

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

ANGE! ‘COS BARBA


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
NINTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

4334

House Bill No.

Introduced by Rep. ANGELO MARCOS BARBA
24 District, Ilocos Norte

AN ACT ESTABLISHING SPECIALTY HEALTH CARE UNITS
(SHCUs) ATTACHED TO REGIONAL HOSPITALS OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS
THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Specialty
Health Care Units Act”.

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is a declared policy of the State to
protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health
consciousness among them.

To this end, the State shall provide access to specialized health services to
the general public by extending and establishing specialty health care centers
or units in all regions of the Philippines.

SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. — For purposes of this Act, the
following terms shall be defined as follows:

a. Special health care unit or SHCU - a unit within a DOH-regional
hospital that provide services to treat medical conditions that require a
particular subset of skills and technology; and

b. DOH Specialty Hospitals — refer to the Philippine Heart Center, the
Lung Center of the Philippines, the National Kidney and Transplant
Institute, the Philippine Children’s Medical Center, and the Philippine
Orthopedic Center;

SECTION 4. Specialty Health Care Units (SHCUs). ~ The Department of
Health (DOH), in coordination with the Philippine Heart Center, the Lung
Center of the Philippines, the National Kidney and Transplant Institute, the
Philippine Children’s Medical Center, and the Philippine Orthopedic Center,
shall establish Specialty Health Care Units (SHCUs) within DOH Regional
Hospitals.


The creation of SHCUs shall address the medical needs of patients with
diseases of a particular organ or group of organs, the health care needs by a
particular group, such as children, women, or the elderly; shall increase the
availability and accessibility of specialty centers nationwide; and, shall ensure
equitable health care for all.

SECTION 5. General Guidelines on the Establishment of SHCUs. —

i. Accessibility - The DOH, through its regional hospitals, and in
consultation with the Heads of DOH Specialty Hospitals, shall
develop standards for the creation of SHCUs to increase the
accessibility of specialty health care services to patients.

ii, Staffing Summary — The Civil Service Commission (CSC) and its
respective regional offices, in coordination with DOH Regional
Hospitals, shall formulate a standardized staffing pattern for the
SHCUs, which shall be submitted to the Department of Budget and
Management (DBM).

iii. Availment of Specialty Health Care Services — The Philippine Health
Insurance Corporation (PHIC) shall develop an appropriate case
rate package for specialty health care units to achieve the financial
stability of SHCUs.

iv. Regulatory and Licensing Requirements — The Health Facilities and
Services Regulatory Bureau (HFSRB) shall develop the
requirements necessary for the operation of SHCUs.

s

Other applicable guidelines — The DOH shall convene with concerned
stakeholders in determining such other guidelines applicable in
order to implement the intent of this Act.

SECTION 6. Special Health Care Units Development Plan (SHCUDP). —
The DOH shall formulate a ten (10) year Special Health Care Units
Development Plan that will identify the establishment of SHCUs attached to
DOH Regional Hospitals.

i. Infrastructure ~ The DOH, in consultation with DOH Specialty
Hospitals, shall include in the SHCUDP the necessary infrastructure,
basic facilities and equipment needed for the establishment of
SHCUs; and

ii, Personnel — The DOH, in coordination with the CSC, shall include in
the SHCUDP the human resources needed to run and manage the
SHCUs.

SECTION 7. Appropriations. — The Secretary of Health shall include in
the Department’s program the establishment and operationalization of
SHCUs, the funding of which shall be included in the budget of DOH under
the General Appropriations Act (GAA).


SECTION 8. Implementation. - The DOH, in consultation and
coordination with the Chiefs of Hospital of the regional hospitals, the CSC,
and other concerned agencies, shall formulate, identify, and promulgate the
implementing guidelines, rules and regulations necessary to carry out the
provisions of this Act.

SECTION 9. Repealing Clause. — Any provision of law, decree, order,
rule or regulation inconsistent with this Act is hereby repealed and/or
modified accordingly.

SECTION 10. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general
circulation.

Approved,