SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No, J {) 31. 
) 
) 
) 
'13 
SEP 11 
P 2 :30 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution provides that the State shall adopt an integrated and 
comprehensive approach to health development and shall endeavor to make 
essential health and othersoc;ial services. available to all the people at affordable 
cost 
The bill provides for the use of mobile units, in order to render effective 
medical, diagnostic and treatment services to the public. It will ensure the 
availability of quality health care services for patients who live in remote or rural 
areas, and for patients who need specialized type of medical care. 
The immediate passage of this bill is earnestly solicited. 
OY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
Senator 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 1 S 31 
) 
) 
) 
'13 
SEP 11 P 2 :30 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
TO PROVIDE FOR THE USE OF MOBILE UNITS SERVING MEDICAL, 
DIAGNOSTIC, AND TREATMENT SERVICES, IN ORDER TO ENSURE THE 
AVAILABILITY OF QUALITY HEALTH CARE SERVICES FOR PATIENTS 
WHO RECEIVE CARE IN REMOTE OR RURAL AREAS AND FOR PATIENTS 
WHO NEED SPECIALIZED TYPE OF MEDICAL CARE PROVIDED IN A 
COST-EFFECTIVE WAY 
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 "Mobile Health Care 
Services Act", 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - One of the objectives of the State is to 
ensure the availability of quality health care services in a cost-effective way. To 
attain this objective, the State recognizes the use of mobile units serving medical, 
diagnostic and treatment services to provide medical services particularly in 
remote or rural areas. 
SEC 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the following 
terms shall mean: 
1. Department refers to the Department of Health; 
2. Mobile Service Unit or Mobile Unit means a public or private vehicle that 
provides health services, and meets any of the following criteria: 
a. Approved pursuant to this Act by the Department of Health as a 
service of a licensed clinic; 
b. Approved by the Department pursuant to this Act as a service of a 
licensed clinic; 
c. Licensed pursuant to the requirements prescribed by the Department 
as a clinic; 
d. Licensed pursuant to this Act as an "other" type of approved mobile 
unit by the Department. "Other" types of approved mobile units shall be 
limited to mobile units performing services within new health facility or 
clinic licensure categories created after the effectivity of this Act. 


Mobile Service Unit or Mobile Unit does not mean a modular, relocatable, or 
transportable unit that is designed to be placed on a foundation when it reaches 
its destination, nor does it mean any entity that is exempt from licensure as 
provided by the Department. 
SEC. 4. Operation of the Mobile Unit. - A Mobile Unit may operate as an 
adjunct to a licensed health facility or to a licensed clinic or an "other" type of 
approved mobile unit. 
SEC. 5. The Department shall charge applicants a licensure fee as 
follows: 
a) Pursuant to the rule and regulations of the Department that creates a new 
health facility or clinic licensure category. 
b) No additional licensure fee will be imposed solely because a service is to 
be provided in a mobile unit. 
SEC. 6. Requirements Prior to Licensure. -
a) The mobile unit shall comply with the applicable requirements of the 
Vehicle Code as provided by the Department, shall have a vehicle 
identification number; 
b) The mobile unit shall bear an insignia issued I;ly the Department. 
SEC. 7. Obtaining a License. -
a) Except as provided in subsection (B), no person, political subdivision of 
the state, or governmental agency shall operate a mobile service unit 
without first obtaining a license in addition to existing licensure as provided 
in this Act unless exempted from licensure as provided by the Department. 
b) Any person, political subdivision of the state, or governmental agency that 
has been operating a mobile unit as of January 1, 1997, may continue to 
operate the mobile unit only under the following conditions: 
1) The person, political subdivision of the state, or governmental agency 
shall apply to the Department for a mobile unit license, or an addition 
to existing licensure, via a request for licensure under this Act; 
2) The person, political subdivision of the state, or governmental agency 
shall cease operating the mobile unit upon a final decision of the 
Department denying the application for licensure or addition to 
licensure under this Act 
SEC. 8 . . Application. -
a) Any applicant under this Act shall file with the Department an application. 
The application shall be on forms prescribed and furnished by the 
Department that shall contain any information as may be required by the 
Department for the proper administration and enforcement of this Act; 


b) An applicant health facility or clinic pursuant to this Act shall submit an 
application to the Licensing and Certification Department stating 
specifically all of the following: 
1) the proposed service to be provided; 
2) the expected hours and days of operation; 
3) the type and the manufacturer of the mobile unit contemplated; 
and, 
4) the proposed area or areas where the mobile unit will be 
providing services. 
c) An applicant for licensure as an independently licensed clinic under this 
Act shall submit a verified application to the Department on the 
appropriate forms for the type of clinic for which it wishes to obtain 
licensure; 
d) Prior to granting approval to an applicant parent facility for operation of a 
mobile unit under the parent facility's existing licensure pursuant to this 
Act, or prior to granting license for an independent mobile unit, the 
Department shall conduct an onsite inspection, including, but not limited 
to, a review of policies and procedures. 
SEC. 9. Qualifications. -
a) To qualify for a license under this Act, an applicant shall satisfy all the 
applicable regulations as required by the Department. 
b) The applicant shall file a completed application for the Department. 
c) Clinics licensed as mobile units shall be subject to the same requirements 
and regulations as any other clinic, except that, instead of complying with 
the physical plant requirements applicable to the clinic, the mobile unit 
shall comply with the mobile unit requirements contained in this Act. 
SEC. 10 . Periodical Inspection . -
a) A licensee using mobile services pursuant to this Act shall, at the 
Department's option, be periodically inspected by a duly authorized 
representative of the Department. Reports of each inspection shall be 
prepared by the representative conducting it upon forms prepared and 
furnished by the Department and filed with the Office of the Department of 
Health. The inspection shall be for the purpose of ensuring that this Act 
and the rules and regulations of the Department adopted under this Act 
are being followed. 
b) Any officer, employee, or agent of the Department may enter and inspect 
any building, premises, or vehicle and may "have access to and inspect 
any document, file, or other record, of a mobile unit or of a parent facility 
operating a mobile unit, at any reasonable time to assure compliance with, 
or to prevent violation of this Act. 
c) Demonstration of a mock emergency drill shall be observed by 
Department staff in the mobile unit on a site where patient mobility is 
limited. 


SEC. 11. Specifications of Mobile Unit. -
a) The mobile unit shall be sufficient size and shall be arranged in a manner 
that is appropriate for the provision of those health services that is 
licensed to provide; 
b) The mobile unit shall be equipped with appropriate utilities for the comfort 
and safety of patients. The Department shall review and approve hospital-
provided utility connections for mobile units that require utility hookups 
with general acute care hospitals; 
c) The mobile unit shall be maintain in good repair and in a clean and 
sanitary manner; 
d) All proposed modifications to previously approved services, procedures 
and sites shall be reviewed and approved by the Department before they 
are implemented. Site change's shall also be reported by the licensee to 
local authorities. 
SEC. 12. Responsibilities of the Licensed Clinic. -
a) The licensed clinic shall be responsible for obtaining approvals for the site 
or sites of the mobile unit from the local planning, zoning, and fire 
authorities, as required. 
b) The mobile unit shall be situated for safe and comfortable patient access. 
The mobile unit shall comply with all local parking ordinances. 
c) The clinic shall ensure that there is sufficient lighting around the perimeter 
of the site from which the mobile unit provides any services. 
SEC 13 . Mobile Services by Licensee. -Any licensee using mobile 
services pursuant to this Act shall comply with the following: 
a) Have written policies established by the goveming body of t~e licensee, to 
govern the services that the mobile unit provides. The policies shall 
include, but shall not be limited to, policies related to patient care, 
personnel training and orientation, personnel supervision, and evaluation 
of services provided by the mobile unit; 
b) Have written policies regarding patient selection criteria; 
c) Develop and implement the written policies and procedures for the Mobile 
unit in conSUltation with other appropriate health care professionals; 
d) Ensure that the written policies and procedures are consistent with the 
policies and procedures of the parent facility, if any; 
e) Ensure that the policies and written procedures shall be approved by the 
governing body, administration, and medical staff of the licensee, where 
appropriate; 
f) Ensure that the written policies and procedures include, but are not limited 
to, all of the following: 
. 


1) Scope of Services; 
2) Procedures for the performance of the services provided; 
3) Quality assurance; 
4) Infection control; 
5) Medical record documentation of services provided, as appropriate; 
6) Transport of patients, including but not limited to, method, special 
equipment, necessary personnel, and protection from inclement 
weather; 
7) Emergency services and evacuation plan for the mobile unit. 
g) A licensee using mobile services pursuant to this Act shall specify in 
writing policies and procedures for emergencies including fire, natural 
disaster, and medical emergencies. In its policies and procedures, the 
mobile unit shall address the emergency plan required of the parent facility 
and s~ate how the plans shall be coordinated;. 
, h) A licensee using mobile services pursuant to this Act shall familiarize its 
employees and each patient with the policies and procedures adopted 
pursuant to subparagraph (A). 
i) A licensee using mobile services pursuant to this Act shall maintain written 
transfer agreements that shall include, but shall not be limited to, 
provisions for communication with, and transportation to, one or more 
nearby hospitals and other health facilities as needed to meet medical 
emergencies. The mobile unit shall develop procedures that include 
personnel needed to assist in the transfer, as well as provisions for 
meeting medical needs to accommodate the emergency transfer; 
1) Location; 
2) Schedule of mobile unit services 
j) Maintain clinical records on each patient, in accordance with regulations; 
k) Maintain a mobile unit services log that shall include, but shall not be 
limited to, all of the following: 
1) Patient chart or Identification Number; 
2) Name, age and sex of patient; 
3) Site, date, time and as appropriate, duration of procedure. 
SEC 14. The Mobile Unit Shall Comply with the following: 
a) It shall have supplies and equipment to meet the needs of the patients 
served; 
b) Any mobile unit X-ray equipment shall be in compliance with the 
requirements issued by the Department; 
c) The mobile unit shall have fire safety equipment as specified by the fire 
authority having jurisdiction, including but not limited to, at least two fire 
extinguishers; 
d) Documented evidence of preventive maintenance and 
calibration 
procedures of mobile unit equipment shall conform to the manufacturer's 
specifications; 


e) Use of the equipment in mobile units shall conform to the manufacturer's 
specifications; 
f) The mobile unit shall have a telecommunications device. 
SEC 15. Implementing Rule and Regulations. - Within six (6) months 
after the enactment of this Act, the Department shall formulate and issue the 
appropriate rules and regulations necessary to carry out the implementation of 
this Act and to enable the Department to exercise the powers and perform the 
duties conferred upon it by this Act. 
Until the Department adopts regulations relating to provision of services by 
a chronic hemodialysis clinic, a surgery clinic, or a rehabilitation clinic, mobile 
units licensed or seeking licensure, in these categories shall comply with 
Department's certification standards for end stage renal disease clinics, 
ambulatory surgery clinics, or comprehensive outpatient rehabilitation facilities, 
as applicable. 
SEC 16. Separability Clause. - If any provision, or part hereof, is held 
invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise 
affected shall remain valid and subsisting. 
SEC. 17. Repealing Clause. -Any Law, presidential decree or issuance, 
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation 
contrary to or inconsistent with, the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, 
modified or amended accordingly. 
SEC. 18. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,