NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session 
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23 MAY 17 P2 34
ftf-CEiVtO BY
SENATE
s. No. 2212
(In Substitution of Senate Bill Nos. 80, 93, 161, 249, 807, 1263, 1267, 
1321, 1361, 1362, 1752, and 2065)
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Prepared and submitted jointly by the Committees on Health and Demography, Ways 
and Means, and Finance, with Senators Zubiri, Angara, Ejercito, Cayetano (P.), 
Estrada, Marcos, Go, Padilla, Gatchalian and Escudero as authors thereof
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING SPECIALTY CENTERS IN HOSPITALS UNDER THE DIRECT 
SUPERVISION AND CONTROL 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:
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Regional Specialty
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Centers Act."
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Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to protect and
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promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them
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by making health services available, accessible, and affordable for all. Towards this
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end, the State shall adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health
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development by providing specialized health services which shall address the medical
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needs of patients with diseases of a particular organ or group of organs and the
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healthcare needs of a particular group, such as children, women, or the elderly, and
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shall be available and accessible to all Filipinos to ensure equitable healthcare for all.
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Sec. 3. Definition of terms. - For purposes of this Act:
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(a) DOH hospital - refers to a hospital under the direct management, supervision
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and control of the Department of Health (DOH);
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{b) Specialty Center - refers to a unit or department in a hospital that offers
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specialized care addressing particular conditions and providing specific
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procedures and management of cases requiring specialized training and


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equipment; and
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(c) National Specialty Center- refers to a Level 3 specialty or general hospital with
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the highest level of expertise In clinical services, teaching, training, research,
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and is the country's end-referral facility for a given medical specialty as
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designated by the DOH.
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Sec. 4. Specialty Centers. - The DOH shall establish specialty centers in DOH
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hospitals identified by the DOH In every region. The DOH, in coordination with the
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National Specialty Centers, shall ensure that specialty centers in DOH hospitals have
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expert personnel and medical specialists provided with necessary training, and
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appropriate specialist equipment. The DOH shall prioritize funding for capital outlay
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Investment for specialty centers through the Health Facilities Enhancement Program
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and other fund sources.
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The DOH, in coordination with the Department of Budget and Management, shall
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develop and implement the staffing pattern and standards for specialty centers.
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Sec. 5. Criteria for the Establishment of Specialty Centers. - The
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establishment of specialty centers in DOH hospitals shall adhere to the guidelines set
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by the DOH on planning and prioritizing health facilities based on, but not limited to,
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the following criteria:
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(a) Evidence of the health needs and demands, including disease burdens, in the
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catchment population of the DOH hospital, in consultation with concerned
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stakeholders;
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(b) Service capability of the hospital and geographic or physical access;
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(c) Appropriate level of specialized healthcare provider role in the continuum of
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care, including roles of the DOH hospital as referral for healthcare provider
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networks;
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(d) Availability of competent health human resources for specialized healthcare;
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and
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(e) Operational and financial performance of the DOH hospital, including
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accreditation to avaii 
of specialized healthcare packages from the Philippine
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Health Insurance Corporation.
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Sec. 6. Responsibilities of National Specialty Centers. - The National
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Specialty Centers, including, but not limited to, the Philippine Heart Center, National
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Kidney and Transplant Institute, Lung Center of the Philippines, Philippine Children's
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Medical Center and Philippine Cancer Center, shall have the following responsibilities:
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(a) Serve as the core Information hub for their respective specializations and
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diseases they cover, in coordination with the DOH;
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(b) Lead in the development of policies, protocols, and standards for the particular
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specialty and shall have the highest level of clinical services and training
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capability;
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(c) Provide scientific leadership by conducting specialized clinical, public health,
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and operations research with multidisciplinary or multi-center approach;
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(d) Provide specialty training and technical assistance, in collaboration with the
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DOH, to specialty centers in DOH hospitals to ensure delivery of quality services
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and strengthen the network of care across the country for a particular specialty;
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and
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(e) Conduct capacity and capability assessment of the services provided by
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specialty centers in DOH hospitals for a particular specialty.
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Sec. 7. Medical Specialists and Experts. - The National Specialty Centers are
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hereby authorized to contract the services of individuals deemed as medical specialists
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or experts to provide specialty training and technical assistance to specialty centers in
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DOH hospitals. Specialty centers in DOH hospitals may also send medical, allied
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medical and other necessary personnel to the National Specialty Centers for training
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and capacity development.
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Sec. 8. Implementation. - Within five (5) years upon the enactment of this Act,
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the DOH shall establish at least one (1) specialty center In every region based on the
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top burden of disease and special needs in the area: Provided, That the DOH shall
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also give particular focus on establishing heart, lung, and kidney centers which shall
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replicate the capabilities of the National Specialty Centers in the National Capital
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Region.
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Sec. 9. Philippine Health Facility Development Plan (PHFDP). - The DOH
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shall include the plans for the establishment of specialty centers in DOH hospitals in
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the PHFDP, which serves as a guide for investments funded by the national
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government to rationalize the distribution of capacity and capability of health facilities.
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Sec. 10. Report to Congress. - DOH hospitals with specialty centers established


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under this Act shall provide the DOH and the Congress, through the Committee on
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Health of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health and
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Demography of the Senate, an annual report of its activities, accomplishments, and
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operational plans,
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Sec. 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations, - Within thirty (30) days from
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the effectivity of this Act, the DOH, in consultation with the National Specialty Centers,
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DOH hospitals, and other concerned agencies, shall promulgate the implementing
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rules and regulations and guidelines necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act.
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Sec. 12. Appropriations, - The amount necessary for the initial implementation
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of this Act shall be charged against the current year's appropriation of the DOH.
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Thereafter, the DOH shall include In the Department's program the establishment and
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operationalization of the specialty centers in DOH hospitals, the funding of which shall
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be included in the budget of the DOH under the annual General Appropriations Act.
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Sec. 13. Separability Clause, - Should any provision herein be declared
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unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions hereof that are not affected thereby
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shall continue to be in full force and effect.
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Sec. 14. Repealing Clause, - All laws, decrees, orders, rules, and regulations or
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other issuances or parts Inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
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repealed or modified accordingly.
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Sec. 15. Effectivity, - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days from its
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publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,