EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S. No. 1423
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20
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16 A 8 '41
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR.
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE NATIONAL HEALTH PASSPORT SYSTEM THEREBY 
STRENGTHENING THE PRIMARY HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The 1987 Philippine Constitution provides that the State shall protect and 
promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among 
them. Pursuant to this, the government effects and implements health and medical 
programs. Successful implementation, however, is hindered by high cost of medical 
care as well as by lack of or inadequate information dissemination on significant 
health issues.
Universal Health Care Law was passed to address the problem of rising costs 
of medical expenses, and access to medical facilities, supplies, equipment and 
medicines. But there is also a need to address the lack of or inadequate information 
and medical record keeping as this also play an essential role in any healthcare 
system.
Accordingly, the proposed Health Passport System (HPS) can address the void 
or inadequacy, thus helping to complete the healthcare system. The Health 
Passport will provide each Filipino with a document that reflects each individual's full 
medical history and other relevant data. This can be used during medical and dental


check-ups or treatment in government or private medical institutions. With medical 
information easily and readily accessible and available, Filipinos are empowered to 
take care of his or her health thereby improving the health of every individual and 
their families.
In line with this, the passage of this measure into law is earnestly sought.
DNBONG RE
RAMO^ONG REVILLA, JR.


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S. No. 1423
ci t()o
20 APR 16 A 8 ‘•47
RE" ciV
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR.
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE NATIONAL HEALTH PASSPORT SYSTEM THEREBY 
STRENGTHENING THE PRIMARY HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Short We. - This Act shall be known as the "Health Passport
2 
System Act".
3 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to protect and
4 
promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among
5 
them. Free medical care shall be provided to the underprivileged and that their
6 
needs shall be prioritized.
7 
Also, the State recognizes the need to adopt an integrated and
8 
comprehensive approach to health development, which shall endeavor to make
9 
essential goods, health and other social services avaiiable to all the people at
10 
affordable costs.
11 
It is also the policy of the State to fully utilize technoiogy and use this as
12 
leverage to ensure better delivery of medical services to all Filipinos.
13 
Sec. 3. National Health Passport System. - Consistent with the above policies,
14 
the Department of Health (DOH) in coordination with the local government units,
15 
shall undertake the implementation of the National Health Passport System.


1 
Sec. 4. Content and Purpose. - For purposes of this Act, the Health Passport
2 
shall be the mobile record booklet of the patient containing, among others, the
3 
following:
4 
a. Patient's medical and dental history as recorded by the physician, dentist
5 
or authorized health professionals;
6 
b. Medical and dental test results;
7 
c. Diagnosis;
8 
d. Medicines and medical treatment availed of;
9 
e. Basic medical data;
10 
f. Information on all medical and health related benefits provided by laws;
11 
and
12 
g. Information regarding the patient's medical rights and privileges under the
13 
passport system.
14 
The Health Passport shall serve as the patient's official recognition that he
15 
could avail of the free medical and dental diagnostics tests in government hospitals
16 
subject to the requirements to be set by the DOH and the locai government units
17 
where passport holder resides.
18 
Sec. 5. Authority to Access Passport. - Access by proper medical authorities
19 
to the data recorded therein shali be made upon the passport holder's prior consent.
20 
In the absence of the relatives, the physician in charge of the patient shaii be
21 
authorized to review the patient's passport.
22 
Sec. 6. Scope of the Health Passport Program. - All Filipino citizens shaii be
23 
entitled to a health passport, which shaii be used whenever a patient avails of
24 
medical and dental check-ups or treatment provided in government or private
25 
medical institutions.
26 
The parents or legal guardians of children bom after the effectivity of this Act
27 
shaii be required to enroli their children in the Health Passport Program. The health
28 
passport shall be employed to record the child's initial medical check-up including
29 
the necessary immunization. Faiiure to provide the child with medical check-ups and
30 
immunization shall constitute as evidence of violation of the provisions of Articie VI,
31 
Section 10 of Republic Act No. 7610, otherwise known as the Anti-Chiid Abuse Act.


1 
The DOH is hereby mandated to issue the guidelines for the medical and
2 
dental check-ups and the immunization of children.
3 
Sec. 7. Procedure. - The City, Municipality, and/or Barangay together with the
4 
Department of Social Welfare and Development shall be responsible for the
5 
evaluation of the applicants for the free medical and dental diagnostic tests. Those
6 
qualified shall then be recommended to the primary medical institution of the local
7 
government unit concerned (e.g. district hospital, provincial hospital or regional
8 
hospital) for the issuance of the health passport.
9 
Those who want to obtain the health passport without availing the privilege of
10 
free medical and dental diagnostic test may directly secure the same from the
11 
aforementioned medical institutions or the local government units implementing the
12 
program.
13 
Sec. 8. Digitization of Rurai Heaith Center Records. - In the pursuit of
14 
seamless and efficient health care service, rural health centers in the Philippines are
15 
directed to digitize all medical records and evaluation results. This is to create a
16 
shareable database to consolidate all information that will be easily accessible in
17 
time of need.
18 
Sec. 9. Senior Citizens Priviieges. - All privileges granted to senior citizens
19 
under the Senior Citizen's Act and other laws shall also apply to senior citizens with
20 
health passports. Medical institutions shall give priority to senior citizens on their
21 
needs.
22 
Sec. 10. Rurai Health Units Assessment Report. - DOH shall submit an initial
23 
assessment report to the Senate and House of Representatives on the status of
24 
every Rural Health Unit (RHU) within ninety (90) days of the effectivity of this Act to
25 
identify which RHUs do not meet the universal standards for quality primary
26 
healthcare.
27 
Annually thereafter, an update report pertaining to the progress of the RHUs
28 
shall be submitted to both Houses of Congress for purposes of monitoring and
29 
evaluation.
30 
Sec. 11. Implementing Agency. - The DOH shall promulgate the
31 
implementing rules and regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act,
32 
and administer this program in coordination with the local government units


1 
concerned and other agencies whose functions are bound to affect the
2 
implementation of this system.
3 
In this connection, the DOH is hereby mandated to conduct further study n
4 
this system. The Department shall also assess the capabilities of the health
5 
institutions in the local government units as well as the availability of laboratory
6 
apparatuses to put into service the provisions of this Act.
7 
Sec. 12. Appropriation. - The amount of one hundred million pesos (Php
8 
100,000,000.00) shall automatically be included in the annual appropriation of DOH
9 
for the next five (5) years for the implementation of this Act.
10 
Sec. 13. Separabiiity Ciause. - If any provision or part of this Act shall be held
11 
invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provisions not otherwise
12 
affected shall remain valid and subsisting.
13 
Sec. 14. Repeaiing Ciause. - All laws, decrees, orders, issuances or portions
14 
thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or
15 
modified accordingly.
16 
Sec. 15. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following the
17 
completion of its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers
18 
of general circulation, whichever comes earlier.
19
20 
Approved,