twentieth congress of the
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
IIL 14 A'lO ;44
SENATE 
S. No. ^^0
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
AN ACT
hospitals toLectabushL'opewte and MArNT0VINCIAL government
IN THEIR RESPECTIVe HOSPTTa? MiINTAIN A DIALYSIS CENTER
treatment to inSt pSts PR0VIDING free dialysis
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The government's efforts to reform the health sector have been set in place 
through several .nnovative projects and programs aimed at providing the people 
wrth comprehensive health services. The participation of local government units has 
been tapped to make heaith care services more affordable and accessible.
However, the fact remains that sophisticated and advanced hospital and
medical equipment and facilities are found in highly urbanized cities, so much so that
patients from the rural areas have to travel all the way to these urban cities just to
avail themselves of advanced medical treatment. The high costs of treatment and
the additional travel expenses are financially draining particularly for patients that
need treatment on a regular and sustained basis. This Is especially true for patients
who are suffering from kidney disorder who have to undergo dialysis treatment 
regularly.
According to the paper, "Gaps and challenges in the provision of treatments 
for patients with end-stage renai disease: perspectives from the Philippines"
1


hed on September 2023, Thronic Ridney disease (CKD) is a globai public 
health concern, w,th prevalence of 9.1«/„ - 13.4o/0 of the population worldwide. In
oJba? rPIT' ltS PreValenCe iS 35-94%' WhiCh iS mUCh hi9her than esdmated 
global rates. Related to this, an article published on March 2024 cited a pediatric
nephr^glst siting that ”the number of documented Ridney disorders doubled to 
120,000 cases in a 30-year span since the 1990s".2
n consonance with the constitutional mandate to maRe health services 
available to all the people at affordable cost, this bill requires ail national, regional 
and provmaal government hospitals to establish, operate and maintain a dialysis 
ward or un.t in their respective hospital in order that dialysis treatment will be 
aval able and accessible to the people especially those in the rural areas in a cost
effective manner. Moreover, this bill requires that dialysis treatment should be 
provided to indigent patients, free of charge.
sought.
In light of the foregoing, the immediate approval of this bill is earnestly
G&OY EJERCITO ESTRADA
1 Gaps and challenges in the provision of treatment for naH^nts with Pnrl-^b^r,,. rQnai disease-
Chronic kidney disease on the rise among Filipinos - Manila St-anrlf^rd


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
SENATE 
S. No.
23 JUL 14 A10:44
480
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
AN ACT
REQUIRING ALL NATIONAL, REGIONAL, AND PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT 
HOSPITALS TO ESTABLISH, OPERATE AND MAINTAIN A DIALYSIS CENTER 
IN THEIR RESPECTIVE HOSPITAL AND PROVIDING FREE DIALYSIS 
TREATMENT TO INDIGENT PATIENTS
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Dialysis Center Act.
2 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to
3 
improve the delivery of health care services to the people and to ensure that public
4 
specialty healthcare services hospital facilities are made affordable and accessible to
5 
the people. Towards this end, the State shall create Dialysis centers in all national,
6 
regional, and provincial government hospitals throughout the country.
7 
Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the following terms
8 
shall mean:
9 
a) National Government Hospital shall refer 
to a hospital 
operated and
10 
maintained either partially or wholly by the national government or by any
11 
department, division, board or other agency thereof;
12 
b) Regional Government Hospital shali refer 
to a hospital 
operated and
13 
maintained either partially or wholly by the national government or by any
14 
department, division, board or other agency thereof;
15 
c) Provincial Government Hospital shall refer 
to a hospital 
operated and
16 
maintained either partially or wholly by the provincial government or other


1 
political subdivision, or by any department division, board or other agency
2 
thereof; and,
3 
d) Indigent Patient shd\\ refer to a person who has no visible means of income,
4 
or whose income is insufficient for the subsistence of his family, as identified
5 
by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
6 
Sec. 4. Estabiishment, Operation and Maintenance of a Dialysis Center. -
1 
Within two (2) years from the effectivity of this Act, all national, regional, and
8 
provincial government hospitals 
are hereby required to establish, operate and
9 
maintain a dialysis center in their hospital. The dialysis center shall be equipped with
10 
complete dialysis machine, equipment and supplies.
11 
Sec. 5. Free Dialysis Treatment for Indigent Patients. - Dialysis treatment in
12 
all national, regional and provincial government hospitals shall be provided free of
13 
charge to indigent patients as defined in Section 3 (e) hereof.
H 
Sec. 6. Penalty. - Any hospital chief, administrator or officer-in-charge who
15 
fails to comply with this Act shall be punished with a fine of Fifty thousand pesos
16 
(P50,000.00) but not more than One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00).
17 
Sec. 7. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the effective
18 
implementation of this Act shall be taken from the current applicable appropriations
19 
of the Department of Health (DOH) and over-all savings of the National Government.
20 
Thereafter, funds for its continued implementation shall be included in the annual
21 
General Appropriations Act.
22 
Sec. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days upon
23 
the effectivity of this Act, the DOH shall promulgate the necessary rules and
24 
regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.
25 
Sec. 9. Separability Clause. - If any provision, section, or part of this Act shall
26 
unconstitutional or invalid, such judgement shall not affect, invalidate, or impair any
27 
other provisions, sections, or parts hereof.
28 
Sec. 10. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, issuances, circulars,
29 
rules and regulations or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of
30 
this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.


1
2
3
Sec. 11. Effectmty. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
pu .cation in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general 
Circulation.
Approved,