NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
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SENATE
S.B. No._a£7
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Introduced by Senator JOEL VILLANUEVA
AN ACT
REQUIRING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF DIALYSIS CLINICS IN ALL 
NATIONAL, REGIONAL AND PROVINCIAL HOSPITALS AND 
PROVIDING FOR FREE DIALYSIS TREATMENTS TO INDIGENT 
PATIENTS AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Dialysis is the process of removing waste products from the blood and removing 
excess fluid from the body. Patients undergoing dialysis suffers from End Stage Renal 
Disease (ESRD), largely caused by chronic hypertension and diabetes.
In the Philippines, it is estimated that around 2.3 Million Filipinos have chronic kidney 
disease and more than 35,000 patients are undergoing dialysis treatment as of 2016.1 
Kidney disease has also been identified as one of the top 10 causes of death in the 
Philippines.2 it is also reported that the number of dialysis patients has been steadily 
increasing at 10% to 15% annually. In 2014, the Philippine Health Insurance 
Corporation (PhilHealth) paid a total of Php4.7 Billion arising from 691,489 claims for 
dialysis treatment.3
Considering the large number of patients who needs to undergo dialysis treatment 
regularly, dialysis treatment centers should not only be accessible to these patients, 
but should also be affordable.
Kidney patients normally have to undergo dialysis treatment two to three times a week, 
with one treatment costing around Php4,500.4 This means that a kidney patient has to 
spend around Php9,000 to Phpl 3,500 per week to survive. While the Philippine Health
1 https;//www.philhealth.gov. ph/circulars/2021/circ2021-0009.pdf
2 http://www.doh.gov.ph/node/1058
3 https://www.philhealth.gov.ph/news/2015/extends_dialysis.html
4 https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1086669


Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) has increased its coverage from 90 to 144 dialysis 
treatments, some, if not all, patients still have to pay for the treatment sessions outside 
of the 144 days.
Indeed, the accessibility of dialysis centers and the cost of treatments place a great 
burden on kidney patients, on top of battling their condition. This condition also affects 
their over-all productivity and ability to earn income.
This bill mandates the establishment of dialysis centers in national, provincial and 
regional hospitals to ensure that all kidney patients can easily access these centers 
for their treatment without having to travel far. This bill also recognizes the financial 
burden faced by dialysis patients and mandates that indigents shall be given free 
treatments in these centers.
The immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
SENATOR JOEL VILLANUEVA^


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
SENATE 
S.B. No. 3G7
p- 
^ 
‘v L -I
72 JUL 12 A11 30
Rl'Cr.’Vr) E.
Introduced by Senator JOEL VILLANUEVA
AN ACT
REQUIRING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF DIALYSIS CLINICS IN ALL 
NATIONAL, REGIONAL AND PROVINCIAL HOSPITALS AND 
PROVIDING FOR FREE DIALYSIS TREATMENTS TO INDIGENT 
PATIENTS AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
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Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to 
protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness 
among them. For this purpose, the State shall ensure that patients suffering from End 
Stage Renal Disease are accorded timely and appropriate treatment with the provision 
of accessible dialysis clinics and free dialysis treatments.
SEC. 2. Establishment of Dialysis Clinics in all National, Regional and Provincial 
Hospitals. - There shall be established dialysis clinics in all national, regional and 
provincial hospitals in the country. The dialysis clinics shall be equipped with sufficient 
machines, equipment, paraphernalia and supplies and staffed with the appropriate 
number of medical and other personnel.
The Department of Health (DOH), in coordination with the local government units and 
other relevant government agencies, shall lead the establishment of these clinics.
SEC. 3. Free Dialysis Treatment to Indigent Patients. - The Department of Health, 
in coordination with the Philippine Health insurance Corporation, shall ensure that 
indigent patients are accorded free dialysis treatments in national, regional or 
provincial hospitals. For this purpose, “indigent patient” refers to a patient who has no 
visible means of income, or whose income is insufficient for the subsistence of his/her 
family, as identified by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
SEC. 4. Authority to Receive Donations and Exemption from Donor’s Taxes, 
Customs and Tariff Duties. - The DOH shall have the authority to receive donations.


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gifts and bequests in order to augment the funding for the establishment of the dialysis 
clinics created in accordance with this Act. All donations, contributions or endowments 
which may be made by persons or entities to the dialysis clinics in national, regional 
and provincial hospitals and the importation of medical equipment and machineries, 
spare parts and other medical equipment used solely and exclusively by the dialysis 
clinics shall be exempt from income or donor’s taxes, any other direct or indirect taxes, 
wharfage fees and other charges and restrictions.
SEC. 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days from the 
effectivity of this Act, the Department of Health, upon consultation with relevant 
stakeholders, shall issue the implementing rules and regulations to implement the 
provisions of this Act.
SEC. 6. Appropriations. - An initial amount of One Billion Pesos (P1,000,000,000) 
shall be appropriated for the implementation of this Act. Thereafter, its appropriation 
shall be included in the General Appropriations Act.
SEC. 7. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this law or the application thereof 
to any person or circumstance, is held invalid, the remainder of this law, or the 
application of such provision or part to other persons or circumstances, shall not be 
affected thereby.
SEC. 8. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and 
regulations or part thereof deemed inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are 
hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
SEC. 9. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from the 
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspapers of general 
circulation.
Approved,