.5 =ii
NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
SENATE
S, B. No. 769
■mw of .e .-Cl
'22 JUL 19 P6 38
RITu-Db
Introduced by Senator SONNY ANGARA
AN ACT
INTEGRATING PALLIATIVE AND HOSPICE CARE INTO THE PHILIPPINE 
HEALTH CARE SYSTEM
EXPLANATORY NOTE
There is a predominant notion that the organizing principle behind the medical 
profession is to cure illnesses or rid the world of disease. While these avowed aims 
are rightly pursued, improving the quality of life of patients ought to be the foremost 
concern of our medical professionals.
No less than the: preambie of tbe Constitution of the World Health Organization 
(WHO) provides: "Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well­
being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity." The 1987 Constitution 
itself is preambled on the nation's desire to build "a just and humane society 
[emphasis added]."
Hence, while our healthcare s/stem should work on curing and preventing 
sickness, it should also promote people's well-being, especially when they are 
enduring intense pain and suffering from chronic diseases.
Many Filipinos today are afflicted with cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and other 
life-threatening and debilitating conditions—impos.ng cc:.ts that are not only 
financial, but also emotional, social, and psychological.
This underscores the importance of formally integrating Hospice and Palliative 
Care into the Philippine Healthcare System—the underlying objective of the 
foregoing measure. Hospice and Palliative Care is comprised of multi-disciplinary


approaches focused on promoting the quality of life of patients, regardless of age, 
and their families.
In 2014, the World Health Assembly passed a resolution calling on the WHO and 
Member States, including the Philippines, to improve access to palliative care as a 
core component of their respective Healthcare systems. Said resolution emphasized 
that palliative care "is an ethical responsibility of health systems" and that health 
care professionals have "the ethical duty to...alleviate pain and suffering, whether 
physical, psychosocial or spiritual, irrespective of whether the disease or condition 
can be cured." The resolution further affirmed that "access to palliative 
care...contributes to the realization of the right to the enjoyment of the highest 
attainable standard of health and well-being."
By laying down the overall policy for the integration of Palliative and Hospice 
Care into the Philippine Health Care System, the foregoing measure seeks to 
guarantee the nght of every hlipino to quality health care, where their full well-being 
is promoted throughout their entire life cycle. Its swift passage is earnestly sought.
SONNY ANGARA
Iff


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
SENATE
S. B. No. 769
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*22 JUL19 P6 38
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Introduced by Senator SONNY ANGARA
AN ACT
INTEGRATING PALLIATIVE AND HOSPICE CARE INTO THE PHILIPPINE 
HEALTH CARE SYSTEM
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress asser ibied:
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SECTION 1. Tide. - This Act shall be known as the "Palliative and Hospice
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Care Act"
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SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State guarantees the right of the people
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to qualify healtli care; ensuring that the health status of the people is to be made as
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good as possible over the entire life cycle. As the Constitution mandates, an
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integrated and comprehensive approach to health development shall endeavor to
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make essential goods, health and other social services available to all people at
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affordable cost even to patients suffering from life threatening illnesses
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SEC. 3. Palliative and Hospice Care. - It refers to an approach that improves
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the quality of life of patients with life threatening, complex and chronic illnesses or
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those experiencing progressively debilitating diseases beyond any benefit from
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curative or definitive treatment, regardless of life expectancy. The approach covers
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the prevention and relief of suffering by means of early identification, assessment
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and management of pain and symptoms.
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SEC. 4. Accreditation. - Hospitals, private hospice institutions, medical
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practitioners, health workers, and social workers for palliative and hospice care shall
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be accredited by the Department of Health (DOH). The DOH, in partnership with the
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National Palliative and Hospice Care Council of the Philippines (Hospice Philippines,


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Inc.) shall formulate the rules and guidelines for accreditation to ensure a standard
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qualify of palliative care services.
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SEC. 5. Quality Assurance. - Key elements necessary to ensure quality
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palliative care services in accredited hospitals and hospices include the following:
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a. 
Adequate number of multi-specialty personnel;
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b. 
Assured financing for health and custodial services;
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c. Clear and practical standards for facilities and services;
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d. 
Appropriately designed and equipped facilities; and
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e. 
Regular and systematic supervision and reporting to the DOH.
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SEC. 6. Mandatory Palliative and Hospice Services. - All government and
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private hospitals shall provide palliative and hospice care services to patients with
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life-threatening illnesses.
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Hospital:; are required to link with a referral and a'tercare network that is
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organized and made functional by all provincial, city and municipal governments
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under the guidance and monitoring of the DOH.
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Rural health units, health centers and health offices are required to develop
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home-based or near home palliative care program in coordination with government-
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owned and privately-owned hospices in the local government units.
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SEC. 7. Leave Benefits. - Immediate family members or relatives who are
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employed, whether in the public or private sectors, and are assigned by the family to
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provide palliative and hospice care to a critically-iil relative shall be allowed to use all
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existing leave benerits granted by their employers subject lo the guidelines on the
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use of said leave benefits.
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The DOH, in coordination with the Civil Service Commission, the Social
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Security System, the Government Service Insurance System, and the Department of
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Labor and Employment, shaH be tasked to formulate the necessary guidelines in the
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implementation of Section 7 of this Act.
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SEC. 8. Education and Training of Health Care Professionals and Volunteers. -
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The DOH, in partnership with the Hospice Philippines, Inc. and other accredited
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members, shall develop the education and training modules for health care
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professionals and workers.


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The Commission on Higher Education shall integrate courses on the principles 
and practice of Palliative Care and Hospice Care into the curriculum of Medicine and 
Nursing, as well as in all paramedical and allied health courses.
SEC. 9. Continuing Research. - The DOH, in coordination with the Philippine 
Council for Health Research and Development of the Department of Science and 
Technology, shall ensure a continuing research and collection of data on palliative 
and hospice care and availability of funds for this purpose.
SEC. 10 Implementing Agency. - The DOH-Office for Technical Services, in 
coordination with other offices of the Department, is hereby mandated to perform 
the following functions:
a. 
Promote palliative care in the Philippines through advocacy and social 
marketing;
b. 
Formulate policies and develop standards on quality palliative and hospice 
care;
c. 
Monitor the enforcement of standards and implementation of the program on 
palliative and hospice care;
d. 
Mobilize and generate resources for sustainability of operation;
e. 
Network with international hospice associations;
f. 
Coordinate research undertakings with other institutions and agencies;
g. 
Serve as repository of database for policy-making and maintenance of 
palliative care registry;
h. 
Organize and develop continuing training programs for physicians, nurses, 
physical therapists, and other professional health workers and volunteers 
workers in the field of palliative care;
i. 
Serve as the coordinating center of a national palliative care network located 
in the different regions of the country; and
j. 
Establish a Code of Ethics and standards in the practice of palliative health 
care.
SEC. 11. PhilHealth Benefit Package. - Pursuant to this Act, the Philippine 
Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) shall increase its present benefit package 
to include inpatient palliative services, outpatient hospice care and home-based 
palliative care.


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SEC. 12. Funding Support. - All non-profit, DOH-accredited palliative and
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hospice care institutions which are serving indigent 
patients shall qualify as
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institutional beneficiaries under the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office -
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Institutional Financiai Assistance Program: Provided, That the hospice care
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institutions comply with the documentary and other requirements of the said
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Program.
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SEC. 13. Tax Exemptions. - Any donation or bequest made to the DOH that is
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iniended for paliative and hospice care shall be exempt from, the donor's tax and the
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same shall be considered as allowable deduction from 
the gross income of the
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donor, in accordance with the provision of the National Internal Revenue Code of
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1997, as amended: Provided, That such donations shall be disposed of, transferred
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or sold.
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SEC. 14. Appropriations. - The initial amount necessary to implement the
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provisions of this Act shall be charged against the current year's appropriation of the
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Department of Health. Thereafter, such sums as maybe necessary for the continued
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implementation of this Act shall be included in the Annual General Appropriations
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Act.
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SEC. 15. Impiementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days from
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the approval of this Act, the Secretary of Health, after consultation with the Hospice
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Philippines, Inc., shall promulgate the rules and regulations implementing the
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provisions of this Act.
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SEC. 16. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is
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subsequently declared invalid or unconstitutional, other provisions hereof which are
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not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.
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SEC. 17. Repealing Clause. - All other laws, acts, presidential decrees,
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executive orders, p.esidential proclamations, issuances, rules and regulations, or
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parts thereof which are contrary to or inconsistent with any of the provisions of this
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Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.
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SEC. 18. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
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publication in the OfSciai Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,