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SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
Senate Bill No. 1 3 3 5
■17 FEB 16 All 30
RECtlVl-D BY:
Introduced by SENATOR JOEL VILLANUEVA
AN ACT PROVIDING A STANDARD OF CARE FOR THE 
TREATMENT OF PERSONS WITH BLEEDING DISORDERS, 
ESTABLISHING TREATMENT CENTERS AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
In the Philippines, about one million Filipinos are affected by Hemophilia, von 
Willebrand Disease and other bleeding disorders. 
However, only around 
1,500 have been registered with the Philippine Hemophilia Foundation. There 
is also an obvious lack of awareness and understanding on this group of 
medical conditions.
Bleeding disorder is a genetic condition where the blood does not clot 
properly. It is caused by deficiency of proteins in the blood called clotting 
factors. There are 13 factors in the blood, and when one of it is missing or is 
deficient, it results in a bleeding disorder.
People with bleeding disorders can bleed for longer than normal, and some 
may experience spontaneous bleeding into joints, muscles, or other parts of 
their bodies. Women with bleeding disorders may experience menorrhagia 
(excessive menstruation) and post-partum hemorrhage, on top of other 
bleeding problems.
The most known of this group of medical conditions is Hemophilia, classified 
as Hemophilia A (Factor VIII deficiency) and Hemophilia B (Factor IX 
deficiency), which occurs mostly in males. 
But the most prevalent is von 
Willebrand Disease (deficiency in von Willebrand factor), which affects around 
1 percent of the population — both males and females. Other factor deficiency 
disorders are: I, II, V, VII, X, XI, XIII. (Source: World Federation of Hemophilia)
Bleeding disorders like Hemophilia, von Willebrand Disease and other factor 
deficiencies are usually inherited and genetic. Thus, there may be multiple 
members in a family affected by the condition and they will have it for life. 
There is no known cure yet for bleeding disorders.


The World Health Organization and the Department of Health cited post­
partum hemorrhage as one of the top causes of maternal deaths. Incidentally, 
the Philippines did not meet the Millennium Development Goal on maternal 
health. It is very possible that a big percentage of those mothers who died of 
post-partum hemorrhage had undiagnosed bleeding disorders.
Bleeding disorders are treated by replacing the missing or deficient factors 
either through blood products such as cryo-precipitate, cryo-supernate, fresh 
frozen plasma, packed red blood cells (RBC) and whole blood or by 
manufactured 
plasma-derived 
factor 
concentrates 
and 
recombinant 
(genetically engineered) factor concentrates.
The cost of treatment is very high, and therefore, inaccessible to majority of 
Filipino patients. Many of them suffer with chronic pain and deformities in the 
joints because of lack of access to proper treatment. Availability of factor 
concentrates in the country is also inconsistent.
Other countries like India and Malaysia give free treatment to their citizens 
who have bleeding disorders. This bill seeks to provide medical and financial 
support to patients affected with this condition.
The immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
SENATOR JOEL VILLANUEVA


SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
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'17 FEB 16 AH :30
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Senate Bill No.l*335
Introduced by SENATOR JOEL VILLANUEVA
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AN ACT PROVIDING A STANDARD OF CARE FOR THE 
TREATMENT OF PERSONS WITH BLEEDING DISORDERS, 
ESTABLISHING TREATMENT CENTERS AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled:
Section 1. Short Title. -  This Act shall be known as the “Bleeding Disorder 
Standards of Care Act of 2017. ”
Section 2. Declaration of Policy. -  It is hereby declared the policy of the
State:
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(1) 
To ensure the adequate treatment of hemophilia at the lowest possible
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cost and endeavor to make them available for free to indigent patients;
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(2) 
To ensure the establishment of treatment centers in public hospitals; and
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(3) 
To establish a standard of care so that patients with severe bleeding 
disorders can receive necessary and appropriate medical care.
Section 3. Definitions. -  The following words and phrases when used in this 
Act shall have the meanings given to them in this Section unless the context 
clearly indicates otherwise;
(1) 
"Bleeding Disorder" - A medical condition characterized by a severe 
deficiency or absence of one or more essential blood clotting proteins in 
the human blood, often called factors, including all forms of hemophilia, 
von Willebrand disease and other bleeding disorders which result in 
uncontrollable bleeding or abnormal blood clotting.
(2) 
"Blood clotting product" - An intravenously administered medicine 
manufactured 
from 
human 
plasma, 
recombinant 
biotechnology 
techniques and other processes, approved for distribution by the BFAD


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and which is used for the treatment and prevention of symptoms 
associated with bleeding disorders. The term includes, but is not limited 
to:
(A) 
Factor Vila, Factor VIII and Factor IX products;
(B) Von Willebrand Factor products;
(C) 
Prothrombin complex concentrates;
(D) Activated prothrombin complex concentrates;
(E) 
Other products approved by the BFAD for the treatment of bleeding 
disorders and associated inhibitors.
(3) 
“Indigent Patient” -  Any patient deemed unable to pay for services and 
or medical treatment, laboratory testing of blood and/or coagulation 
studies, or blood coagulating products and/or ancillary infusion 
equipment.
(4) 
"DOH” -  refers to the Department of Health.
(5) 
"BFAD” -  refers to the Bureau of Food and Drugs.
(6) 
"Hemophilia1' -  A human bleeding disorder caused by a hereditary 
deficiency of the Factor VIII, Factor IX or Factor XI blood clotting protein 
in human blood.
(7) 
"von Willebrand disease" -  A human bleeding disorder caused by a 
hereditary deficiency or abnormality of the von Willebrand Factor in 
human blood.
Section 4. State Treatment Facilities. -  
The State shall establish 
hemophilia treatment facilities in key cities and regions nationwide in 
designated hospitals with Cancer and Hematology Departments.
Each Hemophilia Treatment Facilities shall provide to all hemophilia patients:
(1) 
Care by qualified hematologists and medical doctors and shall also 
provide free of charge the necessary blood clotting products and 
ancillary infusion equipment necessary for the infusion of such blood 
clotting products;
(2) 
A room exclusively for hemophilia patients; and
(3) 
A clinical coagulation laboratory for the screening, diagnosis, provisional 
diagnosis and treatment of bleeding disorders or suspected bleeding 
disorders and such services shall be provided free of charge to all 
indigent patients.
Section 5. Funding. -  The amount necessary for the initial implementation 
of this Act shall be sourced from the current budget of the Department of 
Health. Thereafter, the funds necessary for the continuous implementation of


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this Act in the ensuing years shall be included in the General Appropriations 
Act.
The treatment facilities are allowed to use five percent (5%) of the amount 
given to it for the maintenance of the rooms that will be used exclusively for 
hemophilia patients. However, ninety percent (90%) of the amount shall be 
used exclusively for necessary blood clotting products and ancillary infusion 
equipment necessary for the infusion of such blood clotting products to 
hemophilia patients. The remaining five percent (5%) shall be used for blood 
screening of hemophilia patients.
Each treatment facility shall submit an annual report to the DOH on how the 
amount given to it is used.
Section 6. Regulations. -  Within sixty (60) days from the approval of this 
Act, the Department of Health (DOH) shall, in consultation with hemophilia 
groups, promulgate the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) to carry 
out the provisions of this Act.
Section 7. Separability Clause. -  If for any reason, any provision of this Act 
is declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other parts or provisions hereof 
which are not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.
Section 8. Effectivity Clause. -  This Act shall take effect on the fifteenth day 
following its publication in at least two (2) daily papers of national circulation.
Approved,