a a>
RECEIVED

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Quezon City, Metro Manila

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No, 4995

Introduced by Representative Ron P. Salo

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Emergency medical services are vital in ensuring that patients needing urgent
medical assistance are attended to with dispatch and are provided with a better chance
of survival from disability or death.

In the Philippines, there is an urgent need for a more responsive and organized
emergency medical services system. According to the World Health Organization
(2017), about 7,000 Filipinos die each year, and thousands more are injured or
disabled, due to road traffic crashes, with riders of motorcycles and two-wheeler
bicycles making up a large proportion of these statistics. Accidents, of all types
including road traffic crashes, rank fourth among the causes of death in all ages. Most
emergency calls received by an ambulance team are trauma related such as vehicular
accidents, crime or violence related injuries, or common household emergencies.
Hence, it is crucial that emergency responders and ambulance crews possess the
necessary knowledge and skills to respond and to properly asses and manage various
medical emergencies.

One of the key issues in the field of emergency or pre-hospital care in the
country is the lack of a national standard of practice that can be followed, as well as the
minimum requirements for individuals who wish to enter the field. This proposed
measure seeks to establish a standard system for emergency medical services (EMS),
address the need to professionalize and regulate the sector, and enhance the provision
of emergency medical services in the country.

The bill proposes the creation of a National Emergency Medical Services System
Council to formulate and implement policies and develop national standards for the
provision of emergency medical services. It also provides for the creation of positions
for EMS personnel, thus ensuring that the job of an EMS provider is professionalized
and developed into a viable career. The bill ensures that the provision of emergency
medical services, including all vehicles, equipment, and support services, adheres to
standards and guidelines set out by the EMSS Council.

Hence, the immediate passage of this Bill is earnestly sought.

RON®. SALO
Kabayan Party-List

Page 1 of 7


HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No, 4985

Introduced by Representative Ron P. Salo

AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING AN EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES SYSTEM (EMSS),
PROVIDING FOR THE CREATION OF A NATIONAL EMSS COUNCIL,
APPROPRIATING FUNDS TEHREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PUSPOSES

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 “Emergency Medical
Services System (EMSS) Act of 2017".
CHAPTER |

GENERAL PROVISIONS
SEC. 2, Declaration of Policy. — It is hereby deciared the policy of the State to protect
and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among
them. Pursuant to this national policy, the government shall institutionalize a
comprehensive, accessible and integrated system of emergency medical services.
SEC. 3. Objectives. — In support of the State policy, this Act:

a

Mandates the development and institutionalization of Emergency Medical
Services System at the national and local levels;

zs

Creates a national Emergency Medical Services System Council;

2

Establishes the national standard for the provision of Emergency Medical
Services (EMS);

s

Ensures the provision of qualified EMS personnel;

e)

Mandates the adoption and use of a National Universal Emergency Number; and
f)_ Establishes support services to emergency medical services.

SEC. 4. Definition of Terms. — For purposes of this Act, the following terms are
defined as follows:

Page 2 of 7


a)

)

°

d)

4)

Emergency Medical Services (EMS) refers to a network of services
coordinated to provide aid and medical assistance from the scene to the most
appropriate and definitive health facilities, involving personnel trained in
stabilization, transportation, and treatment of trauma or medical cases in the pre-
hospital setting.

Emergency Medical Services System (EMSS) refers to a comprehensive
system which provides the arrangement of personnel, facilities and equipment
for effective, coordinated, and timely delivery of health and safety services to
victims of sudden illness or injury in the pre-hospital setting. The conceptual
framework of the system revolves around five components and core services of
pre-hospital management, namely: Emergency Medical Dispatch, Emergency
Response and Care, Emergency Transport, Inter-agency referral and Transport,
and Command and Control.

Emergency Medical Dispatch involves the immediate identification and
prioritization of emergency situations, the timely dispatch of appropriate
resources, providing essential pre-arrival medical instructions and full
endorsement to the receiving hospital. Dispatch encompasses all aspects of
communication including request processing, coordination and support,
documentation and monitoring.

Emergency Response and Care involves the arrival of resources at the scene
and the timely initiation and provision of appropriate interventions.

Emergency Transport involves transporting the patient to the most appropriate
and definitive health facility with continued provision of care and appropriate
interventions en route.

Inter-Agency Referral and Transport - Involves the transport of patient with
EMS personnel, if necessary, from one referring facility or agency to another
receiving facility or agency for definitive care, as the patient requires, in an event
that the services are not available in the referring facility.

Command and Control involves the multi-faceted supervision or medical
oversight by the EMS medical director in handling the processes of EMS
operations that may affect patient care directly through provision of orders to an
EMS personnel over the radio, by phone, or on-scene; or indirectly through the
development and promulgation of protocols, the education and credentialing of
EMS personnel, the conduction of quality improvement activities, and the
increased advocacy of appropriate EMS for the patients.

Emergency Medical Service Personnel refers to a unique health care
personnel involved in the practice of pre-hospital care which includes provision
of medical care, systematic coordination and transportation of patients with
medical direction. They may include Medical First Responder (MFR), Ambulance
Care Assistants (ACA), Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT), Paramedics,
Emergency Medical Dispatcher (EMD) and EMS Medical Director.

Page 3 of 7


i) Accredited Training Institution refers to a training institution offering training
programs, courses and continuing education for EMS personnel that meet the
standards established by the EMS Council in collaboration with physicians,
Emergency Medical Technicians, nurses, and other health care professionals,
TESDA, and CHED, among others, and are duly registered in good standing with
the EMS Advisory Council

Emergency Medical Vehicle refers to an ambulance or other vehicles for
emergency medical care which provides, at the minimum: (i) a driver's
compartment; (i) a patient compartment to accommodate an emergency medical
technician (EMT) and a patient so positioned that said patient can be given
intensive life-support during transit; (ii) equipment and supplies for emergency
care at the scene as well as during transport; (iv) two-way radio, telephone or
electronic communication with the primary medical services provider, and when
necessary, equipment for light rescue/extrication procedures. The emergency
medical vehicle shall be so designed and constructed to provide the patient with
safety and comfort, and avoid aggravation of the patient's injury or illness

CHAPTER 2
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES SYSTEM

SEC. 5. Emergency Dispatch. — All local government units are mandated to establish
their Dispatch Centers where constituents can call for all cases of emergencies, with
adequate and qualified personnel. The Dispatch Centers shall follow the prescribed
guidelines on dispatch protocol as determined by the DOH and the EMSS Council.

SEC. 6. National Universal Emergency Telephone Number. — There shall only be
one national emergency number to enable the public to access emergency medical
services. Towards this end, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) shall
develop a program for the institutionalization of a national emergency number with the
LGUs and officials responsible for emergency public safety, and all other concerned
government and private agencies and personnel including the telecommunications
industry (specifically including the cellular and other wireless telecommunications
service providers); the motor vehicle manufacturing industry; emergency medical
service providers; emergency dispatch providers; transportation officials; public safety,
fire service and law enforcement officials; consumer groups; and hospital emergency
and trauma care personnel (including emergency physicians, trauma surgeons and
nurses).

SEC. 7. Emergency Response, Care, and Transport. - All LGUs shall ensure the
availability of adequate emergency transport vehicles or ambulances with qualified
EMS personnel. All emergency transport vehicles and the procedures to be undertaken
in responding and caring for patients shall follow the prescribed guidelines of the
Department of Health (DOH) and the EMSS Council on ambulance services and on
‘emergency response and care

SEC. 8. Emergency Medical Vehicles. - The EMSS Council shall develop minimum

requirements for the design, construction, performance, equipment, testing, and
appearance of emergency vehicles. Only emergency vehicles shall be allowed to

Page 4 of 7


display the word “Ambulance” and the universally accepted “Star of Life’ symbol. It shall
also provide for the operation protocols of such vehicle.

SEC, 9. inter-agency Referral and Transport. — The EMSS Council shall establish the
prescribed protocols / guidelines on inter-agency referral and transport.

CHAPTER 3
NATIONAL EMSS COUNCIL

SEC. 10, Creation of the National EMSS Council. — A National Emergency Medical
Services System (EMSS) Council is hereby created under the leadership of the
Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Interior and Local Government
(DILG).

SEC. 11. Powers and Functions. - The EMSS Council shall have the following
powers and functions:

a) Formulate policies governing the field of emergency medical services;

b) Develop national standards for the provision of emergency medical services to
include the skills and competencies to be required for EMS professionals, and
the development of mandatory national medical treatment protocols to be
observed by EMS professionals and such other entities as it may consider
appropriate;

©) Promulgate Code of Ethics for EMTs,

4) Develop guidelines and specifications for the design, construction, outfitting, and
operation of emergency medical vehicles and other equipment;

e) Develop standards of operation for emergency medical support service
providers;

) Ensure the establishment of a system of networking and coordination among all
existing government health agencies, LGUs, and private and non-government
medical institutions for the effective implementation of this Act;

9) Support research activities on EMS, technology, education and training, and
formulation of curricula and evaluation of existing courses, assessment and
examination procedures;

h) Monitor compliance by all LGUs and health facilities of the standards and
requirements set out in this Act;

i) Perform such other acts related to the above functions.

SEC, 12. Membership of the EMSS Council. - The EMSS Council shall be composed
of the following

a) Ex-officio members:
i) The Secretary of the DOH as Chairperson;
ii) The Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government
(OILS).

b) Members to be appointed by the Secretary of the DOH upon nomination by their
respective associations

Page 5 of 7


i) One (1) nominees of a national organization representing the Emergency
Medical Technician (EMT) profession duly registered with the Securities and

Exchange Commission (SEC) and recognized by the DOH;

Four (4) nominees of Health Emergency Management Bureau (HEMB), one (1)

each from the National Capital Region, Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao;

ili) One (1) registered emergency medical practitioners representing Philippine
College of Emergency Medicine (PCEM);

iv) One (1) representative from the Emergency Response Service of the Philippine
Red Cross (PRC)

ii

The Council shall promulgate its rules regarding quorum and conduct of meetings and
other administrative matters.

SEC. 13. Term of Office. - Each member of the EMSS Committee shall not serve for
more than three (3) consecutive terms. A term shall be for a period of two (2) years.

SEC. 14. Meetings. -The EMSS Council shall meet at least once every quarter, and
as needed,

SEC. 15. Compensation and Remuneration. - The Secretaries of the DOH and DILG
shall perform their duties as such without compensation or remuneration, subject to
reasonable per diem allowances as approved by the Council and subject to existing
ules and regulations of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM). Members
thereof who are not government officials or employees shall be entitled to necessary
traveling expenses, per diem and representation allowances chargeable against funds
of the DOH, as approved by the Council, subject to existing rules and regulations of the
DBM.

CHAPTER 4
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES PERSONNEL

SEC. 16. Creation of Positions for Emergency Medical Services Personnel. —
There shall be created a minimum number of positions for EMS personnel especially
Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) in all LGUs, hospitals, and healthcare facilities,
according to their context and needs. The annual financial requirements needed to pay
for the salaries and benefits of EMS personnel shall be included in the annual general
appropriations of the respective hospitals, agencies and local government units.

SEC. 17. Authorized Training Institution. — Training programs, courses, and
continuing education for Emergency Medical Technician may only be conducted in an
institution that has been granted a Certificate of Program Registration (COPR) by the
Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), in the case of
technical non-degree courses falling under TESDA jurisdiction, or a Certificate of
Accreditation as a Higher Education Institution (HE!) as well as Program Accreditation
by CHED, in the case of degree programs falling under CHED jurisdiction. The
requirements prescribed by the EMSS Council shall serve as the minimum requirement
for program registration. The DOH can provide training programs for EMTs following
the standards set by the EMSS Council.

Page 6 of 7


CHAPTER 5.
FINAL PROVISIONS

SEC. 18. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days after the
effectivity of this Act, the DOH Secretary and the EMSS Council shall promulgate
the rules and regulations needed for the implementation of this Act.

SEC. 19. Appropriations. - The Secretaries of the Departments concerned shall
include in their programs the implementation of this Act, the funding of which shall be
included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 20. Separability Clause. — If any clause, sentence, paragraph or part of this Act
shall be declared unconstitutional or invalid, such judgment shall not affect, invalidate or
impact any other part of this Act.

SEC. 21. Repealing Clause. - Any provision of laws, orders, agreements, rules or
regulations contrary to and inconsistent with this Act is hereby repealed, amended or
modified accordingly.

SEC. 22. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in
the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Page 7 of 7