w 
THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
, ‘  
52 
i l  
S. No. 
INTRODUCED BY HON. MANUEL B. VILLAR JR. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Article XV, Section 3 (3) of the 1987 Constitution declares that: 
“The State shall defend the right of the children to assistance, including proper care and 
nutrition and special protection from all forms of neglect and abuse, cruelty, exploitation, other 
conditions prejudicial to their development”. 
This is amplified by the Child and Youth Welfare Code, PD 603, as amended, wherein it 
is provided that: 
“Every child has the right to a balanced diet, adequate clothing, sufficient shelter, proper 
medical attention, and all the basic physical requirements of a healthy and vigorous life” (Art. 3 
~41). 
Yet there is rampant practice in certain hospitals and clinics of denying street children 
admission to there premises, even if these children require immediate medical or dental attention 
for the reason that these children lack sufficient financial resources to pay the “deposit” which 
these medical institutions require thereof. 
Congress should lead the way in eradicating this corrupt practice. This Bill proposes a 
law which requires both public and private hospitals and clinics to extend free medical and dental 
services to indigent children, which includes but is not necessarily limited to street children, and 
provides penalties for violations thereof. 
By virtue of the doctrine of parens patriae, indigent children who have been neglected by 
their parents are the wards of the State. Congress should therefore take every necessary step to 
see to it that they live healthy lives inspite of their impoverished condition. 
In view of the paramount need to extend vital health services to indigent children, passage 
of this earnestly urged. 


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38 P9 339 
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THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
f 
/ 
SENATE 
INTRODUCED BY HON. MANUEL B. VLLAR JR. 
AN ACT REQUIRING ALL GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE HOSPITALS, MEDICAL 
CENTERS, CLINICS, INFIRMARIES, PUERICULTURE CENTERS TO EXTEND 
FREE MEDICAL AND DENTAL ASSISTANCE TO INDIGENT CHILDREN 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
Section 1. All government and private hospitals, medical centers, clinics, infirmaries or 
puericulture centers duly licensed to operate as such, are hereby required to render medical and 
dental services to indigent children, regardless of whether o not they are in danger of dying 
and/or may have suffered physical injuries requiring immediate medical attention. 
For the purpose of this Act, an " indigent child " is an emancipated child below eighteen 
(1 8) years of age who has health problems requiring medical and dental services for his care and 
treatment, taking into account the following factors: 
(a) The age of the child; 
(b) The financial condition of the family; 
(c) The degree of deprivation of parental care and support; and 
(d) The inability of his parents to exercise parental authority. 
SEC. 2. The expenses and losses of earnings incurred by a private hospital, medical 
center, clinic, infirmary, or puericulture center; or by an individual physician or dentist for 
medicine, facilities, and services extended to the care and treatment of an indigent child as 
required herein in an amount not exceeding P300,OOO.OO per year, shall be deductible expenses 
and losses for income tax purposes which may be carried over for a period of five years, any 
provision of law, decree, executive order or regulation to the contrary notwithstanding . 
SEC. 3. Any hospital director, administrator, officer-in-charge, physician, or dentist in a 
hospital, medical center, clinic infirmary, or puericulture center who shall refuse or fail without 
good cause to render the appropriate medical or dental service pursuant to Section One of this 
Act., after said case has been brought to hisher attention, or any nurse, mid-wife, medical or 
dental attendant who shall refuse to extend the appropriate assistance, subject to existing rules, or 
neglects to notify or call the attention of a physician or dentist in attendance, shall be punished 
with imprisonment o at least one (1) year, but not more than five (5) years, or a fine of Ten 


Thousand Pesos (PlO,OOO.OO), but not more than Fifteen Thousand Pesos (15,000.00), or both 
fine and imprisonment at the sound discretion of the Court. 
In this case of government hospitals, medica1 centers, clinics, infirmaries, or puericulture 
centers, the imposition of the appropriate penalties upon the person or persons guilty of the 
violation of this Act shall be without prejudice to the administrative action that may be proper. 
In the case of private hospitals, medical centers, clinic, infirmaries, or puericulture 
centers, the license to operate shall be suspended or revoked. 
SEC. 4. The Department of Health in coordination with the Department of Social 
Welfare and Development shall have the authority to promulgate the necessary rules and 
regulations for the purpose of carrying into effect the provisions of this Act. 
SEC. 5. All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof 
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 6. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official 
Gazette or two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,