'iDffir> of'
• 
- r : I. ’ »
TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session 
)
25 JULIO P6:02
S. B. No. 420
Ri'CEiVLD lit:
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR ALAN PETER “COMPANERO” S. CAYETANO
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE CREATION OF SUPER HEALTH CENTERS IN EVERY CITY 
AND MUNICIPALITY, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Access to essential health care services remains a major challenge. Filipinos often travel 
from rural areas to cities to seek medical care because most hospitals in the country are 
located in Metro Manila and urban centers. Aside from the hardship of travelling for hours, 
other patients tend to queue the night before or as early as dusk to get the health services 
they need since a number of hospitals have a limit or available slots for consultations and 
diagnostic laboratory services per day. Medical conditions may be prevented if 
healthcare services are accessible and detected early. As the saying goes, prevention is 
better than cure. Thus, the country should invest more in making primary healthcare 
accessible, available and affordable.
This bill proposes the creation of Super Health Centers in every city and municipality in 
the country, envisioned to actualize constitutional policies on health. Section 15 of Article 
II of the 1987 Constitution states that “[t]he State shall protect and promote the right to 
health of the people and instill health consciousness among them.”
The passage of this bill will help strengthen our primary health care system and increase 
its accessibility to the people. These centers will operate 24/7 and will provide various 
medical services to the people including specialized services, concentrating mainly on 
those who have low-risk, less serious or uncomplicated cases. The Super Health Centers 
can help ease the burden for patients who are compelled to go to distant hospitals for 
basic treatments or consultations.
To date, the City of Taguig has three 24/7 Super Health Centers.1 These Super Health 
Centers have licensed doctors, midwives and nurses offering medical check-up, 
diagnostic laboratory services, pre-natal check-up, delivery services such as normal 
spontaneous delivery, newborn screening and essential newborn care. Taguig residents 
are a testament to the success of these Super Health Centers for the easy access and 
quality primary care it promised and continues to fulfill, as they hail the accessibility and 
assistance they get, especially in medical emergencies.
1 Taguig Super Health Centers https://www.taguig.gov.ph/health/hospitals-and-centers/: 
Note: Data confirmed with CH


The Department of Health also launched a Super Health Center in Laguna last year. It is 
a semi-hospital that is larger than the usual regional health unit, and is equipped with a 
birthing facility, pharmacy, diagnostic laboratory services and ambulatory surgical unit.
Replicating Super Health Centers in every city or municipality will contribute to the 
national government’s mandate of delivering a comprehensive and accessible health 
care within the reach of the people. The enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of 
health should not only be a constitutional dictum or remain an aspiration, but must 
actually be realized for the benefit of every Filipino.
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this measure is earnestly sought.
ALAN PETER “COMPANERO” S. CAYETANOn^


. lit . . f
o( tiif .£■:::
TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session 
)
25 JUL 10 P6 :02
S. B. No. 420
RIXDVLU
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR ALAN PETER “COMPANERO” S. CAYETANO
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE CREATION OF SUPER HEALTH CENTERS IN EVERY CITY 
AND MUNICIPALITY, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled:
1 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Super Health Centers
2 
in All Cities and Municipalities Act. ”
3 
SEC. 2. Statement of Policy. - Section 15 of Article II of the 1987 Constitution
4 
provides that “[t]he State shall protect and promote the right to health of the people and
5 
instill health consciousness among them.” On the other hand, Section 16 of Article II
6 
provides that “[t]he State shall protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced
7 
and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature.”
8 
Healthcare that is based on practical, scientifically-sound and socially acceptable
9 
methods and technology should be made universally accessible to individuals and
10 
families in every city and municipality in the country. It is therefore the bounden duty of
11 
the State to build world class but accessible and affordable health and educational
12 
facilities throughout the country that provide excellent services to the Filipino people.
13 
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms.-
14 
a. “Primary health services” or “primary health care” shall mean the initial contact
15 
of an individual with an accessible and coordinated health system to manage
16 
health problems or issues that are less severe or uncomplicated, including, but
17 
not limited to the following:
18 
i. Diagnosis and treatment of health problems;
19 
ii. 
Prevention of health problems;
20 
iii. 
Early intervention; and
21 
iv. Managing ongoing and long-term conditions.
22 
b. “Super Health Center” shall mean an accessible and fully equipped health hub
23 
that delivers primary health services and caters to less severe, uncomplicated
24 
or out-patient health care services.


1 
SEC. 4. Establishment of Super Health Centers. - Each city and municipality
2 
shall establish at least one Super Health Center within its territorial jurisdiction. The Super
3 
Health Centers shall have the following minimum standards:
4 
a) Facilities, rooms, and spaces which are accessible, especially to the elderly and
5 
Persons with Disability, and with appropriate 
signage;
6 
b) Basic health equipment and facilities appropriate for the provision of primary health
7 
services;
8 
c) Availability of commonly-used generic medicines and vaccines; and
9 
d) Data and information management system that shall contain, store, and secure the
10 
health and other relevant data of the patients, in accordance with the provisions of
11 
the Data Privacy Act.
12 
The Department of Health (DOH), in coordination with the Department of Social
13 
Welfare and Development (DSWD), shall issue guidelines for the proper implementation
14 
of this Act, and shall provide assistance to cities and municipalities in establishing the
15 
Super Health Centers. Medical services provided within the Super Health Centers and
16 
their providers shall be accredited by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation
17 
(PhilHealth).
18 
SEC. 5. Staffing. - All Super Health Centers established under this Act shall have
19 
such sufficient number of staffing as determined by the DOH, dependent on the
20 
population of the city or municipality concerned.
21 
The LGU concerned shall hire all Super Health Center staff as job order, casual,
22 
contractual, or regular employees. Barangay health workers currently serving the city or
23 
municipality shall be given preference in the hiring under this Act.
24 
SEC. 6. Services. - All Super Health Centers established under this Act shall be
25 
equipped with the most basic facilities that can cater to less severe, uncomplicated,
26 
and/or out-patient health care services.
27 
SEC. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). - Within 60 days upon the
28 
approval of this Act, the DOH, in coordination with the DSWD, the Department of Public
29 
Works and Highways (DPWH), and the Department of the Interior and Local Government,
30 
shall prepare and issue such rules and regulations necessary to carry out the purposes
31 
of this Act.
32 
Thereafter, the DPWH shall ensure the commencement of the creation of Super
33 
Health Centers within the fiscal year after appropriating the budget therefore.
34 
SEC. 8. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of
35 
this Act shall be appropriated from the General Appropriations Act of the year following
36 
its enactment, and every year thereafter.
37 
SEC. 9. Separability Clause. - If any part or provision of this Act is declared
38 
invalid or unconstitutional, the other parts hereof not affected thereby shall remain valid.
39 
SEC. 10. Repealing Clause. - All laws, acts, presidential decrees, executive
40 
orders, administrative orders, rules and regulations inconsistent with or contrary to the
41 
provisions of this Act are deemed amended, modified or repealed accordingly.


1 
SEC. 11. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
2 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,