of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Quezon City, Philippines

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
‘Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO.__ 5707

INTRODUCED BY: HON. MARCELINO “MARCY” R. TEODORO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The delivery of basic health services is a primordial State concer that demands
vigorous pursuits of measures aimed to make health goods and services available to all
people at an affordable cost. Without health as a critical component in socio-economic
development processes, there Is no way we can tnuly ameliorate our people's living condition.

Lamentably, the health status of Filipinos, despite attempts to improve delivery of basic
health services, has been disappointing and has in fact, never gone even close to minimum
acceptable levels. Compared to other countries, including those in South East Asia, the
Philippines obviously, lags behind in terms of medical health expenditures.

Previously, the Philippines allocates only a little over three percent of its gross
domestic product to health care spending, which is way below the 5% benchmark set by the
World Health Organization - and only 13% of this is used for public health.

Considering the existing budget deficit problem, the government should explore
creative avenues, within a limited resource framework, to effect reforms in the areas of
finance, public health, local health system, health care regulation and other equally important
concems. Further, the government should support policy measures that target the poor and
underprivileged sectors.

In view of the foregoing, this bill which seeks to prohibit the practice of withholding the
discharge of indigent patients who fail to pay hospital or medical bills incurred due to
emergency treatment is being proposed for the purpose. Hence, immediate passage of the

measure is earnestly sought.

MARCELINO “MARCY” R. TEODORO
Representative, 1°* District
City of Marikina



lic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Philippines

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 5707

INTRODUCED BY: HON. MARCELINO “MARCY” R. TEODORO

AN ACT
PROHIBITING THE PRACTICE OF WITHHOLDING THE DISCHARGE OF
INDIGENT PATIENTS WHO FAIL TO PAY HOSPITAL OR MEDICAL BILLS
INCURRED DUE TO EMERGENCY TREATMENT AND SUPPORT,
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE, SECTION 3 OF BATAS PAMBANSA BLG.
702, AS AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8344

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the
Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Section 3 of Batas Pambansa Big. 702, as amended by
Republic Act No. 8344, is hereby amended to read as follows:

“SECTION 3, AFTER THE HOSPITAL OR MEDICAL CLINIC
MENTIONED ABOVE SHALL HAVE ADMINISTERED MEDICAL TREATMENT
AND SUPPORT, IT MAY CAUSE THE TRANSFER OF THE PATIENT,
PREFERABLY TO A GOVERNMENT HOSPITAL, ESPECIALLY IN THE CASE
OF POOR OR INDIGENT PATIENTS.

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHALL POOR OR INDIGENT
PATIENTS BE KEPT ON CONTINUED CONFINEMENT AND REFUSED
DISCHARGE BY REASON OF INABILITY TO PAY HOSPITAL OR MEDICAL
INCURRED FOR EMERGENCY TREATMENT AND SUPPORT.”

SECTION. 2. Section 5 of Batas Pambansa Blg. 702, as amended by
Republic Act No. 8344, is hereby amended to read as follows:

Section 5. The Department of Health in collaboration with the Department
of Social Welfare and Development shall promulgate the necessary rules and
regulations to carry out the provisions of this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act shail take effect immediately upon approval.