Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

* RECEIVED
14 2019

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No, 3946

Introduced by: REPRESENTATIVE ERIC L. OLIVAREZ

EXPLANATORY NOTE

One of the objectives of the Universal Health Care Act or
Republic Act No. 11223 is to ensure that all Filipinos are
guaranteed equitable access to quality and affordable health care
goods and services, and protected against financial risk. It is more
likely that this is an objective of the said Act because some of the

would necessarily result to the use of the finances of the patients,
Though these government agencies could readily offer assistance to
the patients, such government agencies are situated in different
areas away from the hospitals which would be difficult for the
patients or their relatives to access and would even be time
consuming and would necessarily consume their limited funds.

The Malasakit Centers serve as a one stop shop for
government services instituted for the purpose of expediting
processes in availing of services mainly for financial assistance and
other services relative to health care, Through Malasakit Centers,
representatives from DOH, PhilHealth, DSWD, PCSO and PSA shall
be desked in one area in the hospital making all government



agencies accessible to all patients confined in said hospital.
Currently, there are 34 Malasakit Centers in the country.

This Bill aims to institutionalize the establishment of

While the institutionalization of the Malasakit Centers is
advantageous to the patients it will also help the doctors of public
hospitals. Given that public hospitals face a daily crisis in trying to
provide medical care to as much Filipinos as they can, the burden
is oftentimes placed upon health workers. Finite number of beds in

so. Some patients cannot be discharged because they are unable to
settle on time, becoming a problem because they cannot be
discharged. The problem does not stop here as healthcare workers
who would want to admit patients in need of further treatment are
often left inside emergency rooms containing more than it can
accommodate.

The health care system in the Philippines has so much room
for improvement. The establishment of the Malasakit Centers in
certain parts of the country have contributed so much to ease the
burden of the patients who need assistance from the government.
Thus, in order to further improve the health care system in our
country, the passage of this Bill is earnestly sought.

aw
ERIC OLIVAREZ


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No, 3946

Se

Introduced by: REPRESENTATIVE ERIC L, OLIVAREZ

AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING MALASAKIT CENTERS IN ALL
PUBLIC HOSPITALS IN THE PHILIPPINES

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
“Malasakit Center Act’.

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms —

a) Malasakit Center — Malasakit Center shall refer to a one
stop shop for patients who need medical and financial
assistance

b) Indigent — Indigent shall refer to a Person whose income
is insufficient to sustain his/her family

c) Partner Agencies — Partner Agencies shall refer to DOH,
PhilHealth, PCSO, DSWD, PSA, and the Office of the
President


d) Partner Hospitals - Partner Hospitals shall refer to
hospitals where Malasakit Centers have been established

e) Public Hospitals - Public Hospitals shall refer to
Department of Health-retained hospitals and Local
Government Hospitals

SEC. 4. Malasakit Centers. - There shall be established a
Malasakit Center in all public hospitals situated in the Philippines
thereby institutionalizing Malakit Centers all over the country. Said
Malasakit Center will serve as a one-stop shop which will desk
representatives from DOH, PhilHealth, DSWD and PCSO which will
mainly focus on concerns of patients regarding billing, coverage and
other related health financial assistance. Centers shall only cater to
patients confined, admitted or consulted in a Partner Hospital.

SEC. 6. Administration and Management of Malasakit
Centers. - The DOH shall be the lead agency in the administration
of the Malasakit Centers. The DOH shall be in close coordination
with PhilHealth, DSWD, PCSO and PSA with each department
having a representative in said Malasakit Center,

Each representative shall have the following functions:

1. The DOH representative shall be in charge of providing
medical assistance to indigent patients chargeable from
the annual appropriation of the DOH to indigent
patients,

2. The PhilHealth representative shall be in charge of
assisting patients for the processing of concerns of direct
and indirect contributors to PhilHealth. The
representative shall assist patients in claiming medical
assistance chargeable to its existing program and funds,

3. The PCSO representative shall be in charge of managing
the “At Source Ang Processing” Desk (ASAP) in each
Malasakit Center. The ASAP will facilitate requests for
Individual Medical Assistance Program in the hospital
where the patient is confined.


4. The DSWD representative shall be in charge of Providing
medical financial assistance through its crisis
intervention unit to individuals and families for their
medical treatment and other medical expenses incurred
due to and during hospital confinement.

S. The PSA representative shall be in charge of assisting
patients in providing for easier access to PSA documents
that may be required by the partner agencies in the
availment of its Programs. Such documents shall include
but is not limited to copies of birth certificates, marriage
certificates and death certificates.

SEC 7. Order of Preference of Payor - Patients of partner
hospitals shall refer to the following for Purposes of preference of
payment of partner agencies for those referred to Malasakit
Centers:

a) PhilHealth:
a. PhilHealth CARES
b. Point of Service
b) PCSO:
a. At Source Ang Processing
c) DSWD:
a. Crisis Intervention Unit Services for healthcare
d) DOH:
a. Quantified Free Services
b. Medical Assistance for Indigent Patients

SEC. 8. Appropriations - There shall be included in the
General Appropriations Act the amount necessary for the
establishment and institutionalization of the Malasakit Centers in
the Philippines.

The sum necessary for continuous operation of the centers
shall be subsidized in part by DOH and in part by the LGUs where
the Malasakit Centers are situated.


SEC. 9. Annual Report. — The Secretary of Health shall file
with the Office of the President of the Philippines and with both
Houses of Congress an annual report on the conditions, needs and
the progress of the Malasakit Centers.

SEC. 10. Implementing Rules and Regulations and
Standard Forms.- Within sixty (60) days from the promulgation of
this Act, the implementing rules and regulations for the proper
implementation of its provisions shall be formulated by the DOH in
coordination with all the covered governmental agencies and
institutions.

SEC. 11. Coordination of Government Agencies. - The
DOH, in coordination with the participating agencies and local
government units, shall assist in the effective implementation of
this Act.

SEC, 12. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act
is declared unconstitutional or otherwise invalid, the validity of the
other provisions shall not be affected thereby.

SEC. 13. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules
and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are
hereby repealed or modified accordingly,

SEC. 14, Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15)
days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper
of general circulation.

Approved,