c
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PH ILIPPIN ES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
S E N A T E  
S. B. No. 1 3 2 0
p ! Hi ?' r i r r r r t . i  ij>
*17 
FEB-9  AlOSl
RECBVLD
Introduced by Senator Aquilino uKoko,‘’ Pimentel HI
AN ACT
INTEGRATING PALLIATIVE AND HOSPICE CARE INTO THE 
PH ILIPPIN E HEALTH CARE SYSTEM, APPROPRIATING 
FUNDS TH EREFO R, AND FOR O TH ER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Article II, Section 15 of the Constitution provides that i<‘[t]he State 
shall protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill 
health consciousness among them."
Each year, the number of patients with cancer, diabetes, end-stage 
renal disease, respiratory disease, cardiovascular diseases, dementia, 
Alzheimer’s disease, and similar degenerative illnesses have been steadily 
increasing.1
The 2015 Quality of Death Index released by The Economist 
Intelligence Unit2 indicated that the Philippines, with an overall ranking 
of 78Ih out of 80 countries, is one of the worst places to die in next to Iraq 
and Bangladesh. This low ranking was attributed to the severe shortage of 
specialized palliative care professionals, a lack of a government-led 
strategy for the promotion of a national palliative and hospice care 
program, limited number of subsidies or programs for patients and their
1 Retrieved from http://www.philstar.eom/lieadlines/2015/07/10/1475309/philippines-has-crisis- 
lifestyle-related-diseases. Retrieved on September 13, 2016.
2 The Quality of Death Index study developed in 2010 by the Economic Intelligence Unit ranks 
the availability, affordability, and quality of end-of-life care in forty (40) countries. The Index is 
eommissioned by the Lien Foundation, a Singaporean philanthropic organization.
Retrieved 
from 
http://www.apcp.com.pt/uploads/2015-EIU-Quality-of-Death-lndex-Oct-6- 
FINAL.pdf, 
and 
http://www.philstar.eom/lieadlincs/2015/10/10/1509014/philippincs-among- 
worst-places-die-study on September 13, 2016.


families 
accessing 
palliative 
care 
services, 
and 
limited 
public 
understanding and awareness of palliative care services.
As part of the current administration’s agenda to ensure healthy lives 
and promote well-being for all at all ages, this measure aims to close the 
gaps in the life-cycle approach to our country’s healthcare development 
through the adoption of an integrated and comprehensive approach to 
palliative and hospice care by ensuring that all patients suffering from life- 
threatening, 
chronic 
debilitating 
illnesses, 
and/or 
progressively 
degenerative diseases/conditions are provided with quality palliative care 
and counselling.
This proposed bill likewise integrates palliative care into the 
structure and financing of the Philippine health care system by:
a. Strengthening and expanding the availability of palliative care for 
all patients through mandatory palliative and hospice services in 
all government and private hospitals;
b. Encouraging the development of home and community-based 
palliative and hospice care programs; and
c. Directing 
the 
Philippine 
Health 
Insurance 
Corporation 
(PhilHealth) to include in its present benefit package in-patient 
palliative services, outpatient hospice care, and home-based 
palliative care.
Thus, the passage of this measure is earnestly sought.
AQUILINO
'' V v —
Sr'
“ KOK O” PIM ENTEL III


SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PH ILIPPIN ES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
S E N A T E  
S. B. No. 1 3 2 0
sn'iw tcrftary
'17 FEB-9 WO51
RECEIVLO  bV;
Introduced by Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel HI
a
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AN ACT
INTEGRATING PALLIATIVE AND HOSPICE C 2VRE INTO THE 
PH ILIPPIN E HEALTH CARE SYSTEM, A PPRO PRIA TING 
FUNDS TH EREFO RE, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. Title. -  This Act shall be known as t h e Palliative and 
Hospice Care Act
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. -  The State guarantees the right of 
the people to quality health care. It is likewise mandated by the 
Constitution to adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health 
development which shall endeavour to make essential goods, health, and 
other social services available at an affordable cost. Patients suffering 
from life-threatening, chronic debilitating illness, and/or progressively 
degenerative disease/condition are entitled to this social protection. In the 
same vein, the State also encourages the participation of the private sector 
in the development of health services.
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms.
a. Palliative and Hospice Care Sendees -  refers to an approach to 
health care that improves the quality of life of patients with life 
threatening, complex, and chronic illnesses, or those experiencing 
progressively degenerative diseases beyond any benefit from 
curative or definitive treatment, regardless of life expectancy. The 
approach covers the prevention and relief of suffering by means of


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early identification, assessment, and management of pain and 
symptoms.
b. National Hospice and Palliative Care Council of the Philippines 
(Hospice Philippines, Inc.) -  a non-stock, non-profit umbrella 
organization of palliative and hospice care providers in the 
Philippines.
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c. Department of Health (DOH) -  the principal health agency of the 
government responsible for ensuring access to basic public health 
services for all Filipinos through the provision of quality health care 
and regulation of providers of health goods and services.
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d. Philippine Council for Health Research and Development 
(PCHRD) -  one of the three sectoral councils of the Department of 
Science and Technology (DOST) responsible for coordinating and 
monitoring health research activities in the country, as well as 
formulating policies, plans, programs, projects, and strategies for 
health science and technology development.
e. Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) -  a 
government 
corporation 
attached 
to 
the 
DOH 
for policy 
coordination and guidance, and mandated to administer the National 
Health Insurance Program.
SEC. 4. Accreditation. -  Hospitals, private hospice institutions, 
medical practitioners, health workers in other allied professions, and 
social workers for palliative and hospice care shall be aecredited by the 
DOH. The DOH, in partnership with Hospice Philippines, Inc., shall 
formulate the rules and guidelines for accreditation to ensure a standard 
quality of palliative care services.
SEC. 5. Quality Assurance. -  Key elements necessary to ensure 
quality palliative care services in accredited hospitals and hospices shall 
include the following:
a. Adequate number of multi-specialty personnel;
b. Assured financing for health and custodial services;
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c. Clear and practical standards for facilities and services;


d. Appropriately designed and equipped facilities; and
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e. Regular and systematic supervision and reporting to the DOH.
SEC. 6. Mandatory Palliative and Hospice Services. -  All 
government and private hospitals shall provide palliative and hospice care 
services to patients with life-threatening, chronic debilitating illness, 
and/or progressively degenerative disease/condition.
Hospitals are required to link with a referral and aftercare network 
that is organized and made functional by all provincial, city, and 
municipal governments under the guidance and monitoring of the DOH.
Rural health units, health centers, and health offices are required to 
develop community-based hospice units, as well as home-based or near­
home palliative care programs in coordination with government-owned 
and privately-owned hospices in the local government units.
SEC. 7. Palliative Care Information. -  If a patient is diagnosed 
with a life-threatening disease, chronic debilitating illness, and/or 
progressively degenerative disease or condition, the patient’s attending 
health care practitioner shall offer to provide the patient and his/her 
immediate family, or any person with authority to make health care 
decisions for the patient, with information and counseling regarding 
palliative care appropriate to the patient, including, but not limited to:
a. The range of palliative care options available to the 
and
patient;
b. The prognosis, risks, and benefits of the various options.
SEC. 8. Special Leave Benefits. -  immediate family members or 
relatives who arc employed, whether in the public of private sectors, and 
are assigned by the family to provide palliative and hospice care to a 
critically-ill relative shall be entitled to a special leave benefit of sixty (60) 
days a year with full pay, subject to the applicable provisions of this Act 
and their implementing rules and regulations on the use of said leave 
benefits.
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Employees availing of this special leave privilege shall submit to 
their employers the following:


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a. Name of the patient or relative undergoing palliative or hospice
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care;
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b. A copy of the Medical Abstract of the patient or relative;
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c. A Certification from the hospital or hospice providing palliative
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services to the patient or relative; and
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d. The nature of the care required under the circumstances.
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The following employees shall not be allowed to avail of this special
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leave benefit:
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a. Those who are absent from work without official leave;
b. Those who are on vacation, sick, forced, or study leave; and
c. In times of emergency, those whose services are necessary to 
prevent loss of live or damage to property brought about by 
serious accidents, fire, flood, typhoon, earthquake, epidemic, or 
other analogous events.
SEC. 9. Education and Training of Health Care Professionals and 
Volunteers. -  The Commission on Higher Education shall integrate 
courses on the principles and practice of Palliative and Hospice Care into 
the curriculum of Medicine and Nursing, as well as in all paramedical and 
allied health courses.
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The DOH, in partnership with Hospice Philippines, Inc. and other 
DOH-accredited palliative and hospice care providers, shall develop and 
regularly update the education and specialized training modules on 
palliative care for health care professionals, health workers, and 
volunteers.
SEC. 10. Continuing Research. -  The DOH, in coordination with 
the PCHRD-DOST, shall ensure continuing research and collection of 
data on palliative and hospice care and availability of funds for this 
purpose.
SEC. 11. Program Implementor. -  The DOH-Office for Technical 
Service, in coordination with other offices of the DOH, is hereby 
mandated to perfonn the following functions:


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a. Promote palliative eare in the Philippines through advocacy and 
social marketing;
b. Formulate policies and develop standards on palliative and 
hospice care;
c. Monitor the enforcement of standards and the implementation of 
the program on palliative and hospice care;
d. Mobilize and generate resources for the sustainability of 
operations;
e. Network with international hospice associations;
f. Coordinate research undertakings with other institutions and 
agencies;
g. Serve as the repository and database for policy-making and 
maintenance of a palliative care registry for accredited hospitals, 
private hospice institutions, medical practitioners, health workers 
in other allied professions, and social workers;
h. Organize and develop continuing training programs 
for 
physicians, nurses, physical therapist, and other professional 
health workers and volunteer workers in the field of palliative 
care;
i. Serve as the coordinating center of a national palliative care 
network located in the different regions of the country; and
j. Establish a Code of Ethics and Standards in the practice of 
palliative and hospice care.
SEC. 12. Phil Health Benefit Package. -  Pursuant to this Act, the 
PhilHealth shall include in its present Z-Benefit package in-patient 
palliative services, outpatient hospice care, and home-based palliative 
care.
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SEC. 13. Funding Support. -  All non-profit, DOH-accredited 
palliative and hospice care institutions which are serving indigent patients 
shall qualify as institutional beneficiaries under the Philippine Charity


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Sweepstakes 
Office 
Institutional 
Financial 
Assistance 
Program; 
Provided, that palliative and hospice care institutions comply with the 
documentary and other requirements of the said Program.
SEC. 14. Tax Exemptions. -  Any donation or bequest made to the 
DOH and/or other DOH-accredited Palliative and Hospice Care providers 
under this Act that is actually, directly, and exclusively intended for 
palliative and hospice care program(s) shall be exempt from donor’s tax 
and the same shall be considered as allowable deductions from the gross 
income of the donor, in accordance with the provisions of the Natiomd 
Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended; Provided, that such 
donations shall not be disposed of, transferred, or sold by the donee.
SEC. 15. Appropriations. -  The initial amount necessary to 
implement the provisions of this Act shall be charged against the current 
year’s appropriation of the DOH. Thereafter, such sums as may be 
necessary for the continued implementation of this Act shall be included 
in the DOH regular budget as provided for under the Annual General 
Appropriations Act.
SEC. 16. Implementing Rules and Regulations. -  Within sixty (60) 
days from the approval of this Act, the Secretary of Health, after 
consultation with Hospice Philippines, Inc., shall promulgate the rules and 
regulations implementing the provisions of this Act.
SEC. 17. Separability Clause. -  Should any provision of this Act 
or part hereof be declared unconstitutional, the other provisions or parts 
not affected thereby shall remain valid and effective.
SEC. 18. Repealing Clause. -  All laws, decrees, orders, and 
issuances, or portions thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions 
of this Act, are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.
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SEC. 19. Effectivity Clause. -  This Act shall take effect after fifteen
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(15) days from its complete publication in two (2) newspapers of general
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circulation.
Approved,