Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

5095

House Bill No.

Introduced by Representatives
DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL ARROYO and GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR A NATIONAL INITIATIVE ON THE CONDUCT OF
RESEARCH, HEALTH GARE COORDINATION AND TREATMENT OF
PATIENTS WITH ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE, CREATING AN ALZHEIMER'S
DISEASE RESEARCH CENTER AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

EXPLAN NOTE

Article Xill, Section 11, of our Constitution provides that “The State shalt
adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development which
shall endeavor to make essential goods, health and other social services
available to all the people at affordable cost. There shail be prionity for the needs
of the under-privileged, sick, elderly, disabled, women, and children. The State
shall endeavor to provide free medical care to paupers."

In the same vein, Article XV Section 4 of the Constitution states that “The
family has the duty to care for its elderly members but the State may also do so
through just programs of social security."

Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia which is
characterized by a serious oss of cognitive ability. This is so because of the
gradual destroying of cells in the brain which results to gradual memory ‘oss,
decline in the ability to perform routine tasks, disorientation, difficulty in learning,
loss of language skills, impairment of judgment, and personality changes. As the
disease progresses, people with Alzheimer’s disease become unable to care for
themselves. Said loss of brain cells eventually leads to the failure of other


systems in the body. It is unfortunate that such disease is diagnosed mostly and
prevaient in people over 65 years of age.

Statistics would bear out that there are about 758.7 million elderly {those
with 65 years of age and above) worldwide. Based on a study conducted by
Alzheimer's Disease International, there will be an estimated 35.6 million peopie
with dementia by 2010 which is expected to double every 20 years. In South
East Asia alone, there is an estimated 51.2 million elderly people, 5% of which
are suspected of having dementia. This number is expected to increase by more
than double (134-146%) over the next 20 years. It has also been predicted that
this disease will affect 1 in 85 people globally by 2050.

As a progressive and irreversible brain disorder with no known cause or
cure yet, it is regrettable that this disease and other forms of dementia are one of
the main causes of disability for the elderly. Worse, the worldwide cost of
dementia is already prohibitive — this amounts to US $315 billion per year — with
an annual cost per person with dementia at US $ 1,521 for tow income families to
US $ 17,964 for high income families per year. Hence, this disease and the
corresponding cost of caring for the elderly afflicted with Alzheimer's and/or
dementia will eat up a huge portion of each family's disposable income and
likewise on the government's coffers for social and health care services.

This bill therefore aims for the govemment and the public to be fully aware
of the disease, to devise ways to significantly reduce its prevalence and to
educate the public on ways to properly care for a loved one afflicted with the
disease. More importantly, the proposal's goal is to uplift the lives of our elderly
by giving proper recognition for their contribution and efforts for the development
of our country.

Given the importance of such a proposal, we urge our colieagues to
ensure its immediate passage into law.

f
iy i
DIOSDADO. PAGAL ARROYO GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO

Second District, Camarines Sur Secon District, Pampanga


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House BittNo. 5095

introduced by Representatives
DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL ARROYO and GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR A NATIONAL INITIATIVE ON THE CONDUCT OF
RESEARCH, HEALTH CARE COORDINATION AND TREATMENT OF
PATIENTS WITH ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE, CREATING AN ALZHEIMER'S
DISEASE RESEARCH CENTER AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the “Treatment of
Alzheimer’s Disease Act of 2011.”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is the policy of the State to protect
and promote the right to health of the people and instill consciousness among
them. Although the family has the duty to care for its elderly members, the State
may also do so through just programs of social security

SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act, the following terms
shall mean:

A. Alzheimer's Disease -is a disorder that destroys cells in the brain can
cause dementia, a condition that involves gradual memory toss, decline in
the ability to perform routine tasks, disorientation, difficulty in learning, loss
of language skills, impairment of judgment, and personality changes. As
the disease progresses, people with Alzheimer's disease become unable


to care for themselves. The loss of brain cells eventually leads to the
failure of other systems in the body

B. Department -shal refer to the Department of Health (DOH)
C. Secretary -shall refer to the DOH Secretary

D. Director -shall refer to the Director of the Office Of Alzheimer's
Research Center

E. Advisory Council -shall refer to the Advisory council to the Office of
Alzheimer's Research Center

SECTION 4. Establishment of the office of Alzheimer’s Disease Research
Center, - The Secretary of Department of Health (DOH) shall establish an office
to be known as the Office of Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center.

SECTION 5, Purpose. — The Office shall have the following functions

A. Identification and/or initiation of projects, programs and/or studies that
will prevent Alzheimer's DiseaSe such as but not limited to the
development of treatments that would prevent, halt, or reverse the course
of Alzheimer's;

B. Identification of clinical research projects on the Alzheimer's Disease
that should be conducted or supported by the government,

C, Creation and maintenance of an integrated national plan to overcome
Alzheimer’s;

D. Study the prevalence of the disease throughout the country and
coordinate the health care and treatment of citizens with Alzheimer's;

E. Coordinate with international bodies to integrate and inform the fight
against Alzheimer's globally;

F. Pioneer a National Summit on Alzheimer's disease to be conducted
every three (3) years or as often as necessary as determined by the
Office; and

G. Conduct information campaign regarding the Alzheimer's disease
SECTION 8. Director. - The Office shall be headed by a Director who

shall be appointed by the Secretary. The Director shail have the following
functions:


A. To oversee the creation and updating of the national plan described in
subparagraph Section 5 (C);

B. Carry out an annual assessment of the Nation's progress in preparing
for the escalating burden of Alzheimer's, including-both implementation
steps and recommendations for priority actions based on the assessment;

C. Coordinate with the Department of Science and Technology in order to
promote research efforts into mechanisms to slow and stop the
development of Alzheimer's for those at risk of developing the disease;

D, Coordinate with the Department of Social Welfare and Development in
order to promote the status and care of individuals suffering from
Alzheimer’s Disease; and

E, Provide an annual report to the President, Congress and the Secretary
that will include an evaluation of all funded efforts in Alzheimer's research,
clinical care, institutional, and home-and community-based programs and
their outcomes.

SECTION 7, Advisory Council. - There is established in the Office an
Advisory Council to Alzheimer's Research Center,

A. The functions of the Advisory Council are to:
1) Report to the Secretary on the results of the studies/researches;

2) Provide recommendations to such Secretary regarding activities
of the Office.

3) Prepare a report regarding the activities of the Council

B. Membership — The Advisory Council shail be composed of 7 members
with the Director as an ex Officio member. The six (6) other members shall
be comprised of the following

1) One (1) representative from the Department

2) One (1) representative from the Department of Science and Technology

3) One (1) representative from the Department of Sociat Welfare and
Development

4) One (1) representative from a non-governmental organization which
conducts research on the elderly, preferably on Alzheimer's disease;

we


5) One (1) representative from the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office
6) One (1) representative of the Philippine Medical Association

SECTION 8. Meetings. - The Advisory Committee shall determine the
number, time, place and conduct of meetings, except that it shall hold at least
one (1) public meeting each year at which the general public is given an
opportunity to express views conceming the conduct of research on the
Alzheimer’s Disease by the Office.

SECTION 9, Term. - Members shall be appointed by the Secretary for a
term of three (3) years. Of those first appointed, three (3) members shail serve
for three (3) years, and the last three (3) members for two (2) years.

SECTION 10. Expiration of the Office. - The Office shall expire after 10
years from its creation

SECTION 11. Appropriation. — To carry out the provisions of this Act, such
amount as maybe necessary is hereby authorized to be appropriated from the
National Treasury. Thereafter, the amount necessary for the continuous
operation of the Office of Alzheimers Research Center shall be included in the
Annual Appropriations of the Department of Health,

SECTION 12. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof, is held
invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law of the provision not otherwise
affected shail remain valid and subsisting.

SECTION 13, Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or
issuance, executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or
Fegulation contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby
Tepealed, modified or amended accordingly.

SECTION 14. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15)
days alter its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation

Approved,