Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

7914

House Bill No.

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE MARLYN B. ALONTE

AN ACT ESTABLISHING A HOSPITAL IN STATE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES OFFERING
MEDICAL DEGREES NATIONWIDE, AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR

EXPLANATORY NOTE

‘The need to improve public health services has been all the more highlighted during the COVID-19
pandemic. Unfortunately, there are a lot more that should be improved in the Philippine healthcare
system. One of which is to achieve the prescribed ratio of medical professionals to the population as
well as increase the ratio of hospital beds to the population.

Data from the World Health Organization showed that the Philippines has only 12 doctors per 10,000
persons, and that a sizeable percentage of Filipinos rarely or never sees a healthcare professional.
Moreover, the WHO data reflected that hospital beds in the country are only at 5 per 10,000 persons
in 2009. The number of hospitals in the country has also barely increased in almost two decades.

‘The Philippine government's response to the global pandemic was challenged by the shortage of
medical practitioners in the front line. A week after the announcement of a nationwide lockdown, the
Department of Health (DOH) called for volunteer doctors and nurses.

To address these challenges, the proposed measure seeks to create new hospitals which will be
attached to state colleges and universities (SUCs) offering medical degree programs. The presence of
such hospitals within SUCs will provide a venue for medical students to train and acquire the
necessary skills, experience, and expertise they need to practice their profession. An increase in the
number of hospitals in the Philippines will also mean lower attrition rate of Filipino healthcare workers
‘as more hospitals will be able to provide employment for them.

Hence, the passage of this bil is earnestly

kx B. ALONTE


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bill No. 7914

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE MARLYN B. ALONTE

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A HOSPITAL IN STATE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
OFFERING MEDICAL DEGREES NATIONWIDE, AND PROVIDING FUNDS
THEREFOR

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 cited as the
“Healthcare Facility Augmentation” Act.

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. — The 1987 Constitution guarantees the
right to health of the people and mandates the State to make health services
available to all the people at affordable cost. Towards this end, the State shall
empower the state colleges and universities (SUCs) in the country to contribute in
providing health care services to the community as well as enabling its medical
students to have the appropriate training ground.

SEC. 3. Establishment of Hospitals in State Colleges and Universities.
— There is hereby established a hospital, with a bed capacity of not less than 50
beds, in every state university and college (SUC) offering a medical degree. The
Department of Health (DOH), through its nearest regional hospital, and in
coordination with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the concerned
SUCs, shall provide the necessary technical assistance on the construction of said
hospitals to ensure conformity with the standards set by the department.

The management and operations of the hospital including the hiring of
required medical personnel shall be with the concerned SUCs: Provided, That to


ensure proper coordination with existing policies and programs of the DOH, the
concerned SUCs shall elect or appoint the DOH Regional Director in the governing
boards of the hospital: Provided further, That any income derived from the operation
of the hospital shall be retained by the concerned SUCs to answer for expenses and
upgrading cost of their hospitals: Provided finally, That hospitals established under
this Act as well as those already existing in SUCs shall remain operational during
public health emergencies including, but not limited to, outbreaks, epidemics and
pandemics.

SEC. 4. Construction and Site of the Hospital — After a period of
planning not exceeding one (1) year upon the effectivity of this Act, the hospital and
the necessary equipment for its operations shall be established and put in place
within the grounds of the concerned SUC: Provided, That the construction of the
hospital shall be completed within five (5) years after the period of planning as
stated under this Section.

SEC. 5. Training for Medical Students — Hospitals established under this
Act as well as those already existing in SUCs shall serve as the training ground for
medical students in the concerned SUCs: Provided, That graduates of the medical
degree programs in the concerned SUCs who availed of a government scholarship
program shall be required to render their return service in the hospital of the SUC
which they graduated from.

SEC. 6. Reportorial Requirements. — The concerned SUCs shall submit
through CHED, on an annual basis, a detailed report on the progress of the
implementation of this Act to the Senate Committees on Higher, Technical and
Vocational Education and Health and Demography, and the House Committees on
Higher and Technical Education and Health.

SEC. 7. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to carry out the provisions
of this Act shall automatically be included in the annual appropriations of the SUCs
for the next five years upon the implementation of this Act.

SEC. 8. Separability Clause. — If any provision of this Act is declared
invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected thereby shall continue
to be in full force and effect.


SEC. 9. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, executive orders or rules
and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
repealed or modified accordingly

SEC. 10. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
after its publication in the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of the general
circulation.

Approved,