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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. ____ 
Introduced by CIBAC Party-List Representative 
HON. EDUARDO ‘BRO. EDDIE’ C. VILLANUEVA 
AN ACT  
PROVIDING A STANDARD OF CARE FOR THE  
TREATMENT OF PERSONS WITH BLEEDING DISORDERS, 
ESTABLISHING TREATMENT CENTERS AND  
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
In the Philippines, about one million Filipinos are affected by 
Hemophilia, von Willebrand Disease and other bleeding disorders.  
However, only around 1,500 have been registered with the Philippine 
Hemophilia Foundation. This is partly due to the lack of awareness and 
understanding on this group of medical conditions. 
Bleeding disorder is a genetic condition where the blood does not 
clot properly. It is caused by deficiency of proteins in the blood called 
clotting factors. There are 13 factors in the blood, and when one of it is 
missing or is deficient, it results in a bleeding disorder.  
People with bleeding disorders can bleed for longer than normal, 
and some may experience spontaneous bleeding into joints, muscles, or 
other parts of their bodies. Women with bleeding disorders may 
experience menorrhagia (excessive menstruation) and post-partum 
hemorrhage, on top of other bleeding problems. 
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The most known of this group of medical conditions is Hemophilia, 
classified as Hemophilia A (Factor VIII deficiency) and Hemophilia B 
(Factor IX deficiency), which occurs mostly in males.  But the most 
prevalent is von Willebrand Disease (deficiency in von Willebrand factor), 
which affects around 1 percent of the population – both males and females. 
Other factor deficiency disorders are: I, II, V, VII, X, XI, XIII. (Source: World 
Federation of Hemophilia). 
 
Bleeding disorders like Hemophilia, von Willebrand Disease and 
other factor deficiencies are usually inherited and genetic. Thus, there 
may be multiple members in a family affected by the condition and they 
will have it for life. There is no known cure yet for bleeding disorders.   
The World Health Organization and the Department of Health cited 
post-partum hemorrhage as one of the top causes of maternal deaths. 
Incidentally, the Philippines did not meet the Millennium Development 
Goal on maternal health.  It is very possible that a big percentage of those 
mothers who died of post-partum hemorrhage had undiagnosed bleeding 
disorders. 
Bleeding disorders are treated by replacing the missing or deficient 
factors either through blood products such as cryo-precipitate, cryo-
supernate, fresh frozen plasma, packed red blood cells (RBC) and whole 
blood or by manufactured plasma-derived factor concentrates and 
recombinant (genetically engineered) factor concentrates.  
 
The cost of treatment is very high, and therefore, inaccessible to 
majority of Filipino patients. Many of them suffer with chronic pain and 
deformities in the joints because of lack of access to proper treatment.  
Availability of factor concentrates in the country is also inconsistent. 
 
Other countries like India and Malaysia give free treatment to their 
citizens who have bleeding disorders. This bill seeks to provide medical 
and financial support to patients affected with this condition. 
 
The immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
 
 
 
 
 
     HON. EDUARDO “BRO. EDDIE” C. VILLANUEVA 
 
 


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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. ____ 
Introduced by CIBAC Party-List Representative 
EDUARDO ‘BRO. EDDIE’ C. VILLANUEVA 
AN ACT PROVIDING A STANDARD OF CARE FOR THE 
TREATMENT OF PERSONS WITH BLEEDING DISORDERS, 
ESTABLISHING TREATMENT CENTERS AND APPROPRIATING 
FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
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Philippines in Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Bleeding 
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Disorder Standards of Care Act.” 
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SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is hereby declared the policy of 
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the State: 
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a)
To ensure the adequate treatment of hemophilia at the lowest
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possible cost and endeavor to make them available for free to
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indigent patients;
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b)
To ensure the establishment of treatment centers in public
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hospitals; and
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c)
To establish a standard of care so that patients with severe
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bleeding disorders can receive necessary and appropriate
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medical care.
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SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. – The following words and phrases 
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when used in this Act shall have the meanings given to them in this 
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Section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: 
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a)
Bleeding Disorder refers to a medical condition characterized
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by a severe deficiency or absence of one or more essential
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blood clotting proteins in the human blood, often called factors,
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including all forms of hemophilia, von Willebrand disease, and
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other bleeding disorders which result in uncontrollable bleeding
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or abnormal blood clotting;
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b)
Blood 
clotting 
product 
refers 
to 
an 
intravenously
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administered medicine manufactured from human plasma,
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recombinant biotechnology techniques and other processes,
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approved for distribution by the Food and Drugs Administration
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(FDA), and which is used for the treatment and prevention of
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symptoms associated with bleeding disorders. The term
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includes, but is not limited to:
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1) Factor VIIa, Factor VIII and Factor IX products;
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2) Von Willebrand Factor products;
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3) Prothrombin complex concentrates;
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4) Activated prothrombin complex concentrates; and
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5) Other products approved by the BFAD for the treatment of
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bleeding disorders and associated inhibitors.
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c)
Financially Incapacitated Patient refers to a patient who is not
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classified as indigent, but who demonstrates clear inability to
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pay or spend for necessary expenditures for services or medical
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treatment, laboratory testing of blood and/or coagulation
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studies, or blood coagulating products and/or ancillary infusion
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equipment, as assessed by the Department of Social Welfare
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and Development (DSWD), local government social worker or
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the medical social worker of the health facility;
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d)
Indigent Patient refers to a patient who has no visible means
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of income, or whose income is insufficient for the subsistence
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of his or her family, as assessed by the DSWD, local
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government social worker or the medical social worker of the
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health facility;
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e)
DOH refers to the Department of Health.
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f) 
Hemophilia refers to a human bleeding disorder caused by a 
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hereditary deficiency of the Factor VIII, Factor IX or Factor XI 
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blood clotting protein in human blood. 
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g) 
von Willebrand disease refers to a human bleeding disorder 
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caused by a hereditary deficiency or abnormality of the von 
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Willebrand Factor in human blood.  
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SEC. 4. State Treatment Facilities. –  The State shall establish 
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hemophilia treatment facilities in key cities and regions nationwide in 
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designated hospitals with Cancer and Hematology Departments. 
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Each Hemophilia Treatment Facility shall provide to all hemophilia 
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patients: 
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a) 
Care by qualified hematologists and medical doctors and shall 
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also provide free of charge the necessary blood clotting 
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products and ancillary infusion equipment necessary for the 
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infusion of such blood clotting products; 
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b) 
A room exclusively for hemophilia patients; and 
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c) 
A clinical coagulation laboratory for the screening, diagnosis, 
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provisional diagnosis and treatment of bleeding disorders or 
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suspected bleeding disorders and such services shall be 
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provided free of charge to all indigent patients and financially 
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incapacitated patients.  
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SEC. 5. Funding. – The amount necessary for the initial 
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implementation of this Act shall be sourced from the current budget of the 
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DOH. Thereafter, the funds necessary for the continuous implementation 
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of this Act in the ensuing years shall be included in the General 
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Appropriations Act.  
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The funds given to the treatment facilities shall be used as follows:  
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a) 
Five percent (5%) shall be used for the maintenance of the 
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rooms that will be used exclusively for hemophilia patients;  
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b) 
Ninety percent (90%) shall be used exclusively for necessary 
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blood clotting products and ancillary infusion equipment 
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necessary for the infusion of such blood clotting products to 
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hemophilia patients; and 
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c) 
Five percent (5%) shall be used for blood screening of 
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hemophilia patients. 
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Each treatment facility established under this Act shall submit an 
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annual report to the DOH on the utilization of the amount given to it.   
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SEC. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within sixty (60) 
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days from the approval of this Act, the DOH, in consultation with 
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hemophilia groups and other relevant stakeholders, shall promulgate the 
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rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act.    
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SEC. 7. Separability Clause. – If for any reason, any provision of 
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this Act is declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other parts or provisions 
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hereof which are not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and 
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effect. 
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SEC. 8. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) 
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days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) 
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newspapers of general circulation.  
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Approved, 
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