TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session AUG -6 P2:33 SENATE RECEIVED BY: S. No. 1056 Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada AN ACT REQUIRING ALL NATIONAL, REGIONAL, AND PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS TO ESTABLISH, OPERATE AND MAINTAIN A DIALYSIS WARD OR UNIT IN THEIR RESPECTIVE HOSPITAL AND PROVIDING FREE DIALYSIS TREATMENT TO INDIGENT PATIENTS EXPLANATORY NOTE Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a silent but relentless killer that afflicts thousands of Filipinos each year, cutting short lives and shattering families. For many, dialysis is not merely a treatment—it is the lifeline between survival and premature death. Yet, despite its critical importance, access to dialysis remains out of reach for a vast majority of indigent patients due to prohibitive costs and the glaring lack of facilities, especially in regional and provincial hospitals. This dire healthcare gap represents not just a medical crisis but a profound social injustice that demands urgent and decisive action. This bill seeks to decisively address this gap by mandating all national, regional, and provincial government hospitals to establish, operate, and maintain dedicated dialysis wards or units within their respective facilities. This provision will significantly increase the availability of dialysis services across the country, particularly in underserved communities, ensuring that Filipinos in need have timely and proximate access to care.
More importantly, this bill guarantees free dialysis treatment for indigent patients, alleviating the financial burden faced by economically disadvantaged Filipinos battling kidney failure. This measure reaffirms the State's commitment to equitable healthcare, ensuring that no Filipino is deprived of essential medical treatment due to poverty. A similar bill was filed by Senator Cynthia A. Villar in the 19th Congress, it exemplifies the government's obligation to uphold the right to health and to provide quality, accessible, and compassionate care for all citizens, especially the vulnerable. Key provisions of the bill include: 1. The mandatory establishment and operation of dialysis wards or units in all national, regional, and provincial government hospitals, equipped with adequate facilities, qualified healthcare professionals, and essential equipment; 2. The provision of free dialysis treatments to indigent patients, ensuring they receive life-saving interventions without financial hardship; 3. The appropriation of necessary funds and resources to sustain the operations and maintenance of dialysis units; 4. The facilitation of close coordination among the Department of Health (DOH), Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), and local government units (LGUs) to streamline implementation and maximize resource utilization; 5. The development of robust monitoring and accountability mechanisms to ensure transparency and the efficient use of public funds. This bill underscores the urgent need to strengthen our healthcare system's capacity to serve all Filipinos, regardless of socio-economic status, by expanding access to critical dialysis treatment. It champions a vision of inclusive health where dignity and care are guaranteed for every patient.
In light of these considerations, the immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought. cassat l JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA
TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session AUG -6 P2:33 SENATE RECEIVED RA S. No.. 1056 Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada AN ACT REQUIRING ALL NATIONAL, REGIONAL, AND PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS TO ESTABLISH, OPERATE AND MAINTAIN A DIALYSIS WARD OR UNIT IN THEIR RESPECTIVE HOSPITAL AND PROVIDING FREE DIALYSIS TREATMENT TO INDIGENT PATIENTS 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 "Dialysis Center Act".
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the declared policy of the State to improve
the delivery of health care services to the people and to ensure hospital facilities are available, affordable and accessible to the people.
Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall
mean: a) Indigent Patient refers to a patient who has no visible means of income, compensation or financial assistance from his/her relatives to support his/her basic needs, as determined by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD); b) National Government Hospital refers to a hospital operated and maintained either partially or wholly by the national government or by any department, division, board or other agency thereof;
c) Provincial Government Hospita/refers to a hospital operated and maintained either partially or wholly by the provincial government or other political subdivision, or by any department division, board or other agency thereof; d) Regional Government Hospita/ refers to a hospital operated and maintained either partially or wholly by the national government or by any department, division, board or other agency thereof; e) Secretary refers to the Secretary of the Department of Health;
Sec. 4. Establishment, Operation and Maintenance of a Dialysis Ward or Unit.
9 - Within two (2) years from the effectivity of this Act, all national, regional, and 10 provincial government hospitals are hereby required to establish, operate and 11 maintain a dialysis ward or unit in their hospital. The dialysis ward or unit shall be equipped with complete dialysis machine, equipment and supplies.
Sec. 5. Free Dialysis Treatment to Indigent Patients. - Dialysis treatment in all
national, regional and provincial government hospitals shall be provided free of charge to indigent patients as defined in Section 3 (e) hereof.
Sec. 6. Penalty. - Any hospital chief, administrator or officer-in-charge who fails
17 to comply with this Act shall be punished with a fine of Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00) but not more than One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00).
Sec. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Secretary shall promulgate
the necessary rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act.
Sec. 8. Appropriations. - Such amount as may be necessary to implement the
provisions of this Act is hereby authorized to be appropriated from the National Treasury. Thereafter, the amount necessary for the continuous implementation of this 24 Act shall be included in the government hospitals annual appropriations.
Sec. 9. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain valid and subsisting.
Sec. 10. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules, and
regulations, or parts thereof that are contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly.
Sec. 11. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
2 publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation in the 3 Philippines. Approved,