Healthcare Facility Augmentation Act

Senate Office af the don triary TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) First Regular Session 25 AUG -6 P4:25 SENATE RECEIVED BY: S. No. 1065 Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada AN ACT ESTABLISHING A HOSPITAL IN STATE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES OFFERING MEDICAL DEGREES NATIONWIDE, AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR EXPLANATORY NOTE The 1987 Constitution mandates the State to "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 an affordable cost. There shall be priority for the needs of the under-privileged, sick, elderly, disabled, women, and children." This proposed measure aligns with this constitutional directive to provide accessible and quality healthcare while enhancing the medical education system. In addition, Congress enacted Republic Act No. 11509, or the Doktor Para sa Bayan Act, which provides scholarships to deserving medical students in SUCs and requires them to render return service in the country. To reinforce the intent of RA 11509, this proposed measure seeks to establish hospitals in every SUC and university. While we continue to support medical education through scholarships, we must also ensure that these students are given access to competent, community-based training facilities. Hospitals based within SUCs will serve this purpose by bridging the gap

between academic instruction and clinical practice while also offering needed medical services to local populations and students. A similar measure was previously filed by Senator Juan Edgardo "Sonny" Angara during the 19th Congress. In reintroducing this bill, we continue to pursue a long-term, strategic investment in both healthcare and education. These are two sectors that are vital to national development. In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. figstt l JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA

Senate Office of the for retary TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 25 AUG -6 P4:25 First Regular Session SENATE RECEIVED BY S. No. 1065 Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada 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 and cited as the " Healthcare

Facility Augmentation Act".

Sec. 2. Declaration of State Policy. - The 1987 Constitution guarantees the right

'4 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 7 services to the community as well as enabling its medical students to have the 8 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 15 conformity with the standards set by the department.

The management and operations of the hospital including the hiring of required 2 medical personnel shall be with the concerned SUCs: Provided, That to ensure proper 3 coordination with existing policies and programs of the DOH, the concerned SUCs shall 4 elect or appoint the DOH Regional Director in the governing boards of the hospital: 5 Provided, further, That any income derived from the operation of the hospital shall be 6 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 accordance with the provisions of Republic Act No. 11509 otherwise known as the "Doktor Para sa Bayan Act".

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

2 regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Sec. 10. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

publication in the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of the general circulation. Approved,