Saltale TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE Office of the sectar REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session 25 SEP 16 A10:25 SENATE RECEIVED BY S. No. 1394 Introduced by Senator MARK A. VILLAR 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 Article XIII Section 11 of the Constitution provides that the State shall 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. Kidney disease is still one of the leading causes of hospitalization and death among Filipinos.l According to recent estimates, 2.3 million Filipinos suffer from chronic renal disease. The National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) reveals that one Filipino dies because of chronic renal failure every hour, which translates to roughly 120 deaths per million population annually.? The mortality rate from kidney disease is increasing yearly. *World Kidney Day 2024 Tackles Capacity Building and Innovation for Medical Professionals (n.d.). https://psn.org.ph/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/WKD-CAPACITY-BUILDING-OF-MEDICAL- PROFESSIONALS.pdf 2 Philippine Society of Nephrology. (2024, March I). Rising Incidence of Chronic Kidney Disease in the Philippines Sparks Call for Kidney Health Awareness Subtitle: The Philippine Society of Nephrology Urges Filipinos to Take Proactive Measures - Philippine Society of Nephrology. Philippine Society of Nephrology. https://psn.org.ph/2024/03/01/rising-incidence-of-chronic-kidney-disease-in-the-philippines-sparks-call-for- kidney-health-awareness-subtitle-the-philippine-society-of-nephrology-urges-filipinos-to-take-proactive-
Aside from the suffering caused by this illness, kidney patients have to face challenges from accessing dialysis centers to the burden of paying medical fees. For hundreds of patients who were unable to avail dialysis, the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) became the default option. As the number of patients suffering from kidney disease dramatically increases, the dwindling capacity of NKTI is a growing concern that must be addressed immediately. Unfortunately, patients from the far-flung areas had no other choice but to travel to urban areas just to avail of dialysis treatment. Thus, this bill seeks to require all national, regional, and provincial government hospitals to establish, operate, and maintain a dialysis ward or unit in their respective hospital and to provide free dialysis to indigent patients. In light of the foregoing, the immediate approval of the bill is earnestly sought. MARK A. VILLAR
Sennie Office of the Arctarg TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session 25 SEP 16 A10:25 SENATE RECEIVED BY: S. No. 1394 Introduced by Senator MARK A. VILLAR 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 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 services to the people and to ensure hospital facilities are 4 available, affordable and accessible to the people.
Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall
6 mean: (a) National Government Hospital - refers hospital operated and maintained either partially or wholly by the national government or by any department, division, board or other agency thereof; (b) Regional 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 Hospital - 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; and
(d) Indigent Patient - refers to 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);
Sec. 4. Establishment, Operation and Maintenance of a Dialysis Ward or Unit.
- Within two (2) years from the effectivity of this Act, all national, regional, and 7 provincial government hospitals are hereby required to establish, operate and 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 (d) hereof.
Sec. 6. Penalty. - Any hospital chief, administrator or officer-in-charge who
fails 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 of DOH 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 Act shall be included in the government hospital's annual appropriations.
Sec. 9. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part of this Act is declared
unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not affected shall remain in full force and effect.
Sec. 10. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, issuances, rules and
regulations, inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
Sec. 11. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following
its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. Approved,