Senate @flite of the Secretary TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) First Regular Session SEP 30 P1:16 SENATE RECEIVED BY: S. No. 1428 Introduced by Senator JV Ejercito AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH (DOH) TO SET AND APPROVE THE BED CAPACITY AND SERVICE CAPABILITY OF ALL DOH HOSPITALS EXPLANATORY NOTE At present, our current public health care system is having a hard time to keep up with the growing demand of patients. The current capabilities and bed capacity of DOH Hospitals does not seem to meet the health needs of patients as the facilities are often limited and staff are overworked. In reality, the increase in the bed capacity of government hospitals for them to accommodate patients is still dependent on legislation. This bill seeks to end this practice and delegate to the DOH the responsibility of adjusting the bed capacities of government hospitals. We believe that the DOH is the proper and most knowledgeable government agency to determine the necessary additional beds required by a hospital to fully deliver the necessary health service required within the geographic location it is situated. Hospitals, but perhaps, most importantly, patients should not be made to wait for Congress to pass legislation just to increase bed capacity. It is unfortunate that some health facilities may have had the space to expand but does not possess the legal authority to do so. Such limitations result in long lines of patients waiting to be admitted and attended to for medical attention. This proposed legislation is not only about bed capacity but about the dignity of every patient. The increase in bed capacity symbolizes the government's greater
commitment in improving the health situation of every Filipino. Every bed represents hope and care; a fighting chance; and a vehicle towards the path to full recovery. Further, this bill is in alignment with the goals and aspirations of the Universal Health Care Act and the Philippine Health Facility Development Plan. This is an aggressive step in strengthening the national health care system by empowering the DOH with the authority to perform a function that is in our belief best delegated to them. Let us not wait for another health crisis for us to act on the predicament experienced by our hospitals whose growth and development are seemingly restricted by the same policies that allows them to maximize their potential. In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. .. • JV EJERCITO
Senate Office of tie Secretary TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES SEP 30 P1:16 First Regular Session SENATE RECEIVED BY: S. No. 1428 Introduced by Senator JV Ejercito AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH (DOH) TO SET AND APPROVE THE BED CAPACITY AND SERVICE CAPABILITY OF ALL DOH HOSPITALS 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 "DOH Hospital Bed
2 Capacity and Service Capability Rationalization Act of 2022."
Sec. 2. Purpose, Scope, and Coverage. - This Act shall streamline the process
4 for approving changes in the authorized bed capacities and corresponding service 5 capabilities of al Department of Health (DOH) hospitals.
Sec. 3. Sec. 3. Authority to Approve. - The DOH is hereby authorized to adjust
7 and approve the authorized bed capacities and corresponding service capabilities of 8 its retained hospitals. Thereafter, the DOH shall, through an administrative issuance, 9 determine the bed capacities and service capabilities of DOH hospitals, subject to specific guidelines that shall be issued and promulgated, within three (3) months after the effectivity of this Act.
Sec. 4. Annual Report to Congress. - The DOH shall provide Congress, through
the Committee on Health of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health and Demography of the Senate, an annual report of hospitals with approved bed capacities, along with the necessary funding requirements.
Sec. 5. Philippine Health Facility Development Plan (PHFDP) - The DOH shall
develop the Philippine Health Facility Development Plan (PHFDP) to guide the modernization and development plans of all government health facilities, and in order
1 to access capital outlay investment through the Health Facilities Enhancement 2 Program of the DOH and other national government capital outlay investment mechanisms. The Secretary of Health shall include in the Department's programs the funding 5 requirements for the adjustment in bed capacity and service capability of each DOH 6 hospital in accordance with the PHFDP and the hospital's modernization and 7 development plan, the funding of which shall be included in the annual General 8 Appropriations Act.
Sec. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) - The DOH shall formulate
10 the IRR of this Act within ninety (90) days of its effectivity.
Sec. 7. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and
regulations, or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.
Sec. 8. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette, or in a newspaper of general circulation. Approved,