DOH Hospital Bed Capacity and Service Capability Rationalization Act

CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES TWENTIETH CONGRESS First Regular Session SENATE S. No. 1508 PREPARED AND SUBMITTED JOINTLY BY THE COMMITTEES ON HEALTH AND DEMOGRAPHY, AND FINANCE WITH SENATORS HONTIVEROS, CAYETANO (P.), ESTRADA, EJERCITO, VILLANUEVA, PADILLA, PANGILINAN, AND TULFO (R.) AS AUTHORS THEREOF AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH (DOH) TO SET AND APPROVE THE BED CAPACITY AND SERVICE CAPABILITY OF ALL DOH HOSPITALS

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known

as the "DOH Hospital Bed Capacity and Service Capability 3 Rationalization Act"

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State shall

5 protect and promote the right to health of the people and achieve universal healthcare by strengthening the public 7 healthcare delivery system and ensuring timely and equitable access to quality, essential health and social services for all.

To this end, the State shall empower the and Department of Health (DOH) to efficiently responsively determine and rationalize the authorized bed capacities and service capabilities of hospitals under its supervision and control, consistent with national health facility planning standards and evolving population health needs.

SEC. 3. Purpose,

Scope, and Coverage. - This Act shall streamline and institutionalize the process for determining, setting, adjusting, and approving changes in the authorized bed capacities and corresponding service capabilities of all hospitals under the supervision and control of the DOH.

SEC. 4. Authority to Determine and Approve

Authorized Bed Capacity and Service Capability. - The DOH is hereby authorized to determine, set, adjust, and approve the authorized bed capacities and corresponding service capabilities of hospitals under its supervision and control.

In the exercise of this authority, the DOH shall consider the Philippine Health Facility Development Plan (PHFDP), hospital development and modernization plans, 4 catchment population and projected demographic trends, 5 epidemiological data and burden of disease, health human resource requirements and staffing standards, existing and planned healthcare provider networks, and other nationally recognized planning and licensing standards. When adjusting authorized bed capacity and service capability, the DOH shall undertake mandatory consultations with the healthcare provider networks to ensure alignment with the province-wide and city-wide health systems established under Republic Act No. 11223 or the Universal Health Care Act: Provided, That such adjustments shall not result in the creation of a new hospital, the abolition of an existing hospital, or the transfer of hospital ownership or management without an enabling law enacted by Congress.

SEC. 5. Philippine Health Facility Development

2 Plan. - The DOH shall continue to update, develop, and 3 implement the PHFDP to guide the development, 4 modernization, expansion, and rational distribution of government health facilities nationwide. The PHFDP shall be the primary basis for 7 determining funding requirements for adjustments in the bed capacity and service capability of DOH hospitals, and 9 facilitating access to available capital outlay allocations and other government funding mechanisms. Nothing in this Act shall be interpreted as giving preference to hospital investments over investments in primary care, preventive services, and community-based health systems pursuant to Republic Act No. 11223.

SEC. 6. Conversion, Upgrading, and Modernization

16 of DOH Hospitals. - The DOH shall upgrade and 17 modernize the existing equipment and facilities of DOH hospitals, consistent with their authorized bed capacities and service capabilities, to ensure responsiveness to the

health needs of the population.

SEC. 7. Funding Requirements. - The funding

requirements for the adjustment of authorized bed capacities and service capabilities shall be included in the 5 DOH program in accordance with the PHFDP and the respective hospital modernization and development plans. 7 Such funding shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act, subject to the regular budget process and authorization of Congress.

SEC. 8. Annual Report to Congress and Public

Disclosure. - The DOH shall submit to Congress, through the Committee on Health of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health and Demography of the an annual report detailing the approved bed Senate, capacity adjustments; corresponding changes in service status of capability; budgetary implications; 17 implementation; and alignment with the PHFDP and Universal Health Care objectives.

The DOH shall publish on its official website all approved adjustments in authorized bed capacity and service capability, including the basis and justification for such approvals, to ensure transparency and public accountability.

SEC. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR).

- The DOH shall formulate the IRR of this Act within ninety (90) days from its effectivity.

SEC. 10. Separability Clause. - If any provision or

part of this Act is declared unconstitutional, the remaining provisions not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 11. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees,

executive orders, rules and regulations, or parts thereof that are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.

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SEC. 12. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect

2 after fifteen (15) days following its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general 4 circulation. Approved,