Philippine Geriatric Medical Center Act' or the 'Senior Citizens' Hospital Act

no Off of te erity TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session 25 JUL 10 P3:11 SENATE RECEIVED BY: S. No. - Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE GERIATRIC MEDICAL CENTER, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "SENIOR CITIZENS' HOSPITAL", AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR EXPLANATORY NOTE

Section 11, Article XIII of the 1987 Constitution declares 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. There shall be priority for the needs of the underprivileged, sick, elderly, disabled, women, and children. The State shall endeavor to provide free medical care to paupers". The Philippine Constitution clearly articulates the broad policy framework relative to older persons. Article XV, Section 4 provides that "the family has the duty to care for its elderly members but the state may also do so through just programs of social security". Based on the second report of the Longitudinal Study of Aging and Health in the Philippines (LSAHP) project, Aging and Health in the Philippines, Wave 2 (LSAHP Wave 2), states that based on worldwide demographic trends, the Philippines is

projected to shift to an aging society by 2030, spurred by a recent sharp decline in fertility rates and increased life expectancy. Given the increasing elderly population in the country and the escalating cost of healthcare, there is a need to strengthen the support system for senior citizens as the Philippines transitions to an aging society by 2030. By affirming the significant contribution of the older persons, the proposed measure recognizes the need to put in place policies and programs that will entitle the elderly to adequate social services. In view of the foregoing, this bill seeks for the establishment of the Philippine Geriatric Medical Center, an envisioned world-class tertiary hospital specializing on the medical needs of senior citizens. In this light, the immediate passage of this bill is recommended. fingstate L. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA

live office of the serent TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session 25 JUL 10 P3:11 SENATE RECEIVED BY: S. No. 383 Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE GERIATRIC MEDICAL CENTER, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "SENIOR CITIZENS' HOSPITAL", AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 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 "Philippine Geriatric

2 Medical Center Act" or the "Senior Citizens' Hospital Act".

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to

4 protect and promote the right to health of older persons by ensuring that health 5 services are available and accessible to them through the establishment of a tertiary 6 specialty hospital that will cater to their medical needs.

Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act:

Geriatric health services refer to the medical services or intervention provided by a multi-disciplinary team usually headed by a Geriatrician; b) Geriatrician refers to a medical doctor who has passed the necessary training and examination, and specializes in the field of Geriatrics; c) Geriatrics refers to the sub-specialty of Internal Medicine that aims to promote health, and to prevent and treat disabilities of older adults; Senior citizens or older persons refer to Filipino citizens who are at least sixty (60) years old.

Sec. 4. Establishment and the Location of the Philippine Geriatric Medical

2 Center. - There shall be established a tertiary specialty hospital for geriatrics in the 3 City of Cagayan de Oro or the Province of Misamis Oriental to be known as the Philippine Geriatric Medical Center (PGMC) or the Senior Citizens' Hospital. It shall be 5 authorized to operate a two hundred (200) bed capacity hospital dedicated to senior 6 citizens or older persons.

Sec. 5. Board of Trustees. - The PGMC shall be administered by a Board of

Trustees, hereinafter referred to as the Board, to be composed of seven (7) members to be appointed by the President of the Philippines. The seven (7) appointive members of the Board of Trustees shall serve for a period of four (4) years and until their successors shall have been appointed and qualified. Any vacancy in the Board shall be filled by appointment by the President of the Philippines, and the appointee shall serve for the unexpired term. The Board of Trustees of the PGMC shall elect a Chairman from among themselves, who shall be the presiding officer of the Board of Trustees. The Medical Director shall act as the chief executive officer of the PGMC, with authority, among others, to appoint, remove, and fix the compensation of the personnel thereof, subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees. Four (4) members of the Board of Trustees shall constitute a quorum to transact business and any decision of such 4 members on any matter duly presented to the Board of Trustees shall constitute a valid and binding act of the PGMC.

Sec. 6. Objectives. - The PGMC shall have the following objectives:

a) To construct, operate, administer and maintain an integrated medical institution, which shall specialize in geriatric health services; b) To provide and maintain quality, affordable and timely hospital care which prioritizes the need of the elderly and the indigent citizens; c) To assist in the education and training of geriatricians, nurses, health officers, social workers, and other medical and technical personnel in the practical and scientific implementation of health services to the older persons; and d) To facilitate and encourage the dissemination of information on the prevention, treatment and control of age-related diseases.

Sec. 7. Powers. - For the attainment of the objectives, the PGMC, as a body

2 corporate, acting through its Board of Trustees shall have all the powers pertaining to a juridical person, and is therefore authorized, among other things: a) To adopt a set of by-laws, rules and regulations not inconsistent with law and the provisions hereof to govern the administration and operation of the affairs of the PGMC; b) Formulate and develop programs for the enhancement of healthcare services for older persons, including the training of PGMC geriatricians, resident doctors, nurses, health officers, social workers, and other medical and technical personnel; c) Enter into such agreements and arrangements with other medical institutions, domestic or foreign, as may be necessary, in attaining the objectives of the PGMC; d) To acquire and hold in any manner property of whatever nature or description, and to dispose of such property under any mode of encumbrance or conveyance; e) To solicit and receive donations, endowments and funds in the form of contributions, whether in cash or in kind, from both the public and private sectors; f) To invite foreign geriatricians and similar experts in the various medical fields not available in the country in order to train the personnel or trainees or residents of PGMC; g) To send the personnel of the PGMC to research institutes, medical institutes or universities for advance training or observation and to attend international or regional conventions, conferences, congresses, seminars as the Board may deem necessary to accomplish the objectives of the PGMC; and h) To do all such other acts and things as may be necessary or incidental for the accomplishment of the objectives of the PGMC.

Sec. 8. Program for Indigents. - The Board shall ensure that the PGMC shall

adopt and enforce a program for indigents. The number of beds allocated for the

indigent patients shall not be less that fifty percent (50%) of the total number of hospital beds.

Sec. 9. Tax Exemptions. - Any donation, bequest and grant shall be exempt

from donor's tax and the same shall be considered as allowable deduction from the 5 gross income of the donor in accordance with the provisions of the National Internal Revenue Code of1997, as amended. The PGMC is hereby declared exempt from all income and all other internal revenue taxes, tariff, and customs duties and all other kinds of taxes, fees, charges, and amendments levied by the government and its political subdivisions, agencies, and instrumentalities.

Sec. 10. Assistance from Government Offices. - The PGMC may call upon any

bureau, office, agency or instrumentality of the government, including government- owned or controlled corporations, for such assistance as it may need in the pursuit of its purposes and objectives. All individuals, entities and institutions are hereby enjoined to render full assistance and cooperation to PGMC in the accomplishment of its objectives and activities.

Sec. 11. Auditing. - The books and accounts of the PGMC shall be under the

charge of a Resident Auditor, subject to periodic auditing by the Chairman of the Commission on Audit, or his duly authorized representative.

Sec. 12. Annual Report. - The PGMC shall render to the President of the

Philippines an annual report of its activities and recommendations.

Sec. 13. Effect of Dissolution. - If, for any reason the PGMC is dissolved, its

property remaining at the time of such dissolution shall revert to the Philippine Government for dissolution in accordance with law.

Sec. 14. Appropriations. - The Secretary of Health shall immediately include in

the Department's programs the implementation of this Act, the funding of which shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

Sec. 15. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within sixty (60) days from

the effectivity of this Act, the DOH, in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development, and the Department of Budget and Management, shall

1 promulgate such rules and regulations necessary for the effective implementation of 2 this Act.

Sec. 16. Separability Clause. - Should any provision or part of this Act be

declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions and parts hereof, insofar as 5 they are separable from the invalid ones, shall remain in full force and effect.

Sec. 17. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, proclamation,

rules and regulations, and other issuances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.

Sec. 18. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

10 publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. Approved,