TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE !..1 ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session 25 JUL 14 A10:44 SENATE S. No. .... Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada AN ACT REQUIRING ALL NATIONAL, REGIONAL, AND PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS TO ESTABLISH, OPERATE AND MAINTAIN A DIALYSIS CENTER TREATMENT TO INDIGENT PATIENTS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE HOSPITAL AND PROVIDING FREE DIALYSIS EXPLANATORY NOTE The government's efforts to reform the health sector have been set in place through several innovative projects and programs aimed at providing the people with comprehensive health services. The participation of local government units has been tapped to make health care services more affordable and accessible. However, the fact remains that sophisticated and advanced hospital and medical equipment and facilities are found in highly urbanized cities, so much so that patients from the rural areas have to travel all the way to these urban cities just to avail themselves of advanced medical treatment. The high costs of treatment and the additional travel expenses are financially draining particularly for patients that need treatment on a regular and sustained basis. This is especially true for patients who are suffering from kidney disorder who have to undergo dialysis treatment regularly. According to the paper, "Gaps and challenges in the provision of treatments for patients with end-stage renal disease: perspectives from the Philippines"
published on September 2023, "Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a global public health concern, with prevalence of 9.1% - 13.4% of the population worldwide. In the Philippines, its prevalence is 35.94%, which is much higher than estimated global rates.' Related to this, an article published on March 2024 cited a pediatric nephrologist stating that "the number of documented kidney disorders doubled to 120,000 cases in a 30-year span since the 1990s".? In consonance with the constitutional mandate to make health services available to all the people at affordable cost, this bill requires all national, regional and provincial government hospitals to establish, operate and maintain a dialysis ward or unit in their respective hospital in order that dialysis treatment will be available and accessible to the people especially those in the rural areas in a cost effective manner. Moreover, this bill requires that dialysis treatment should be provided to indigent patients, free of charge. sought. In light of the foregoing, the immediate approval of this bill is earnestly JINGÇOY EJERCITO ESTRADA ^ Gaps and challenges in the provision of treatment for patients with end-stage renal disease: perspectives from the Philippines - The Lancet Regional Health - Western Pacific 2 Chronic kidney disease on the rise among Filipinos - Manila Standarc
TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session JUL 14 A10:44 SENATE S. No. 480 Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada AN ACT REQUIRING ALL NATIONAL, REGIONAL, AND PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS TO ESTABLISH, OPERATE AND MAINTAIN A DIALYSIS CENTER 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 hereby declared the policy of the State to
improve the delivery of health care services to the people and to ensure that public specialty healthcare services hospital facilities are made affordable and accessible to the people. Towards this end, the State shall create Dialysis centers in all national, regional, and provincial government hospitals throughout the country.
Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the following terms
shall mean: a) National Government Hospital shall refer to a 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 shall refer 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 shall refer 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 shall refer to a person who has no visible means of income, or whose income is insufficient for the subsistence of his family, as identified by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Sec. 4. Establishment, Operation and Maintenance of a Dialysis Center. -
7 Within two (2) years from the effectivity of this Act, all national, regional, and provincial government hospitals are hereby required to establish, operate and maintain a dialysis center in their hospital. The dialysis center shall be equipped with 10 complete dialysis machine, equipment and supplies.
Sec. 5. Free Dialysis Treatment for Indigent Patients. - Dialysis treatment in
12 all national, regional and provincial government hospitals shall be provided free of 13 charge to indigent patients as defined in Section 3 (e) 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 16 (P50,000.00) but not more than One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00).
Sec. 7. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the effective
18 implementation of this Act shall be taken from the current applicable appropriations 19 of the Department of Health (DOH) and over-all savings of the National Government. 20 Thereafter, funds for its continued implementation shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
Sec. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days upon
the effectivity of this Act, the DOH shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.
Sec. 9. Separability Clause. - If any provision, section, or part of this Act shall
unconstitutional or invalid, such judgement shall not affect, invalidate, or impair any other provisions, sections, or parts hereof.
Sec. 10. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, issuances, circulars,
rules and regulations or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
Sec. 11. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. Approved,