Senate Office of the scoretary TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES P2:57 First Regular Session JUL 31 SENATE RECEIVED BY S. No. 780 Introduced by Senator PIA S. CAYETANO AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH (DOH) TO SET AND APPROVE THE BED CAPACITY AND SERVICE CAPABILITY OF ALL DOH HOSPITALS EXPLANATORY NOTE As provided in Section 11, Article XIII of the Constitution, "[t]he 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." This constitutional mandate is further supported by the enactment of Republic Act No. 11223 or the "Universal Health Care Act", which aims to ensure that all Filipinos are guaranteed equitable access to quality and affordable health care. A crucial indicator of health care accessibility, particularly for inpatient care, is the ratio of hospital beds to the population. The World Health Organization (WHO) emphasizes that this metric serves as a vital indicator for a health system's capacity and readiness to provide inpatient services and effectively manage surges in demand, especially during public health emergencies.' As of January 2025, the Philippines has an estimated population of 116 million. The Department of Health (DOH) reported that there is an average ratio of 0.5 hospital beds per 1,000 population. This reflects ' Baron, G. (2024, October 25). WHO: Phl hospitals have bed shortage. Daily Tribune. https://tribune.net.ph/2024/10/24/who-phi-hospitals-have-bed- shortage#:~:text=A%202022%20Philippine%20Institute%20for,are%20currently%20at%20ful%20cap acity. 2 Flores, D. (2025, January 25). Philippines needs to triple hospital bed capacity. Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS). https://www.pids.gov.ph/details/news/in-the-news/philippines- needs-to-triple-hospital-bed-capacity-doh
a notable decrease from the 2021 ratio of 1 bed per 1,000 population but remains far below the ideal ratio set by the WHO of 2 beds per 1,000 population. A 2022 report by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) revealed a significant disparity in hospital bed density across the Philippines and urged the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) and the DOH to address these disparities by increasing the availability of accredited hospital beds and improving overall healthcare access, especially in underserved areas. In relation to this, the DOH developed the Philippine Health Facility Development Plan (PHFDP) 2020-2040, which aims to guide national and local government units in health infrastructure investment. Beyond merely increasing the bed capacity of hospitals, the plan emphasizes the need for sustained financing and investment in health human resources. It also recognizes that addressing the bed-to- population ratio gap requires a holistic approach that includes adequate financing, sufficient human resources, and other operational needs.? The current process for increasing DOH hospital bed capacity relies on individual legislation, a tedious process that can take years. Allowing the DOH, in accordance with the PHFDP, to independently set and approve the bed capacity and service capability of all DOH hospitals would create a more effective and time-efficient process, crucial for addressing the existing gaps in our healthcare system. By granting the DOH this authority, the government aims to better match the occupancy needs of 3 Commission on Population and Development, (n.d.). POPCOM: At least 1.4 million will be added to the Philippine population in 2021. https://popcom.gov.ph/popcom-number-of-filipinos-in-2021- estimated-at-1 10-8-million-sizes-of-families-trending-lower-at-4-members/ 4 Flores, D. (2025, January 25). Philippines needs to triple hospital bed capacity. Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS). https://www.pids.gov.ph/details/news/in-the-news/philippines- needs-to-triple-hospital-bed-capacity-doh 5 Flores, D. (2025, January 25). Philippines needs to triple hospital bed capacity. Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS). https://www.pids.gov.ph/details/news/in-the-news/philippines- needs-to-triple-hospital-bed-capacity-doh © Department of Health. (2020). Philippine Health Facility Development Plan 2020-2040 https://doh.gov.ph/sites/default/files/publications/DOH_PHIUPPINE%20HEALTH%20FACILJTY%20D EVELOPMENT%20PLAN%202020 _2040_0.pdf > Department of Health. (2020). Philippine Health Facility Development Plan 2020-2040. https://doh.gov.ph/sites/default/files/publications/DOH_PHILIPPINE%20HEALTH%20FACIUTY%20D EVELOPMENT%20PLAN%202020_2040_0.pdf
Filipino patients with available healthcare capacity and enhance the quality of government health services. This measure is based on the Committee Report filed by the Committees on Health and Demography, and Finance in the 18th Congress, which the undersigned supported and subsequently filed in the 19th Congress. It seeks to authorize the DOH to independently set and approve the bed capacity and service capability of all DOH hospitals. Through this bill, the DOH shall have the power to efficiently address the disparity between patient needs and healthcare access, thereby enhancing the quality of government health services. Furthermore, the DOH shall be mandated to provide Congress with an annual report detailing approved hospital bed capacities, along with the necessary funding requirements. In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought. Pi: & Ayat
Senate Offier of the Secretary TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session 25 JUL 31 P2:57 SENATE RECEIVED BY S. No. _ Introduced by Senator PIA S. CAYETANO 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."
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to
4 protect and promote the right to health of the people and achieve universal health care by strengthening the public health care delivery system. This includes ensuring 6 timely and equitable access to quality, essential health and social services for all. Towards this end, it is imperative to empower the Department of Health (DOH) to efficiently and responsively manage the bed capacity and service capability of its 9 hospitals. This shall ensure that vital health facilities can adapt effectively to evolving public health needs and meet the demands of the population across the nation.
Sec. 3. Purpose, Scope and Coverage. - This Act shall streamline the process
for approving changes in the authorized bed capacities and corresponding service capabilities of all DOH hospitals.
Sec. 4. Authority to Approve. - The DOH is hereby authorized to adjust and
approve the bed capacities and corresponding service capabilities of hospitals under its supervision and control. It shall take into consideration the development plans of the hospitals, catchment population, burden of disease, availability of human
1 resources, health care provider network, and other standards to be determined by the 2 DOH. The DOH shall, through an administrative issuance, determine the bed capacities 3 and service capabilities of DOH hospitals, subject to specific guidelines that shall be 4 issued and promulgated, within ninety (90) days upon the effectivity of this Act.
Sec. 5. Philippine Health Facility Development Plan (PHFDP). - The DOH shall
continue to update, enhance, and implement the Philippine Health Facility Development Plan (PHFDP) to guide the modernization and development plans of all 8 government health facilities, and in order to access capital outlay investment through 9 the Health Facilities Enhancement Program of the DOH and other national government 10 capital outlay investment mechanisms. The Secretary of Health shall include in the DOH's programs the funding requirements for the adjustment in bed capacity and service capability of each DOH hospital, in accordance with the PHFDP and the hospital's modernization and development plan, the funding of which shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
Sec. 6. Conversion, Upgrading, and Modernization of DOH Hospitals. - The DOH
shall upgrade and modernize the existing equipment and facilities of DOH hospitals to ensure that it shall be responsive to the health needs of the people commensurate with the bed capacity and service capability.
Sec. 7. 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 on hospitals with approved bed capacities, along with the necessary funding requirements.
Sec. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). - The DOH shall formulate
the IRR of this Act within ninety (90) days upon its effectivity.
Sec. 9. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is declared
unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provisions not affected thereby shall remain in force and effect.
Sec. 10. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive
2 order, letter of instruction, rule or regulation inconsistent with the provisions of this 3 Act is hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
Sec. 11. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following
5 its complete publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation. Approved,