TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES AUG -5 P4:26 First Regular Session SENATE RECEIVED 2 S. No. _ Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH (DOH) TO SET AND APPROVE THE BED CAPACITY AND SERVICE CAPABILITY OF ALL DOH HOSPITALS EXPLANATORY NOTE The global health crisis caused by the novel Coronavirus underscored the importance of a fully functioning and efficient health infrastructure, ready to respond to public emergencies and attend to a surge of medical concerns. To ensure that the population from the urban centers all the way to remote areas has access to quality health services, it is imperative that the existing health facilities are modernized and fully equipped to serve the requirements of the New Normal. According to the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, "The health system is characterized by an inadequate and inequitable access to health facilities. While the country has a total capacity of 109,346 hospital beds in 2021, this translates to about one bed only per 1,000 population. As of October 2021, only 68 percent of barangays are covered by a rural health unit and health center as opposed to DOH's target of 80 percent. As reported in the Philippine Health Facility Development Plan (PHFDP) 2020- 2040, only 50 percent of Filipinos in 2020 have access to frontline health facilities, i.e., within 30 minutes of travel time. "1 1 Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028 - Philippine Development Plan
An article of the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) indicated that "the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a ratio of 20 hospital beds per 10,000 people, which equates to 2 beds per 1,000 people in a country." Unfortunately, the ratio in the Philippines is 0.5 per 1,000.2 This measure aims to rationalize the distribution of capacity and capability of health facilities. This bill contains provisions to align all adjustments in bed capacity and service capability of each Department of Health (DOH) hospital with the Philippine Health Facility Development Plan. This legislation intends to accelerate the much needed reforms in the public health sector by empowering the DOH to implement expansion and upgrading of hospitals and health facilities under its jurisdiction. In view of strengthening the delivery of public health services, the immediate passage of this bill is recommended. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 2 PIDS - Philippine Institute for Development Studies
Sint TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session AUG -5 P4:26 SENATE RECEN/ED B S. No. _ Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada 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
Capacity and Service Capability Rationalization Act".
Sec. 2. Purpose, Scope, and Coverage. - This Act shall streamline the process
for approving changes in the authorized bed capacities and corresponding service capabilities of all Department of Health (DOH) hospitals.
Sec. 3. Authority to Approve. - The DOH is hereby authorized to adjust and
approve the authorized bed capacities and corresponding service capabilities of 8 hospitals under its supervision and control, taking into consideration the development 9 plans of the hospitals, catchment population, burden of disease, availability of human resources, health care provider network, and other standards to be determined by the DOH. The DOH shall, through an administrative issuance, determine the bed 12 capacities and service capabilities of DOH hospitals, subject to specific guidelines that 13 shall be issued and promulgated, within three (3) months upon the effectivity of this 14 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
1 Heaith and Demography of the Senate, and annual report on hospitals with approved 2 bed capacities, along with the necessary funding requirements.
Sec. 5. Philippine Health Facility Development Plan (PHDP). - The DOH shall
4 develop the Philippine Health Facility Development Plan (PHFDP) to guide the 5 modernization and development plans of all government health facilities, and in order to access capital outlay investment through the Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP) of the DOH and other national government capital outlay investment 8 mechanisms. The Secretary of Health shall include in the Department's programs the funding 10 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 13 Appropriations Act.
Sec. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). - The DOH shall formulate
the IRR of this Act within ninety (90) days upon its effectivity.
Sec. 7. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision or part not otherwise affected shall remain valid and subsisting.
Sec. 8. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule, or regulation contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly.
Sec. 9. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. Approved,