RA 11959 - AN ACT ESTABLISHING SPECIALTY CENTERS IN DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH HOSPITALS IN EVERY REGION AND IN GOVERNMENT-OWNED OR -CONTROLLED CORPORATION SPECIALTY HOSPITALS AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Republic Act No. 11959
[ REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11959, August 24, 2023 ]
AN ACT ESTABLISHING SPECIALTY CENTERS IN DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH HOSPITALS IN EVERY REGION AND IN GOVERNMENT-OWNED OR -CONTROLLED CORPORATION SPECIALTY HOSPITALS AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
<div align="justify"><span lang="en-US">Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:</span>
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<span lang="en-US"><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal"><span style="background: #ffffff">SECTION 1. Short Title. </span></span></span><span style="font-weight: normal"><span style="background: #ffffff"> - This Act shall be known as the "Regional Specialty Centers Act ". </span></span></span>
</div> <div align="justify"> </div> <div align="justify">SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them by making health services available, accessible, and affordable for all.
</div> <div align="justify"> </div> <div align="justify">Towards this end, the State shall adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development by providing specialized health services to the general public through the establishment and institutionalization of specialty healthcare centers in all regions of the Philippines.
</div> <div align="justify"> </div> <div align="justify">SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the following terms are defined as follows:
</div> <div align="justify"> </div> <div align="justify">(a) Advanced Comprehensive Specialty Center (ACSC) refers to a specialty center that serves a full range of specialty and subspecialty clinical services at the subnational level, and has the capacity to conduct and provide specialty and subspecialty clinical, public health, and operations research, and training;
</div> <div align="justify"> </div> <div align="justify">(b) Basic Comprehensive Special Center (BCSC) refers to a specialty center that serves a full range of specialty clinical services at the regional level, and has the capacity to conduct and provide specialty clinical, operational, and public health research, and training;
</div> <div align="justify"> </div> <div align="justify">(c) DOH Hospitals refer to hospitals under the direct supervision and control of the Department of Health (DOH);
</div> <div align="justify"> </div> <div align="justify">(d) Government -Owned or -Controlled Corporation (GOCC) Specialty Hospitals refer to hospitals that specialize in a particular organ or group of organs, or type of patients, as mandated under their respective charters, and are attached to the DOH, specifically pertaining, but not limited, to the Philippine Heart Center, the National Kidney and Transplant Institute, the Lung Center of the Philippines, and the Philippine Children's Medical Center;
</div> <div align="justify"> </div> <div align="justify">(e) National Specialty Center (NSC) refers to a specialty center with the highest level of expertise in clinical services, teaching, training, and research. The term shall also refer to the designation by the DOH to specialty centers, DOH hospitals mandated by law to provide specialized care in a certain specialty, and GOCC Specialty Hospitals; and
</div> <div align="justify"> </div> <div align="justify">(f) Specialty Center refers to a unit or department in a hospital that offers specialized care addressing particular conditions and providing specific procedures and management of cases requiring specialized training and equipment on a specific specialty.
</div> <div align="justify"> </div> <div align="justify">SEC. 4. Specialty Centers.- The DOH shall establish specialty centers in DOH hospitals in every region of the country and in GOCC specialty hospitals pursuant to their respective mandates: Provided, That the following specialties shall be prioritized cancer care, cardiovascular care, lung care, renal care and kidney transplant, brain and spine care, trauma care, burn care, orthopedic care, physical rehabilitation medicine, infectious disease and tropical medicine, toxicology, mental health, geriatric care, neonatal care, dermatology, eye care, and ear, nose and throat care.
</div> <div align="justify"> </div> <div align="justify">The DOH shall categorize the level of service capability of the specialty centers to be established as NSCs, ACSCs and BCSCs, in accordance with the Philippine Health Facility Development Plan.
</div> <div align="justify"> </div> <div align="justify">The DOH shall provide appropriate specialist equipment and prioritize funding for capital outlay investment for specialty centers through the Health Facilities Enhancement Program and other fund sources.
</div> <div align="justify"> </div> <div align="justify">The establishment of Specialty Centers or any part thereof, in separate premises and operated under the same management of a DOH hospital, shall not require a separate license.
</div> <div align="justify"> </div> <div align="justify">The DOH, in collaboration with the NSCs, DOH hospitals the Professional Regulation Commission, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the Civil Service Commission, the concerned accredited professional organization and specialty and subspecialty associations, and other relevant government agencies and stakeholders, shall ensure the sustainability of the staffing of the specialty centers by developing and implementing plans, policies, strategies, and programs concerning the production, recruitment, training, and retention of medical specialists and expert personnel.
</div> <div align="justify"> </div> <div align="justify">The DOH shall determine the organizational structure and staffing pattern of specialty centers, subject to evaluation and approval of the DBM and in accordance with civil service laws, rules and regulations.
</div> <div align="justify"> </div> <div align="justify">SEC. 5. Criteria for the Establishment of Specialty Centers. - The establishment of specialty centers shall adhere to guidelines set by the DOH on planning and prioritizing health facilities based on the following criteria:
</div> <div align="justify"> </div> <div align="justify">(a) Upgrading of hospitals based on the Resource Stratified Framework developed by the DOH for each specialty care;
</div> <div align="justify"> </div> <div align="justify">(b) Evidence of the health needs and demands, including disease burden, in the catchment populations of the DOH facilities;
</div> <div align="justify"> </div> <div align="justify">(c) Service capability of hospitals and geographic or physical access;
</div> <div align="justify"> </div> <div align="justify">(d) Appropriate level of specialized healthcare provider role in the continuum of care, including roles of the DOH hospitals as referral facilities for province-wide and city-wide healthcare provider networks;
</div> <div align="justify"> </div> <div align="justify">(e) Availability of competent health human resources for specialized healthcare; and
</div> <div align="justify"> </div> <div align="justify">(f) Operational financial performance of the DOH facilities, including accreditation, to avail of specialized healthcare packages from the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation.
</div> <div align="justify"> </div> <div align="justify">SEC. 6. Philippine Health Facility Development Plan (PHFDP). - The DOH shall include the establishment of specialty centers in the PHFDP, which serves as a guide for investments funded by the national government to rationalize the distribution of capacity and capability of health facilities: Provided, That at least one (1) specialty center shall be established in every region, within five (5) years upon the effectivity of this Act, based on the top burden of disease and special needs in the area.
</div> <div align="justify"> </div> <div align="justify">SEC. 7. National Specialty Centers. - The NSCs shall have the following roles and responsibilities:
</div> <div align="justify"> </div> <div align="justify">(a) Serve as the core information hub for the specializations and diseases they cover, in coordination with concerned DOH offices;
</div> <div align="justify"> </div> <div align="justify">(b) Lead in the development of policies, protocols, and standards for the particular specialty and shall have the highest level of clinical services and training capability;
</div> <div align="justify"> </div> <div align="justify">(c) Provide scientific leadership by conducting specialized clinical, public health, and operations research with a multi-disciplinary or multi-center approach;
</div> <div align="justify"> </div> <div align="justify">(d) Provide specialty training and technical assistance to specialty centers to ensure the delivery of quality services and strengthen the network of care across the country for a particular specialty; and
</div> <div align="justify"> </div> <div align="justify">(e) Conduct capacity and capability assessment of the services provided by ACSCs and BCSCs for a particular specialty.
</div> <div align="justify"> </div> <div align="justify">SEC. 8. Medical Specialist and Experts. - The NSCs, and DOH hospitals with ACSCs and BCSC, are hereby authorized to contract the services of medical specialists or experts to provide specialty training and technical assistance. DOH hospitals with ACSCs and BCSCs may also send medical, allied medical and other necessary personnel to the NSCs for training and capacity development.
</div> <div align="justify"> </div> <div align="justify">SEC. 9. 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 of the activities, accomplishments, and operational plans of the specialty centers.
</div> <div align="justify"> </div> <div align="justify">Five (5) years after the start of the effectivity of this Act, the Committee on Health of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health and Demography of the Senate shall conduct a systematic evaluation of the implementation, accomplishments, and impact of this Act, as well as the performance of established specialty centers, for purposes of determining remedial legislation.
</div> <div align="justify"> </div> <div align="justify">SEC. 10. Implementing Rules and Regulations . - Within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, the DOH, in consultation with the NSCs, DOH hospitals, and other concerned agencies, shall promulgate the implementing rules and regulations necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act.
</div> <div align="justify"> </div> <div align="justify">SEC. 11. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the initial implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current year's appropriation of the DOH. Thereafter, the DOH shall include in the Department's program the establishment and operationalization of the specialty centers in the DOH hospitals, the funding of which shall be included in the budget of the DOH under the annual General Appropriations Act.
</div> <div align="justify"> </div> <div align="justify">SEC. 12. Separability Clause. - If any provision herein shall be declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions hereof that are not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.
</div> <div align="justify"> </div> <div align="justify">SEC. 13. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules, and regulations or other issuances or part inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
</div> <div align="justify"> </div> <div align="justify">SEC. 14. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
</div> <div align="justify"> </div> <div align="justify">Approved:
This Act, which is a consolidation of Senate Bill No. 2212 and House Bill No. 7751, was passed by the Senate of the Philippines and the House of Representatives on May 31, 2023.
Approved: 24 AUG 2023
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RA 11959 - AN ACT ESTABLISHING SPECIALTY CENTERS IN DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH HOSPITALS IN EVERY REGION AND IN GOVERNMENT-OWNED OR -CONTROLLED CORPORATION SPECIALTY HOSPITALS AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR. BatasPH. Approved August 24, 2023. https://batasph.thirdygayares.com/republic-acts/republic-act-no-11959