Question & AnswerQ&A (DOH ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 150, S. 2004)
The primary purpose is to protect and promote the health of the people by ensuring the right to quality health service appropriate to the level of care through the regulation of hospitals and other health facilities.
The Department of Health, through the Bureau of Health Facilities and Services in the Office for Health Regulation, is the principal agency in the implementation and enforcement of these rules and regulations.
A hospital is a health facility for diagnosis, treatment, and care of individuals suffering from deformity, disease, illness or injury, or in need of surgical, obstetrical, medical or nursing care, with bassinets or beds for 24-hour use or longer.
Hospitals and health facilities are classified as Government or Private, General or Special, and by service capability into Primary Care, Secondary Care, Tertiary Care, Infirmary, Birthing Home, Acute-Chronic Psychiatric Care Facility, and Custodial Psychiatric Care Facility.
A Permit to Construct must be secured from the Department of Health before construction, alteration, expansion, or increase in bed capacity; this permit is a prerequisite for a License to Operate.
Licensing requirements include complying with planning and design guidelines, management of service capability, qualified personnel, appropriate equipment and physical plant standards, and compliance with prescribed guidelines formulated by the DOH.
Documents include a letter of application and request for inspection, letter of endorsement, notarized application for registration and license, list of personnel and equipment, photo album of the facility, certificate of occupancy, fire safety inspection certificate, sanitary certificate, and other documents as may be required by the Bureau.
Violations include operating without required permits or licenses, making unauthorized alterations, false statements in applications, refusal of inspections, changes in management or ownership without consent, and failure to correct deficiencies after notice.
Operators found guilty will be fined up to 500 pesos for the first offense and 1,000 pesos for subsequent offenses; each day of operation after conviction is considered a separate offense.
They may file a notice of appeal within 30 days to the Office of the Secretary of Health, who will review the case. The Secretary's decision is final and executory, though legal recourse to the courts is still available.