Question & AnswerQ&A (DOH ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 2007-0041)
The main purpose is to set guidelines for the mandatory allocation of a certain percentage of authorized bed capacities of private hospitals as charity beds to ensure access to affordable health services for indigent patients.
This Order applies to all private hospitals in the Philippines.
A charity bed is a hospital bed that is specifically and solely allocated for the confinement of indigent patients or patients classified as Class C or D patients based on defined guidelines.
An indigent patient is one who is certified as indigent by a municipal social worker or in their absence, by the barangay chairman, municipal/city health officer, medical social worker, or chief of the nearest district, city, or provincial hospital.
Private hospitals must allocate not less than ten percent (10%) of their authorized bed capacity as charity beds.
Charity beds are devoted to patients who satisfy Class C and D patient criteria or are certified indigent patients under the Order.
Article III Section 15 and Article XIII Section 11 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, which protect the right to health and require the state to make essential health and social services available at affordable cost.
Violations are considered violations of rules governing hospital registration, licensure, and operations and are subject to sanctions defined under Administrative Order No. 2007-0022 regarding violations under the One-Stop Shop Licensure System for Hospitals.
The invalidity of any provision does not affect other provisions which shall remain valid and effective, pursuant to the Separability Clause.
It took effect fifteen (15) days after its approval and publication in the official gazette or a newspaper of general circulation.
Republic Act 1939 mandates government hospitals to operate with not less than ninety percent (90%) of their bed capacity as free or charity beds.
The mandatory charity bed allocation is a requirement for licensure and non-compliance constitutes a violation of the licensing rules and regulations governing private hospitals.