Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 4226)
Republic Act No. 4226 is also known as the Hospital Licensure Act.
A hospital is defined as a place primarily for the diagnosis, treatment, and care of individuals suffering from illness, disease, injury, or deformity, and includes institutions with beds for 24-hour or longer use by patients, such as those for convalescence, sanatorial care, nurseries, and dispensaries.
The Bureau of Medical Services, under the Department of Health, acts as the licensing agency for hospital construction and operation.
Yes, no hospital, whether government or private, shall operate or be opened to the public unless it has been registered and obtained a license from the licensing agency.
No hospital shall be constructed without first having plans approved and a construction permit issued by the licensing agency.
Grounds include repeated violation of the Act or related laws, repeated violation of implementing rules and regulations, and repeated failure to correct deficiencies in facilities or services.
Any person or entity operating a hospital without a license is guilty of a misdemeanor, liable to a fine of up to 500 pesos for the first offense and up to 1,000 pesos for subsequent offenses, with each day of operation after first conviction considered a separate offense.
No, government hospitals are exempt from payment of permit, registration, and annual license fees.
Yes, separate licenses are required for hospitals or branches maintained in separate premises, but not for separate buildings within the same compound.
They are entitled to an administrative hearing conducted by the Secretary of Health and his two undersecretaries, and they may also appeal to the courts as provided by law.