QuestionsQuestions (Republic Act No. 11959)
RA 11959 is titled the “Regional Specialty Centers Act.” Its purpose is to establish and institutionalize specialty healthcare centers in every region by providing specialized health services that make health care available, accessible, and affordable.
The State shall protect and promote the right to health and instill health consciousness by adopting an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development, including specialized services for the general public through specialty healthcare centers in all regions.
An ACSC serves a full range of specialty and subspecialty clinical services at the subnational level, and has the capacity to conduct and provide specialty/subspecialty clinical, public health, operations research, and training.
A BCSC 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.
DOH Hospitals are hospitals under the direct supervision and control of the Department of Health (DOH).
GOCC Specialty Hospitals are hospitals mandated by their respective charters to specialize in particular organs/groups of organs or types of patients, and are attached to the DOH. Examples given include: Philippine Heart Center, National Kidney and Transplant Institute, Lung Center of the Philippines, and Philippine Children’s Medical Center.
An NSC is a specialty center with the highest level of expertise in clinical services, teaching, training, and research. It also refers to designations by DOH to specialty centers, DOH hospitals mandated by law to provide specialized care, and GOCC Specialty Hospitals.
Prioritized specialties include: 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.
The levels are NSCs, ACSCs, and BCSCs. Categorization is in accordance with the Philippine Health Facility Development Plan (PHFDP) and relevant capability planning.
No. RA 11959 provides that 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.
DOH must collaborate with NSCs, DOH hospitals, professional regulatory bodies, DBM, Civil Service Commission, accredited professional organizations, and relevant associations to ensure sustainability of staffing by developing plans and programs for production, recruitment, training, and retention of medical specialists and expert personnel.
They must adhere to DOH guidelines based on: (a) upgrading based on the Resource Stratified Framework; (b) evidence of health needs/disease burden in catchment populations; (c) hospital service capability and geographic/physical access; (d) the provider role in the continuum of care; (e) availability of competent specialized health human resources; and (f) operational financial performance including accreditation and ability to avail specialized healthcare packages from PhilHealth.
DOH shall include the establishment of specialty centers in the PHFDP to rationalize national investments in health facility capacity distribution.
Within five (5) years from the effectivity of the Act, at least one (1) specialty center must be established in every region, based on the top burden of disease and special needs in the area.
NSCs must (a) serve as core information hubs in coordination with DOH offices; (b) lead in developing policies/protocols/standards and provide highest-level clinical services and training capability; (c) conduct specialized clinical/public health/operations research using multidisciplinary or multi-center approaches; (d) provide training and technical assistance to ACSCs/BCSCs; and (e) assess capacity and capability of ACSCs and BCSCs for a particular specialty.
Yes. NSCs and DOH hospitals with ACSCs and BCSCs are authorized to contract the services of medical specialists or experts for specialty training and technical assistance. DOH hospitals with ACSCs and BCSCs may also send personnel to NSCs for training and capacity development.
DOH must provide Congress an annual report on activities, accomplishments, and operational plans of specialty centers. After five (5) years from the start of effectivity, the relevant congressional committees must conduct a systematic evaluation of implementation, accomplishments, impact, and performance to determine remedial legislation.
Within sixty (60) days from effectivity. DOH must consult NSCs, DOH hospitals, and other concerned agencies.
Initial implementation is charged against the current year’s DOH appropriation. Thereafter, DOH includes in its annual budget under the General Appropriations Act the establishment and operationalization of specialty centers.
It takes effect fifteen (15) days after publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.