Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 11959)
The short title of Republic Act No. 11959 is the "Regional Specialty Centers Act."
The primary policy is to protect and promote the right to health of the people by making health services available, accessible, and affordable through the establishment of specialty healthcare centers in all regions of the Philippines.
An ACSC is a specialty center that serves a full range of specialty and subspecialty clinical services at the subnational level, capable of conducting specialty and subspecialty clinical, public health, and operations research, and training.
A BCSC refers to a specialty center that serves a full range of specialty clinical services at the regional level, with capacity to conduct specialty clinical, operational, and public health research, and training.
DOH hospitals are those under the direct supervision and control of the Department of Health (DOH).
GOCC Specialty Hospitals specialize in a particular organ or patient group, attached to the DOH. Examples include the Philippine Heart Center, the National Kidney and Transplant Institute, the Lung Center of the Philippines, and the Philippine Children's Medical Center.
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.
No, the establishment of specialty centers in separate premises under the same management of a DOH hospital does not require a separate license.
Criteria include upgrading hospitals based on DOH's Resource Stratified Framework, health needs and disease burden evidence, service capability and geographic access, appropriate provider roles, availability of competent health human resources, and operational financial performance including insurance accreditation.
NSCs serve as core information hubs, lead policy and standards development, provide scientific leadership with research, offer training and technical assistance to other specialty centers, and conduct capacity and capability assessments of ACSCs and BCSCs.
Yes, they are authorized to contract the services of medical specialists or experts for providing specialty training and technical assistance.
The DOH must provide an annual report to Congress detailing the activities, accomplishments, and operational plans of the specialty centers.
At least one specialty center shall be established in every region within five years from the effectivity of the Act.
The other provisions that are not affected shall remain in full force and effect as per the separability clause.
The Department of Health (DOH), in consultation with NSCs, DOH hospitals, and other concerned agencies, is responsible for promulgating the implementing rules and regulations within 60 days from the effectivity of the Act.