Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 11359
DOH Administrative Order No. 2019-0044 implements the rules and regulations for Republic Act No. 11359, which increases the bed capacity of the Jose B. Lingad Memorial General Hospital (JBLMGH) in Pampanga from 500 to 1,000 beds. This law aims to enhance healthcare services, upgrade facilities, and expand the hospital's medical workforce to meet the growing demand, as past bed occupancy rates exceeded available capacity. The order outlines policies for service expansion, human resources, infrastructure improvements, and quality management to align with national healthcare standards. Funding for these enhancements will be sourced from various government appropriations and hospital income. The order takes effect 15 days after publication.
October 23, 2019
DOH ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 2019-0044
| SUBJECT | : | Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 11359, "An Act Increasing the Bed Capacity of Jose B. Lingad Memorial General Hospital in the City of San Fernando, Pampanga from Five Hundred (500) Beds to One Thousand (1,000) Beds, Upgrading Its Service Facilities and Professional Healthcare Services, Authorizing the Increase of Its Medical Workforce Complement, Repealing for the Purpose Republic Act No. 10355, and Appropriating Funds Therefor" |
I. RATIONALE AND BACKGROUND
Pampanga Provincial Hospital was established in 1921 then converted to Central Luzon General Hospital in 1964. Republic Act (R.A.) No. 6780 renamed the hospital to Jose B. Lingad Memorial General Hospital (JBLMGH) in 1989. As mandated by R.A. No. 10355, the JBLMGH became a 500-bed capacity tertiary, teaching and training hospital in 2013. It serves as Department of Health's regional end-referral hospital with the Province of Pampanga as primary catchment, and the rest of Region III, Central Luzon, as secondary catchment, or the Provinces of Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac and Zambales.
Between 2014 and 2016, the hospital's average bed occupancy rate was over 200 percent. Even with a 500 implementing bed capacity, the occupancy rates in 2017 and 2018 were at 135 and 137 percent respectively. Ninety percent of its patients are either at the poverty threshold or at risk of financial hardship due to cost of treatments. The JBLMGH provides specialized diagnostic and therapeutic medical management, in addition to its accredited residency programs.
On July 21, 2019, the President signed R.A. No. 11359, "An Act Increasing the Bed Capacity of Jose B. Lingad Memorial General Hospital in the City of San Fernando, Pampanga from Five Hundred (500) Beds to One Thousand (1,000) Beds, Upgrading its Service Facilities and Professional Healthcare Services, Authorizing the Increase of its Medical Workforce Complement, Repealing for the Purpose Republic Act No. 10355, and Appropriating Funds Therefor." Section 5 provides for the immediate implementation of this Act, funded through DOH's appropriations under the General Appropriations Act.
II. OBJECTIVE AND SCOPE
This Administrative Order sets the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 11359, "An Act Increasing the Bed Capacity of Jose B. Lingad Memorial General Hospital in the City of San Fernando, Pampanga from Five Hundred (500) Beds to One Thousand (1,000) Beds, Upgrading its Service Facilities and Professional Healthcare Services, Authorizing the Increase of its Medical Workforce Complement, Repealing for the Purpose Republic Act No. 10355, and Appropriating Funds Therefor," and pertains only to the provisions of this Act.
III. DEFINITION OF TERMS AND ACRONYMS
1. A.O. No. 2012-0012 — refers to the "Rules and Regulations Governing the New Classification of Hospitals and Other Health Facilities in the Philippines" issued by the DOH on July 18, 2012, as amended.
2. Act — refers to Republic Act (R.A.) No. 11359, "An Act Increasing the Bed Capacity of Jose B. Lingad Memorial General Hospital in the City of San Fernando, Pampanga from Five Hundred (500) Beds to One Thousand (1,000) Beds, Upgrading its Service Facilities and Professional Healthcare Services, Authorizing the Increase of its Medical Workforce Complement, Repealing for the Purpose Republic Act No. 10355, and Appropriating Funds Therefor."
3. IRR — refers to the Implementing Rules and Regulations of R.A. No. 10355.
4. JBLMGH — refers to the Jose B. Lingad Memorial General Hospital.
5. Level 3 Hospital — refers to the type of general hospital according to functional capacity as provided in A.O. No. 2012-0012 as amended.
IV. POLICIES AND GUIDELINES
A. General Policies
JBLMGH as a Level 3 teaching and training and general hospital shall provide promotive, curative, preventive and rehabilitative health care services, perform research, and provide professional training programs in accordance to provisions of and related issuances to R.A. No. 11223, or the "Universal Health Care Act." The hospital shall be fully equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and facilities, complemented by adequately trained and competent human resources for health as appropriate for a licensed and accredited 1,000-bed capacity Level 3 Hospital.
JBLMRH shall strengthen its existing basic and specialty services, and aim for the improvement of its service capability and capacity while continually serving as the end-referral hospital of Pampanga province and the rest of Region III, Central Luzon, complementing the local health systems and providers in these areas. The increase in bed capacity shall be consistent with the JBLMGH's Hospital Development Plan (HDP) as approved by the Health Facility Development Bureau (HFDB).
B. Implementing Mechanisms
The implementation of this Act shall be supported by the following guidelines:
1. Name of Hospital
An Act Amending Republic Act No. 10807 (Declaring a Working Holiday and No Class Day in Schools in Parañaque City to Commemorate Its Foundation Day Anniversary) In accordance with this Act, the hospital shall be named as Jose B. Lingad Memorial General Hospital, and the acronym shall be "JBLMGH." The official address shall be in the City of San Fernando, Pampanga.
The Medical Center Chief (MCC) shall ensure that directory and future official documents adhere to this hospital name and reflected in the DOH's National Health Facility Registry and other official databases.
2. Expansion of Services
JBLMGH shall formulate and submit its HDP to the HFDB through the DOH's Central Luzon Center for Health Development (CHD). The HDP shall be consistent with the Philippine Health Facility Development Plan (PHFDP) leading towards a 1,000-bed Level 3 General Hospital with additional specialty/sub-specialty services. The incremental annual increase in bed capacity and expansion of service capabilities shall be achieved within four (4) years of implementation of this Act in accordance with the JBLMGH's HDP.
3. Health Human Resources
Based on the approved HDP, the JBLMGH shall request for an increase in its health human resources based on DBM-DOH Joint Circular No. 2013-01, "Revised Standards and Organizational Structure and Staffing Pattern of Government Hospitals, CY 2013 Edition" dated September 23, 2013.
The JBLMRH shall honor the positions, security of tenure, and other rights of its human resource complement. The hospital shall evaluate its existing health human resource complement, re-classify and/or propose upgrading of positions, promote professional development and hire additional staff to comply and conform to the Civil Service Commission and DOH standards and intent of the Act. The management shall also adhere to CSC's Program to Institutionalize Meritocracy and Excellence in Human Resource Management (PRIME-HRM).
4. Assets and Liabilities
All movable and immovable assets and records of the JBLMGH, as well as its liabilities and obligations shall be properly documented and be accounted for in accordance with existing policies and guidelines.
5. Equipment
The JBLMGH shall make an inventory of its existing hospital equipment and undertake upgrading to conform to the DOH standards of a Level 3 General Hospital as provided for under A.O. No. 2012-0012 as amended. Additional equipment and facilities shall be provided to complement the expansion of services consistent with the approved HDP.
6. Infrastructure
The JBLMGH shall implement and seek the support of the DOH for the construction, repair and/or renovation of physical infrastructure consistent with the approved HDP, and conforms to all existing laws, regulations, national and international standards for hospital buildings, also in line with the Hospitals Safe from Disasters Program, the Green Healthcare Facilities Guidelines, Integrated People-Centered Health Services, among others.
7. Systems Development
The JBLMGH shall conform to and sustain the standards of hospital operations to provide quality health care and safety for patients, health workers and other clientele of the hospital. It shall implement an electronic information system conforming to the basic requirements of the Integrated Hospital Operations and Management Program (IHOMP).
8. Quality Management
The JBLMGH's Quality Management System shall conform to ISO 9001:2015 standards. It shall enhance operations with the implementation of the Continuing Quality Improvement Program, Patient Safety Program, Manuals of Standards of Hospital Operations and Management by HFDB, policies and standards by Health Facilities and Services Regulatory Bureau (HFSRB), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), and other standards by international organizations that support national and local standards. Its management shall comply with the gender and development (GAD) mainstreaming policies for government.
The JBLMGH shall complete all stages and become certified with the Performance Governance System towards its organizational development and performance improvement, as guided by DOH performance accountability measures such as the Hospital Scorecard.
V. IMPLEMENTING STRUCTURE
A. Administrative Control
The highest DOH-designated official of the Central Luzon CHD shall have oversight jurisdiction and control over the JBLMGH's operations. The CHD shall monitor the implementation of R.A. No. 11359, and may recommend the necessary further upgrading as guided by this Order.
The MCC of the JBLMGH shall be accountable and responsible for the implementation of quality standard hospital operations and management. The MCC shall establish responsibility accounting as means of management control and determination of respective contributions and performances of the hospital's divisions or units. The MCC shall also submit developmental plans, financial and statistical reports to the DOH Central Office.
B. Sourcing and Use of Funds
The amounts necessary to carry out the provisions of Republic Act No. 11359 shall be sourced out accordingly:
1. Capital outlay for infrastructure and equipment shall be sourced from DOH appropriations under the General Appropriations Act (GAA), hospital income including PhilHealth payments, public-private partnerships, and/or other financing modes or schemes subject to prevailing government rules and regulations;
2. The additional Maintenance, Operating and Other Expenses (MOOE) resulting from the hospital expansion shall be sourced from the GAA, hospital income including PhilHealth payments, public-private partnerships, and/or other financing modes or schemes;
3. Personal Services (PS) to carry out the full implementation of the staffing pattern following the DBM-DOH Joint Circular No. 2013-01, and other related issuances shall be sourced out from the GAA and other sources; and
4. Release of funds from the DOH shall be approved by the appropriate authority.
VI. SEPARABILITY CLAUSE
If any of the provisions under this Order is declared unauthorized or rendered invalid by any court of law or competent authority, those provisions not affected thereby shall remain valid and effective.
VII. EFFECTIVITY
This Order shall take effect fifteen (15) days after publication in a newspaper of general circulation.
(SGD.) FRANCISCO T. DUQUE III, MD, MSc.Secretary of Health
Published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer on November 18, 2019.