Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 11390, "An Act Increasing the Bed Capacity of the Batangas Medical Center in Batangas City, Province of Batangas from Five Hundred (500) Beds to One Thousand (1,000) Beds, Upgrading Its Service Facilities and Professional Health Care Services, and Appropriating Funds Therefor"

November 13, 2019

DOH ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 2019-0052

 

I. RATIONALE AND BACKGROUND

Batangas Provincial Hospital was opened as a 30-bed hospital in 1927. Its capacity increased to 70 beds in 1950, then 150 beds in 1972. That year, it was also designated a training hospital, then by 1973, it was renamed Batangas Regional Hospital. Republic Act (R.A.) No. 7532 in 1992 further increased its capacity to 250 beds. R.A. No. 9791 in 2009 converted Batangas Regional Hospital to Batangas Medical Center (BatMC) with 250 beds. HTcADC

The BatMC serves as referral hospital in Region IV-A, or CaLaBaRZon (i.e., Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon). Due to its location, it also receives patients from Romblon, Oriental and Occidental Mindoro. Between 2014 and 2018, numbers grew an average of 20 percent for inpatients, and 13 percent for new outpatient visits. From 2014-2015, at 200 authorized beds, average occupancy was 125 percent. From 2016-2018, 400 beds, the rate was 118 percent.

On August 22, 2019, the President signed R.A. No. 11390, "An Act Increasing the Bed Capacity of the Batangas Medical Center in Batangas City, Province of Batangas from Five Hundred (500) Beds to One Thousand (1,000) Beds, Upgrading its Service Facilities and Professional Health Care Services, and Appropriating Funds Therefor." Section 5 provides for the promulgation of implementing rules and regulations of this Act.

II. OBJECTIVE AND SCOPE

The Administrative Order sets the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 11390, "An Act Increasing the Bed Capacity of the Batangas Medical Center in Batangas City, Province of Batangas from Five Hundred (500) Beds to One Thousand (1,000) Beds, Upgrading its Service Facilities and Professional Health Care Services, 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. 11390, "An Act Increasing the Bed Capacity of the Batangas Medical Center in Batangas City, Province of Batangas from Five Hundred (500) Beds to One Thousand (1,000) Beds, Upgrading its Service Facilities and Professional Health Care Services, and Appropriating Funds Therefor."

3. BatMC — refers to the Batangas Medical Center.

4. IRR — refers to the Implementing Rules and Regulations of R.A. No. 11390.

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

The BatMC shall be a teaching and training hospital that delivers tertiary-level promotive, preventive, curative, rehabilitative and palliative care, performs research, and provides 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 corresponding equipment and facilities, complemented by adequately trained and competent human resources for health as appropriate for a licensed and accredited 1,000-bed general hospital.

The BatMC shall strengthen its existing services, aim for the improvement of its service capability and capacity while continually serving as referral hospital primarily in the Region IV-A, or CaLaBaRZon, or the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon, complementing the local health systems and providers in these areas. The increase in bed capacity and expansion of services and capability, which shall correspond to pertinent provisions in the Act, shall be consistent with the BatMC's Hospital Development Plan (HDP) as approved by the Health Facility Development Bureau (HFDB). aScITE

B. Implementing Mechanisms

The implementation of the Act shall be supported by the following guidelines:

1. Expansion of Services

The BatMC shall develop and submit its HDP to the HFDB through the DOH's CaLaBaRZon Center for Health Development (CHD). The HDP shall be consistent with the Philippine Health Facility Development Plan (PHFDP) leading towards a 1,000-bed teaching and training hospital with additional specialty/sub-specialty services. The incremental annual increases in bed capacity and commensurate services shall be achieved within five (5) years of implementation of this Act, in accordance with the BatMC's HDP.

2. Health Human Resources

Based on the approved HDP, the BatMC shall request for an increase of 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 and other related issuances.

The BatMC shall honor the positions, security of tenure, and other rights of its human resource complement. The hospital shall evaluate the existing 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).

3. Assets and Liabilities

All movable and immovable assets and records of the BatMC, as well as its liabilities and obligations shall be properly documented and be accounted for in accordance with existing policies and guidelines.

4. Equipment

The BatMC shall make an inventory of the 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.

5. Infrastructure

The BatMC shall implement and seek the support of the DOH for the construction, repair and/or renovation of its physical infrastructure, consistent to the approved HDP, and shall conform 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.

6. System Development

The BatMC 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).

7. Quality Management

The BatMC's Quality Management System shall conform to ISO 9001:2015 standards. It shall enhance operations with the implementation of the Continuous Quality Improvement Program, Patient Safety Program, and 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 hospital 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 STRUCTURES

A. Administrative Control

The highest DOH-designated official of the CaLaBaRZon CHD shall have oversight jurisdiction and control over the BatMC's operations. The CHD shall monitor the implementation of R.A. No. 11390, and may recommend the necessary further upgrading as guided by this Order. HEITAD

The Medical Center Chief (MCC) of the BatMC 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 R.A. No. 11390 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 and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) resulting from 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 hospital staffing pattern following the DBM-DOH Joint Circular No. 2013-01, and other related issuances shall be sources 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, MScSecretary of Health