Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 11496

February 24, 2021

DOH ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 2021-0021

 

I. BACKGROUND AND RATIONALE

Western Visayas Medical Center began as an emergency hospital in La Paz, Iloilo City in 1940, which after a decade relocated to Mandurriao. In 1974, the facility became the Iloilo Provincial Hospital (IPH) with a 200-bed capacity; a year after it upgraded to 300 beds. In 1982, by virtue of Batas Pambansa (B.P.) Bilang 640, IPH was reclassified as Western Visayas Regional Hospital. In 1984, B.P. Blg. 825 further upgraded the hospital as Western Visayas Medical Center (WVMC). Republic Act (R.A.) No. 7198 in 1992 increased WVMC's capacity to 400 beds. HTcADC

Playing its part in the health development of the region, WVMC had undertaken supervision of some facilities such as the 25-bed Pototan Mental Health Unit in 1988. Then in 1997, R.A. No. 8372 established an extension facility for WVMC, Don Jose S. Monfort Medical Center Extension Hospital in Barotac Nuevo. Department Order No. 2005-0052 also directed WVMC to supervise then Pototan Treatment and Rehabilitation Center. At present, WVMC is a teaching and training hospital with accredited specialty departments and services. Between 2015 and 2019, its occupancy rates increased from 145.28 to 154.84 percent, outpatient visits from 115,926 to 293,060, and emergency cases from 31,145 to 55,010.

On November 13, 2020, the President approved and signed the R.A. No. 11496, "An Act Increasing the Bed Capacity of the Western Visayas Medical Center in Mandurriao, Iloilo City from Four Hundred Twenty-Five (425) Beds to Seven Hundred (700) Beds, Upgrading its Professional Health Care Services and Facilities, Authorizing the Increase of its Medical Personnel and Appropriating Funds Therefor." Section 5 provided for the implementation of this Act through the Department of Health's programs and appropriations. The implementing rules and regulations shall also be in accordance to R.A. No. 11223, Universal Health Care Act, which ensures that all Filipinos have equitable access to quality health care goods and services.

II. OBJECTIVE

This Administrative Order sets the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 11496, "An Act Increasing the Bed Capacity of the Western Visayas Medical Center in Mandurriao, Iloilo City from Four Hundred Twenty-Five (425) Beds to Seven Hundred (700) Beds, Upgrading its Professional Health Care Services and Facilities, Authorizing the Increase of its Medical Personnel and Appropriating Funds Therefor," and pertains only to the provisions of this Act.

III. SCOPE

The extent of coverage of this Order shall include the operations and management of Western Visayas Medical Center and the implementation of Republic Act No. 11496.

IV. DEFINITION OF TERMS AND ACRONYMS

A. IRR — refers to the Implementing Rules and Regulations of this Act.

B. Level 3 General Hospital — refers to the type of general hospital according to functional capacity as provided in A.O. No. 2012-0012, as amended.

C. WVMC — refers to Western Visayas Medical Center.

V. GENERAL GUIDELINES

A. The Western Visayas Medical Center (WVMC) shall provide promotive, preventive, diagnostic, curative, rehabilitative and palliative health care, research and training services in accordance with the provisions of R.A. No. 11223, the "Universal Health Care Act," and related issuances such as A.O. No. 2020-0019, where roles and responsibilities are defined for DOH hospitals in the service delivery design of health care provider networks (HCPN), and Department Circular No. 2020-0410, where WVMC is listed as an eligible apex or end-referral facility as of 2020.

B. The WVMC shall strengthen and improve its service capability and capacity while continually serving as end-referral and apex hospital in Iloilo City, and provinces of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras and Iloilo, complementing the local health systems and providers therein, consistent with its Hospital Development Plan as approved by the Health Facility Development Bureau (HFDB). It 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 Level 3 General Hospital.

C. It shall comply with standards and meet requirements in preparedness and response strategies in public health emergencies as in A.O. No. 2020-0016, which include but are not limited to allocation of beds, dedication of select services or units, and performance of enhanced protocols in infection prevention and control, patient and health worker safety, and patient navigation in the HCPN. Likewise, concordant to the country's transitioning towards the New Normal, as guided by Department Memorandum No. 2020-0268, the WVMC shall make certain that its plans, policies, protocols and norms ensure the continued health service delivery while maintaining the public health standards for COVID-19 disease.

VI. IMPLEMENTING MECHANISMS

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

A. Expansion of Services

The WVMC shall formulate and submit its Hospital Development Plan (HDP) to the HFDB through the Western Visayas Center for Health Development (CHD). The WVMC's health facility development unit shall make the proper internal and external coordination for the complete, timely submission of its updated HDP. The HDP shall provide the capacity increase and capability expansion, and shall be consistent with the Philippine Health Facility Development Plan (PHFDP) leading towards a 700-bed Level 3 General Hospital with specialty and sub-specialty services.

The WVMC shall comply with the operations of the Malasakit Center as mandated by the R.A. No. 11463 to enable eligible patients to access medical and financial assistance services.

B. Health Human Resources

Based on the approved HDP, the WVMC shall request for the required 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 its succeeding amendments.

The WVMC shall honor the positions, security of tenure, and other rights of its 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, the DOH standards, and the intent of this IRR.

C. Assets and Liabilities

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

D. Equipment

The WVMC shall make an inventory of the existing hospital equipment and undertake upgrading to conform to the DOH standards of a tertiary teaching and training hospital as provided for under A.O. No. 2012-0012 or the "Rules and Regulations Governing the New Classification of Hospitals and Other Health Facilities in the Philippines." Additional equipment and facilities shall be provided to complement the expansion of services consistent with the approved HDP.

E. Infrastructure

The WVMC shall implement and seek the support of DOH for the construction, repair and/or renovation of its physical infrastructure, consistent with the approved HDP, and conforming to all existing laws, regulations, national and international standards for hospital buildings, also in line with Hospitals Safe from Disasters Program, Green Healthcare Facilities Guidelines, among others.

F. Systems Development

The WVMC 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 and electronic information system conforming to the basic requirements of the Integrated Hospital Operations and Management Program (IHOMP). aScITE

G. Quality Management

Through the term of its HDP implementation, the WVMC'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, Integrated People-Centered Health Services, 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 in 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 the DOH performance accountability measures such as the Hospital Scorecard.

VII. IMPLEMENTING STRUCTURE

A. Administrative Control

A DOH official designated by the Secretary of Health shall have oversight jurisdiction and control over the WVMC's operations. The designated DOH official, with the aid of the Western Visayas CHD, shall monitor the implementation of R.A. No. 11496, and may recommend further the necessary upgrading as guided by this Order.

The Medical Center Chief (MCC) of the WVMC 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 amount necessary to carry out the provisions of R.A. No. 11496 shall be sourced out accordingly:

1. Capital investments for infrastructure and equipment shall be sourced from the DOH General Appropriations Act (GAA), hospital income which includes PhilHealth payments, public-private partnership, and/or other financing modes or schemes subject to prevailing government rules and regulations;

2. Additional Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) resulting from the hospital expansion shall be sourced from the GAA, hospital income including PhilHealth payments, public-private partnership and/or other financing modes or scheme.

3. Personnel Services (PS) to carry out the full implementation of the hospital staffing pattern following the DBM-DOH Joint Circular No. 2013-01 and related issuances shall be sourced from the GAA; and

4. Release of funds from the DOH shall be approved by the appropriate authority.

VIII. SEPARABILITY CLAUSE

If any provision of 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.

IX. EFFECTIVITY

This Order shall take effect fifteen (15) days after publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

(SGD.) FRANCISCO T. DUQUE III, MD, MScSecretary of Health