Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 11500

February 11, 2021

DOH ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 2021-0014

 

I. RATIONALE AND BACKGROUND

Siargao District Hospital, which began in 1961 as a 75-bed emergency hospital under the Ministry of Health. The hospital was also named Siargao Emergency Hospital, Siargao Community Hospital, and Siargao General Hospital. It is one of nine district hospitals operated by the Provincial Government of Surigao del Norte, and serving mainly the municipalities in Siargao and Bucal Grande Islands. HTcADC

Over the years, its bed capacity dwindled, from 75 to 50 beds, then in 2019, to 30 beds, mainly due to inadequate human resource complement. Currently, Siargao District Hospital is licensed to operate as an infirmary. Between 2015 and 2019, its average bed occupancy was 99 percent, and had an annual average of 4,902 admissions, 6,068 outpatient consultations, and 370 emergency cases.

On November 10, 2020, the President signed Republic Act (R.A.) No. 11500, "An Act Upgrading the Siargao District Hospital in the Municipality of Dapa, Province of Surigao del Norte into a Level II General Hospital to be known as the Siargao Island Medical Center, Increasing its Bed Capacity, Upgrading its Professional Health Care Services and Facilities, Authorizing the Increase of its Medical Personnel and Appropriating Funds Therefor." In ensuring equitable access to quality health care goods and services as guaranteed by R.A. No. 11223 (Universal Health Care Act), and in accordance with Section 5 of R.A. No. 11500, the DOH shall develop the implementing rules and regulations of the Act in consultation with the provincial government and other stakeholders.

II. OBJECTIVE

This Administrative Order (AO) sets the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 11500, "An Act Upgrading the Siargao District Hospital in the Municipality of Dapa, Province of Surigao del Norte into a Level II General Hospital to be known as the Siargao Island Medical Center, Increasing its Bed Capacity, 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 the Siargao Island Medical Center and the implementation of R.A. No. 11500.

IV. 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 19, 2012, as amended.

2. Act — refers to R.A. No. 11500, "An Act Upgrading the Siargao District Hospital in the Municipality of Dapa, Province of Surigao del Norte into a Level II General Hospital to be known as the Siargao Island Medical Center, Increasing its Bed Capacity, Upgrading its Professional Health Care Services and Facilities, Authorizing the Increase of its Medical Personnel and Appropriating Funds Therefor."

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

4. Level 2 General Hospital — refers to the type of general hospital according to functional capacity as provided in A.O. No. 2012-0012, as amended.

5. SMC — refers to Siargao Island Medical Center.

V. GENERAL GUIDELINES

SMC shall provide promotive, preventive, diagnostic, curative, rehabilitative and palliative health care services 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 Level 2 General Hospital.

SMC shall strengthen its existing basic and specialty services, and aim for the improvement of its service capability and capacity while continually serving as referral hospital in the municipalities located in Siargao and Bucas Grande Islands in the Province of Surigao del Norte. The annual increase in bed capacity and expansion of services and capability shall be consistent with the SMC's Hospital Development Plan (HDP) as approved by the Health Facility Development Bureau (HFDB).

SMC shall endeavor to ensure the minimum national health system capacity standards for COVID-19 preparedness and response are met in accordance to the provisions of A.O. No. 2020-0016. The Hospital shall comply with the guidelines on the on health facilities across the Health Care Provider Network (HCPN) as they transition into the New Normal Phase, pursuant to the Department Memorandum No. 2020-0268 or the Interim Guidelines on Health Facilities in the New Normal.

VI. IMPLEMENTING MECHANISMS

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

A. Change in Name

Siargao District Hospital shall be renamed as Siargao Island Medical Center, its acronym shall be "SMC" and may also be referred to as Siargao Med. The official address shall be in Dapa, Surigao Del Norte. The Medical Center Chief (MCC) shall ensure that directory and future official documents adhere to the new hospital name, and reflected in the DOH National Health Facility Registry and other official databases.

B. Expansion of Services

SMC shall develop and submit its HDP to the HFDB through the Caraga Center for Health Development (CHD). The HDP shall be consistent with the Philippine Health Facility Development Plan (PHFDP) leading towards a 100-bed capacity Level 2 General Hospital. Future expansion of services shall be consistent to its hospital development plan.

SMC shall establish and operate its Malasakit Center as mandated by R.A. No. 11463 to enable eligible patients to access medical and financial assistance services.

C. Health Human Resources

Based on the approved HDP, SMC 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 23 September 2013 and its succeeding amendments.

SMC 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 this IRR.

D. Assets and Liabilities

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

E. Equipment

SMC shall make an inventory of the existing hospital equipment and undertake upgrading to conform to the DOH standards of a Level II 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.

F. Infrastructure

SMC shall implement and seek the support of the DOH for the construction, repair and/or renovation of its 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 Hospitals Safe from Disasters Program, Green and Safe Health Care Facilities Guidelines, among others.

G. Systems Development

SMC 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).

H. Quality Management

Through the term of its HDP implementation, the SMC'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 or local standards. Its management shall comply with the Gender and Development (GAD) mainstreaming policies in government. aScITE

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.

I. Transition

A Transition Committee shall be created to develop a transition plan to implement the transfer of operations, management and assets of the former Siargao District Hospital, which include but not limited to qualified, competent existing human resources for health, buildings, equipment, and lot. The Committee shall be composed of the DOH, Provincial Government of Surigao Del Norte, and others included upon recommendations of the Caraga CHD Director. The Committee shall be headed by the CHD Director, and shall be terminated upon completion of the tasks.

A Memorandum of Agreement between DOH and Surigao del Norte shall be forged to guide the efficient transfer of properties, human resources and operations of the SMC.

VII. IMPLEMENTING STRUCTURE

A. Administrative Control

The highest DOH-designated official of the Caraga CHD shall have oversight jurisdiction and control over the SMC's operations. The CHD shall monitor the implementation of R.A. No. 11500, and may recommend the necessary further upgrading as guided by this Order.

The MCC of the SMC 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. 11500 shall be sourced out accordingly:

1. Capital investments for infrastructure and equipment shall be sourced from DOH appropriations under the General Appropriations Act (GAA), hospital income including PhilHealth payments, public-private partnership, 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 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 DOH-DBM 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.

VIII. 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.

IX. EFFECTIVITY

This Order shall take effect fifteen (15) days after publication in a newspaper of general circulation. HEITAD

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