National Diabetes Act of 1996

June 11, 1996

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8191

AN ACT PRESCRIBING MEASURES FOR THE PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF DIABETES MELLITUS IN THE PHILIPPINES, PROVIDING FOR THE CREATION OF A NATIONAL COMMISSION ON DIABETES, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

SECTION 1. Short Title.— This Act shall be known as the "National Diabetes Act of 1996."

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. — The State shall protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them. There shall be priority for the needs of the underprivileged sick, elderly, disabled, women and children.

SECTION 3. The National Commission on Diabetes. — There is hereby created a National Commission on Diabetes, hereinafter referred to as the "Commission," which shall be composed of nine (9) members, as follows: one (1) shall be a practising clinical diabetologist, one (1) shall be a licensed physician involved in research and education on diabetes, one (1) shall be an epidemiologist, one (1) shall be a nutritionist with experience in the control of diabetes, one (1) shall be a social scientist, one (1) shall come from a non-government organization engaged in the prevention and treatment of diabetes, one (1) shall come from the academe and one (1) shall be a diabetic with a record of public service in reducing the impact of the disease on affected individuals and their families. The Undersecretary for Public Health Services shall serve as the ex officio Chairperson of the Commission.

The members of the Commission shall be appointed by the President within thirty (30) days from the promulgation of the rules and regulations as specified in Section 14 of this Act, upon the recommendation of the Secretary of Health. Each member shall be entitled to a monthly honorarium to be determined by the Secretary of Health subject to the pertinent budgetary laws, rules and regulations on compensation, honoraria and allowances.

The Commission shall be attached to the Department of Health (DOH) for administrative, technical and budgetary purposes.

SECTION 4. Duties and Functions. — The Commission shall:

a) assess the social and economic impact of diabetes mellitus on individuals, families, households, communities and the nation;

b) evaluate the adequacy of national resources devoted to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diabetes mellitus; and

c) formulate, in accordance with Section 7 of this Act, the National Diabetes Prevention and Control Plan.

SECTION 5. Meetings. — The Commission shall meet not later than thirty (30) days after it has been fully constituted and not less frequently than every month thereafter of the call of the Chairperson of the Commission.

SECTION 6. Secretariat and Technical Staff .— The Commission shall have a secretariat and technical staff to provide administrative support and technical assistance to the Commission to effectively carry out its functions.

SECTION 7. The National Diabetes Prevention and Control Plan. — The long range national plan for the prevention and control of diabetes mellitus shall provide for:

a) the development of strategies and programs, including awareness campaigns and the continuing education of health personnel and concerned individuals, to prevent diabetes mellitus and its complications;

b) the adoption of cost-effective and appropriate screening methods for the detection of diabetes mellitus in its early or pre-symptomatic stages;

c) the investigations into the epidemiology, etiology, diagnosis, treatment, prevention and control of diabetes mellitus;

d) the evaluation of measures employed, including drug and diet therapies, in the control of diabetes mellitus;

e) the establishment of mechanisms to reduce the socio-economic impact of diabetes mellitus on affected individuals and families;

f) the granting of incentives and support for organizations of affected individuals and families;

g) the establishment of coordinated health systems, which shall involve clinicians, researches, allied health professionals, community — based health workers and lay volunteers, for dealing with diabetes mellitus and its complications;

h) the participation of local government units, alongside with concerned government agencies and non-government organizations, in the implementation of programs on diabetes prevention and control;

i) the periodic review of research needs and potential in the control of diabetes mellitus;

j) the systematic utilization of public and private resources to achieve the objectives enumerated above; and

k) the recommendations of the Commission for legislation.

SECTION 8. Implementation of the Plan. — The DOH, through its Office of Public Health Services shall implement the National Diabetes Prevention and Control Plan.

SECTION 9. Comprehensive Report. — The Commission shall submit to both Houses of Congress and the Secretary of Health, within one (1) year of its initial meeting, the National Diabetes Prevention and Control Plan, specified in Section 7 hereof. A report which describes the activities and expenditures of the Commission shall likewise be submitted.

SECTION 10. The Oversight Committee for the Prevention and Control of Diabetes. — Upon submission of the report, the National Commission on Diabetes created by virtue of this Act shall cease to exist and be reconstituted as the Oversight Committee for the Prevention and Control of Diabetes, hereinafter to as the "Committee." The Committee shall continuously be attached to the DOH.

SECTION 11. Function of the Committee. — The Committee shall review and evaluate the implementation of the National Diabetes Prevention and Control Plan and make recommendations to the Secretary of Health for the attainment of the objectives set forth in such plan.

SECTION 12. Sunset Provision. — The Oversight Committee for the Prevention and Control of Diabetes provided in Section 10 hereof shall cease to exist five (5) years after its organization. Its functions, duties and responsibilities together with all of its records, assets and obligations shall devolve to the DOH. cd i

SECTION 13. Appropriations. — The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act shall be included in the General Appropriations Act of the year following its enactment into law and thereafter.

SECTION 14. Rules and Regulations. — The Secretary of Health shall within ninety (90) days from the approval of this Act, promulgate the rules and regulations necessary for the effective implementation of this Act.

SECTION 15. Separability Clause. — If any provision of this Act is declared invalid, the remainder of this Act or any provision not affected thereby, shall remain in form and in effect.

SECTION 16. Repealing Clause. — All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, administrative orders and their implementing rules inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SECTION 17. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved: June 11, 1996

Published in the Official Gazette, Vol. 92 No. 33 page 5092 on August 12, 1996.