President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has approved a law that aims to establish and institutionalize specialty centers in every region in the country.

Marcos signed into law on Thursday last week Republic Act (RA) No. 11959 or the Regional Specialty Centers Act "to establish and institutionalize healthcare centers in the region, ensuring accessible and affordable healthcare services for all."

Under the law, the Department of Health (DOH) is designated to establish specialty centers in its hospitals in every region and in  Government-owned or -Controlled Corporation (GOCC) specialty hospitals, prioritizing cancer care, cardiovascular care, lung care, renal care and kidney transplant, brain and spine care, trauma care and burn care.

The specialty centers shall also prioritize orthopedic care, physical rehabilitation medicine, infectious disease and tropical medicine, toxicology, mental health, geriatric care, neonatal care, dermatology, eye care, and ear, nose, and throat care.

The law also mandates the DOH to categorize the level of service capability of the specialty centers as national specialty centers (NSCs), advanced comprehensive specialty centers (ACSCs), and basic comprehensive specialty centers (BCSCs) pursuant to the Philippine Health Facility Development Plan.  

It also emphasized that the establishment of specialty centers shall adhere to the guidelines set by the DOH on planning and prioritizing health facilities based on the upgrading of hospitals, evidence of the health needs and demands, and service capability of hospitals and geographic or physical access.

The appropriate level of specialized healthcare provider role in the continuum of care, the availability of competent health human resources for specialized healthcare, and the operational and financial performance of the DOH facilities should also be considered in setting up specialty centers.

Implementing rules and regulations of the law shall be promulgated by the DOH, in consultation with the NSCs, DOH hospitals and other stakeholders, within 60 days from the effectivity of the law.

The law will take effect 15 days from its publication in the Official Gazette, or in a newspaper of general circulation.

It is a consolidation of Senate Bill No. 2212 and House Bill No. 7751, which was subjected to a bicameral conference committee meeting whose report was adopted by the Senate and the House of Representatives on May 31, 2023.

RA 11959 will be known as “An Act Establishing Specialty Centers in Department of Health Hospitals in Every Region and in Government-owned or -Controlled Corporation Specialty Hospitals and Appropriating Funds Therefor.”