R.A.

8344
RepublicofthePhilippines
CongressofthePhilippines
MetroManila
TenthCongressRepublicActNo.8344August25,1997ANACTPENALIZINGTHEREFUSALOF
HOSPITALSANDMEDICALCLINICSTOADMINISTERAPPROPRIATEINITIALMEDICALTREATMENT
ANDSUPPORTINEMERGENCYORSERIOUSCASES,AMENDINGFORTHEPURPOSEBATAS
PAMBANSABILANG702,OTHERWISEKNOWNAS"ANACTPROHIBITINGTHEDEMANDOF
DEPOSITSORADVANCEPAYMENTSFORTHECONFINEMENTORTREATMENTOFPATIENTSIN
HOSPITALSANDMEDICALCLINICSINCERTAINCASES"
BeitenactedbytheSenateandHouseofRepresentativesofthePhilippinesinCongressassembled::
Section1.Section1ofBatasPambansaBilang702isherebyamendedtoreadasfollows:
"SECTION 1. In emergency or serious cases, it shall be unlawful for any proprietor, president, director,
manager or any other officer, and/or medical practitioner or employee of a hospital or medical clinic to
request,solicit,demandoracceptanydepositoranyotherformofadvancepaymentasaprerequisitefor
confinement or medical treatment of a patient in such hospital or medical clinic or to refuse to administer
medical treatment and support as dictated by good practice of medicine to prevent death or permanent
disability:Provided,Thatbyreasonofinadequacyofthemedicalcapabilitiesofthehospitalormedicalclinic,
theattendingphysicianmaytransferthepatienttoafacilitywheretheappropriatecarecanbegiven,after
thepatientorhisnextofkinconsentstosaidtransferandafterthereceivinghospitalormedicalclinicagrees
tothetransfer:Provided,however,Thatwhenthepatientisunconscious,incapableofgivingconsentand/or
unaccompanied,thephysiciancantransferthepatientevenwithouthisconsent:Provided,further,Thatsuch
transfer shall be done only after necessary emergency treatment and support have been administered to
stabilizethepatientandafterithasbeenestablishedthatsuchtransferentailslessrisksthanthepatient's
continuedconfinement:Provided,furthermore,Thatnohospitalorclinic,afterbeinginformedofthemedical
indicationsforsuchtransfer,shallrefusetoreceivethepatientnordemandfromthepatientorhisnextofkin
any deposit or advance payment: Provided, finally, That strict compliance with the foregoing procedure on
transfershallnotbeconstruedasarefusalmadepunishablebythisAct."
Section2.Section2ofBatasPambansaBilang702isherebydeletedandinplacethereof,newsections2,
3and4areadded,toreadasfollows:
"SEC.2.ForpurposesofthisAct,thefollowingdefinitionsshallgovern:
"(a) 'Emergency' a condition or state of a patient wherein based on the objective findings of a prudent
medical officer on duty for the day there is immediate danger and where delay in initial support and
treatmentmaycauselossoflifeorcausepermanentdisabilitytothepatient.
"(b)'Seriouscase'referstoaconditionofapatientcharacterizedbygravityordangerwhereinbasedon

the objective findings of a prudent medical officer on duty for the day when left unattended to, may cause
lossoflifeorcausepermanentdisabilitytothepatient.
"(c) 'Confinement' a state of being admitted in a hospital or medical clinic for medical observation,
diagnosis,testing,andtreatmentconsistentwiththecapabilityandavailablefacilitiesofthehospitalorclinic.
"(d)'Hospital'afacilitydevotedprimarilytothediagnosis,treatmentandcareofindividualssufferingfrom
illness,disease,injuryordeformity,orinneedofobstetricalorothermedicalandnursingcare.Itshallalso
beconstruedasanyinstitution,buildingorplacewheretherearefacilitiesandpersonnelforthecontinued
andprolongedcareofpatients.
"(e)'Emergencytreatmentandsupport'anymedicalorsurgicalmeasurewithinthecapabilityofthehospital
or medical clinic that is administered by qualified health care professionals to prevent the death or
permanentdisabilityofapatient.
"(f)'Medicalclinic'aplaceinwhichpatientscanavailofmedicalconsultationortreatmentonanoutpatient
basis.
"(g)'Permanentdisability'aconditionofphysicaldisabilityasdefinedunderArticle192CandArticle193B
andCofPresidentialDecreeNo442asamended,otherwiseknownastheLaborCodeofthePhilippines.
"(h) 'Stabilize' the provision of necessary care until such time that the patient may be discharged or
transferred to another hospital or clinic with a reasonable probability that no physical deterioration would
resultfromoroccurduringsuchdischargeortransfer.
"SEC.3.Afterthehospitalormedicalclinicmentionedaboveshallhaveadministeredmedicaltreatmentand
support,itmaycausethetransferofthepatienttoanappropriatehospitalconsistentwiththeneedsofthe
patient,preferablytoagovernmenthospital,speciallyinthecaseofpoororindigentpatients.
"SEC. 4. Any official, medical practitioner or employee of the hospital or medical clinic who violates the
provisionsofthisActshall,uponconvictionbyfinaljudgment,bepunishedbyimprisonmentofnotlessthan
six (6) months and one (1) day but not more than two (2) years and four (4) months, or a fine of not less
thanTwentythousandpesos(P20,000.00),butnotmorethanOnehundredthousandpesos(P100,000.00)
orboth,atthediscretionofthecourt:Provided,however,Thatifsuchviolationwascommittedpursuanttoan
established policy of the hospital or clinic or upon instruction of its management, the director or officer of
such hospital or clinic responsible for the formulation and implementation of such policy shall, upon
convictionbyfinaljudgment,sufferimprisonmentoffour(4)tosix(6)years,orafineofnotlessthanOne
hundredthousandpesos(P100,000.00),butnotmorethanFivehundredthousandpesos(P500,000.00)or
both,atthediscretionofthecourt."
Section3.Section3ofBatasPambansaBilang702isherebyrepealed.
Section4.Section4ofBatasPambansaBilang702shallbecomeSection5thereofandshallbeamended
toreadasfollows:

"SEC. 5. The Department of Health shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to carry out the
provisionsofthisAct."
Section5.ThisActshalltakeeffectfifteen(15)daysafteritspublicationintwo(2)nationalnewspapersof
generalcirculation.
Approved:August25,1997

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IMPLEMENTINGRULESANDREGULATIONSOFREPUBLICACTNO.8344,OTHERWISEKNOWNAS
"ANACTPENALIZINGTHEREFUSALOFHOSPITALSANDMEDICALCLINICSTOADMINISTER
APPROPRIATEINITIALMEDICALTREATMENTANDSUPPORTINEMERGENCYORSERIOUSCASES,
AMENDINGFORTHEPURPOSEBATASPAMBANSABILANG702,OTHERWISEKNOWNASANACT
PROHIBITINGTHEDEMANDOFDEPOSITSORADVANCEPAYMENTSFORTHECONFINEMENTOR
TREATMENTOFPATIENTSINHOSPITALSANDMEDICALCLINICSINCERTAINCASES"
WHEREAS, theTenth Congress of the Republic of the Philippines enacted RepublicAct No. 8344 on June
05,1997
WHEREAS,thePresidentoftheRepublicofthePhilippinessignedintolawR.A.8344onAugust25,1997
WHEREAS,underSection5ofR.A.8344,theDepartmentofHealth(DOH)ismandatedtopromulgatethe
necessaryrulesandregulationstocarryouttheprovisionsoftheaforementionedlaw.
NOW THEREFORE, pursuant to the provisions of R.A. 8344 authorizing the Department of Health to
promulgatethenecessaryrulesandregulations,thefollowingareherebyissued:
1. Section 1 of saidAct provides: "In emergency or serious cases, it shall be unlawful for any proprietor,
president, director, manager or any other officer, and/or medical practitioner or employee of a hospital or
medicalclinictorequest,solicit,demandoracceptanydepositoranyotherformofadvancepaymentasa
prerequisiteforconfinementormedicaltreatmentofapatientinsuchhospitalormedicalclinicortorefuseto
administer medical treatment and support as dictated by good practice of medicine to prevent death or
permanent disability: Provided, That by reason of inadequacy of the medical capabilities of the hospital or
medical clinic, the attending physician may transfer the patient to a facility where appropriate care can be
given,afterthepatientorhisnextofkinconsentstosaidtransfer:Provided,however,Thatwhenthepatient
is unconscious, incapable of giving consent and/or unaccompanied, the physician can transfer the patient
even without his consent, Provided, further, That such transfer shall be done only after the necessary
emergency treatment and support have been administered to stabilize the patient and after it has been
established that such transfer entails less risks than the patient's continued confinement: Provided, finally,
That strict compliance with the foregoing procedure on transfer shall not be construed as a refusal made
punishablebythisAct."

2.Forthepurposeofimplementingtheabove,thefollowingdefinitionsareprovided:
2.1EmergencyAconditionorstateofpatientwhereinbasedontheobjectivefindingsofaprudentmedical
officerondutyforthedaythereisimmediatedangerandwheredelayininitialsupportandtreatmentmay
causelossoflifeorcausepermanentdisabilitytothepatient.
2.2SeriousCasereferstoaconditionofapatientcharacterizedbygravityordangerwhereinbasedonthe
objectivefindingsofaprudentmedicalofficerondutyforthedaywhenleftunattendedto,maycauselossof
lifeorcausepermanentdisabilitytothepatient.
2.3Confinementastateofbeingadmittedinahospitalormedicalclinicformedicalobservation,diagnosis,
testing,andtreatmentconsistentwiththecapabilityandavailablefacilitiesofthehospitalorclinic.
2.4Hospitalafacilitydevotedprimarilytothediagnosis,treatmentandcareofindividualsorothermedical
andnursingcare.Itshallalsobeconstruedasanyinstitution,buildingorplacewheretherearefacilitiesand
personnel for the continued and prolonged care of patients. The hospital shall be duly licensed by the
BureauofLicensingandRegulationoftheDOH.
2.5EmergencyTreatmentandSupportanymedicalorsurgicalmeasurewithinthecapabilityofahospital
ormedicalclinicthatisadministerbyqualifiedhealthcareprofessionalstopreventthedeathorpermanent
disabilityofapatient.(Indeterminingthecapabilityofahospitalorclinic,thestandardsandtheclassification
ofthesefacilitiessetbytheDOHBureauofLicensingandRegulationshallbeused).
2.6MedicalClinicaplaceinwhichpatientscanavailofmedicalconsultationortreatmentonanoutpatient
basis.
2.7PermanentDisabilityaconditionofphysicaldisabilityasdefinedunderArticle192CandArticle193B
andCofPresidentialDecreeNo.442,asamended,otherwiseknownastheLaborCodeofthePhilippines.
2.8 Stabilize the provision of necessary care until such time that the patient may be discharged or
transferred to another hospital or clinic with a reasonable probability that no physical deterioration would
resultfromoroccurduringsuchdischargeortransfer.
3. Transfer of Patients Section 3 of R.A. 8344 provides: "After the hospital or medical clinic mentioned
aboveshallhaveadministeredmedicaltreatmentandconsistentwiththeneedsofthepatientspreferablyto
agovernmenthospital,speciallyinthecaseofpoororindigentpatients."
3.1 The transferring and receiving hospital, shall be as much as practicable, be within ten (10) kilometer
radiusofeachother.
3.2ThetransferofpatientscontemplatedunderthisActshallatalltimesbeproperlydocumented.
3.3 Hospitals may require a deposit or advance payment when the patient is no longer under the state of
emergencyandhe/sherefusestobetransferred.
4.AllhospitalsshalluseaUniformDischarge/TransferSlipforcasescoveredbyRA8344whichshallinclude

thefollowinginformation:
4.1AdmissionFormoftransferringhospital.
4.2TransferFormofTransferringHospital,toincludebutnotnecessarilylimitedtothefollowinginformation:
4.2.1Vitalsigns
4.2.2NameofAttendingPhysician
4.2.3Treatmentgiventopatient
4.2.4Nameofreceivinghospital
4.2.5Nameofcontactpersonandapprovingofficialatreceivinghospital
4.2.6 Consent of the patient or companion. In case of an unaccompanied minor or patient, they may be
transferredwithoutconsentprovidedthattheprovisionsofSection1ofRA8344isstrictlyobserved.
Thehospitalshallendeavortouseallformsofmediatocontactthenextofkinoftheunaccompaniedminor
orpatient.
4.2.7Incaseofrefusaloftransfer,thenameofthehospital,thename(s)ofpersonswhorefusedandthe
reason(s)fortherefusal.
AcopyoftheUniformDischarge/TransferSlipisheretoattachedasAnnexA*.
5. Penal Provisions any official, medical practitioner or employee of the hospital or medical clinic who
violatestheprovisionsofRA8344shall,uponconvictionbyfinaljudgment,bepunishedbyimprisonmentof
notlessthansix(6)monthsandone(1)daybutnotmorethantwo(2)yearsandfourmonths,orafineof
not less than Twenty Thousand Pesos (P20,000.00) but not more than One Hundred Thousand Pesos
(P100,000.00)orbothatthediscretionofthecourt:Provided,however,Thatifsuchviolationwascommitted
pursuanttoanestablishedpolicyofthehospitalorclinicoruponinstructionofitsmanagement,thedirector
or officer of such hospital or clinic responsible for the formulation and imprisonment of four (4) to six (6)
years, or a fine of not less than One Hundred Thousand Pesos (P100,000.00), but not more than Five
HundredThousandPesos(P500,000.00)orboth,atthediscretionofthecourt.
6. In order to demonstrate compliance with the Act's provisions, all hospitals and medical clinics are
instructedtoinstitutethefollowingmeasures:
6.1Acopyofthelawandthisimplementingrulesandregulationsshouldbedisplayedprominentlyathospital
emergencyrooms,hospitaladmission,countersandmedicalclinicpremises.
6.2Hospitalandclinicmanagersshallestablishbillingandcollectionprocedurefortreatmentorconfinement
ofemergencyandseriouscaseswhichshallnotcommenceuntiltheessentialappropriatetreatmentofsuch
caseshasbeencompleted.

6.3 Hospital and clinic managers shall instruct their personnel to provide prompt and immediate medical
attentiontoemergencyandseriouscaseswithoutanypriorrequirementsforpaymentordeposit.
6.4Itisclarifiedthatthelawandthisadministrativeordercoversonlytheprovisionofmedicalandsurgical
goodsandservices,anddonotcovertheprovisionofnonmedicalamenitieswhichhavenothingtodowith
the treatment of the emergency or serious case. The provisions of and payment for these nonmedical
amenitiesshallbesubjecttoappropriateinstitutionalbusinesspractice.
6.5AllegedviolationsoftheActandthisOrdermaybereportedtotheBureauofLicensingandRegulations,
Office for Standards and Regulations, Department of Health, Sta. Cruz, Manila, or to the nearest Regional
Health Office which shall immediately conduct a factfinding investigation.The findings shall be referred to
theappropriatefiscalforcriminalprosecution.Personsconvictedofviolationshallbepunishedinaccordance
withtheAct.
6.6 At the instance of the Bureau of Licensing and Regulation, Administrative proceedings may also be
pursuedagainsterringclinicsorhospitalsthatcouldleadtoeithersuspensionorrevocationofappropriate
licenses.
TheseRulesandRegulationsshalltakeeffectfifteen(15)daysafterpublicationintheOfficialGazetteorina
newspaperofgeneralcirculation.
Adopted:February18,1998
(SGD.)CARMENCITANORIEGAREODICA,MD
SecretaryofHealth
*TextAvailableatOfficeoftheNationalAdministrativeRegister,U.P.LawComplex,Diliman,Q.C.

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