Philippine Heart Center facilities for Visayas and Mindanao pushed

Party-list Alay Buhay Rep. Wes Gatchalian stressed the need to establish Philippine
Heart Center hospital facilities in the Visayas and Mindanao to promote the riht of the
people to better health ser!ices.
"Go!ernment must ensure that specialty hospitals #le!el $% should be &idely and
eoraphically distributed across the country' bein an archipelaic state' instead of its
concentration in the (ational Capital Reion') Rep. Gatchalian insists.
He is author of HB *$*+ entitled "An Act establishin the Visayas and Mindanao
Hospital facilities of the Philippine Heart Center' amendin for that purpose President
,ecree (o. -.$' pro!idin funds therefor' and other purposes.)
/ection + of HB *$*+ states0 "1o carry out the purpose of this Act' includin the
operation of PHC-Visayas and the PHC-Mindanao' the land ac2uisition' construction' and
the ac2uisition of hospital e2uipment' furniture and fi3tures' the sum of 4ne Billion #P5-
B% pesos for each hospital is hereby appropriated. 1hereafter the e3penses of the PHC-
Visayas and PHC-Mindanao shall be pro!ided in the General Appropriations Acts
intended for the PHC.)

1he PHC' Gatchalian pointed out' is a specialty and research center &ith the most
modern facilities and state of the art e2uipment for heart and related diseases in the
country.
"6t has ained the reputation as one of the best Conenital Heart /urery Centers
not only in the country but in the A/7A( Reion as &ell. 8et' its location is not as
comprehensi!e or accessible to many 9ilipinos in the Visayas and Mindanao') the author
stressed.
"1hrouh the establishment of public specialty hospitals' particularly the PHC in
Visayas and Mindanao' &e can address the needs of less fortunate citi:ens &ho are face
&ith the additional burden of tra!ellin to Metro Manila') he added.
HB *$*+' amon others' pro!ides that the PHC shall be administered by a Board of
1rustees' composed of se!en #.% members' to be appointed by the President of the
Philippines &hich shall be the o!ernin Board of all the PHC Hospital &here!er situated.
1he 73ecuti!e ,irector of the Center shall be appointed by the Board of 1rustees.
1he Hospital ,irector for Visayas and Mindanao facilities shall be appointed by the
Board of 1rustees on the basis of search process for a period of si3 #-% years and until their
successors shall ha!e been appointed and 2ualified &ith a reappointment.
NR # 3486B
JUNE 3, 2014
1he 73ecuti!e ,irector of the PHC shall ser!e as Vice-Chairman of the Board and
shall act as chief e3ecuti!e officer of the PHC' &ith authority' amon others' to appoint'
remo!e' and fi3 the compensation of the personnel thereof' sub;ect to the appro!al of the
Board of 1rustees.
Gatchalian<s mo!e promotes the intent of the Constitution to "protect and promote
the riht to health of the people and instill health consciousness amon them.)
6n particular' Art. =666' /ec. 55 states that "1he /tate shall adopt an interated and
comprehensi!e approach to health de!elopment &hich shall endea!or to ma>e essential
oods' health and other social ser!ices a!ailable to all the people at affordable cost. 1here
shall be priority for the needs of the under-pri!ileed' sic>' elderly' disabled' &omen' and
children. 1he /tate shall endea!or to pro!ide free medical care to paupers.) #$?% dpt