Republic Act No. 1939

REPUBLIC ACT No. 1939

AN ACT PRESCRIBING THE APPROPRIATE SHARE OF THE NATIONAL, PROVINCIAL, CITY AND MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS IN THE FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS FOR THE OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF FREE BEDS IN GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS AND/OR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ADDITIONAL WARDS OR HOSPITALS IN THE PHILIPPINES

Section 1. It shall be the duty of the government to provide at least one free general hospital bed for every five thousand population in each province.

Section 2. In order to realize this end, the construction of hospital buildings and the operation and maintenance of all free beds in government hospitals shall be financed from contributions among the Municipal, City, Provincial, and National Governments concerned, at the following prescribed fixed rates:

Section 3. In provinces where there are no government hospitals, or where the ratio of free beds in actual operation is below the ratio provided in Section one hereof, the funds raised thru the provisions in paragraphs (a) and (c) of Section two hereof shall be utilized for the construction of buildings and additional wards during the first years after this Act shall have taken effect if no funds have already been appropriated therefor.

Section 4. Funds raised thru paragraphs (a) and (c) of Section two hereof in the provinces where the ratio of free beds is better than 1:5,000 shall be used for the improvement of the existing facilities and/or the establishment of more branch hospitals.

Section 5. Special hospitals (National Mental Hospital, National Orthopedic Hospital, National Children's Hospital, Maternity and Children's Hospital and San Lazaro Hospital) now in operation and wholly supported by the National Government shall continue to be operated and maintained by the National Government and their total operating expenses shall be computed at eight (P8.00) to ten (P10.00) pesos per bed per day.

Section 6. All government hospitals shall operate with not less than ninety (90%) per centum of its bed capacity as free or charity beds.

Section 7. The supervision and control over all government hospitals established and operated under this Act shall be vested upon the Secretary of Health. The Secretary of Health is also hereby vested with the power to promulgate rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act.

Section 8. All Acts or parts of Acts inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed.

Section 9. This Act shall take upon its approval.

Approved: June 22, 1957