of the Philippines

Republic
Department of Health
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY

April 11, 2024

DEPARTMENT CIRCULAR
No. 2024 -—_0129

FOR: ALL DEPARTMENT. OF HEALTH OH

UNDERSECRETARIES AND ASSISTANT SECRETARIES,
DIRECTORS OF CENTERS FOR HEALTH DEVELOPMENT
(CHD) AND HEALTH FACILITIES AND SERVICES
REGULATORY BUREAU (HFSRB); MINISTER OF HEALTH —
BANGSAMORO AUTONOMOUS __REGION IN MUSLIM
MINDANAO (MOH-BARMM); DIVISION CHIEFS OF CHD-
REGULATION, LICENSING AND ENFORCEMENT DIVISION
(RLED AND HFSRB, CHIEFS AND MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF
HOSPITALS; HEADS/MEDICAL DIRECTORS OF OTHER
HEALTH FACILITIES; AND ALL OTHERS CONCERNED

SUBJECT: Reiteration of the DOH Administrative Issuances Governing the

Public Access to Price Information of Health Services and Goods in
Hospitals and Health Facilities

Section 28.16 of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of

the Republic Act (RA) No.
11223, known as the “Universal Health Care Act,” states that healthcare providers and facilities
shall be required to make readily accessible to the public and patients and submit to DOH and
PhilHealth, all pertinent, relevant, and up-to-date information regarding the prices of health
services being offered.”

Pursuant to the abovementioned IRR, this Circular reiterates the licensing requirements and
guidelines set forth in the Administrative Order No. 2021-0008, titled “Guidelines in Public
Access to Price Information of All Health Services and Goods in Health Facilities in the
Philippines,” dated January 18, 2021, which sets guidelines in ensuring price transparency and
in
access health facilities, by requiring that the price list
of all health services and goods offered
in hospitals and other DOH-regulated health facilities are accessible and made available
public.
the to
In addition, this is also to reiterate the utilization of the assessment tool provided in the
Department Circular (DC) No. 2021-0216, titled “Addendum to the Current Assessment Tools
to Monitor for Compliance with the Administrative Order No. 2021-0008, titled “Guidelines
in Public Access to Price Information of All Health Services and Goods in Health Facilities in
the Philippines,” of both the stakeholders in the self-assessment in ensuring compliance with
the licensing requirements, and regulatory officers from the DOH-HFSRB and CHD-RLEDs,
as addendum to the current assessment tools for licensing and accreditation of health facilities.
This is to ensure the continuous compliance of these health facilities to the provisions of AO
No. 2021-0008.

Building 1, San Lazaro Compound, Rizal Avenue, Sta. Cruz, 1003 Manila @ Trunk Line 651-7800 local 1113, 1108, 1135
Direct Line: 711-9502; 711-9503 Fax: 743-1829 e URL: http://www.doh.gov.ph; e-mail: dohosve“@'doh.gov.ph
Further, all DOH-regulated health facilities are reminded on their timely submission and
updating of prices of the health services they provide, to the DOH Health Facility Price
Advisory (HFPA) Online System. This Circular also reiterates the provisions and guidelines
on the operationalization and utilization of the DOH HFPA online system and mobile
application, provided in the DC No. 2021-0454, titled “Utilization of the DOH Health Facility
Price Advisory Mobile Application for Public Access to Price Information by Hospitals and
Other Health Facility Service Providers.”

Thus, all health facilities and health services providers are reminded to ensure continuous
compliance to the provisions of the abovementioned DOH administrative issuances in ensuring
health care services’ price transparency, and such information shall be made accessible and
available to the public. Copies of these administrative issuances can be accessed through this
link: https://tinyurl.com/UHCPriceInformation. The HFPA Online system can be accessed by
the general public through hfpa.doh.gov.ph.

For strict implementation and widest dissemination to all concerned.

Rey
By Authority of the Secretary of Health:

Pew
EMMIE LIZA PEREZ-CHIONG, DMD
Undersecretary of Health,
Health Regulation and Facility Development Cluster
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