House panel approves bill on nationwide hospital referral system

MANILA – The House Committee on Health approved on Wednesday a measure that would establish a National Patient Navigation and Referral System (NPNRS) for the purpose of strengthening the provision of the health care delivery system.

During its virtual hearing, the panel, chaired by Quezon Rep. Angelina Tan, approved House Bill 9633, which would institutionalize and broaden the scope of the One Hospital Command System, which currently conducts health facility referrals in Metro Manila.

Tan, who is also author of the bill, said its passage is urgently necessary to bridge the current fragmented health system in terms of service delivery across the spectrum of care by gatekeeping and navigating patients.

The bill proposes to redefine the One Hospital Command System to become the National Patient Navigation and Referral System (NPNRS), while its implementing arms, the National Patient Navigation and Referral Center (NPNRC) and the Regional Patient Navigation and Referral Centers (RPNRC), will expand the scope to navigate patients through the different levels of the health system to reach and access appropriate health facilities.

The NPNRS is designed to support, strengthen, and facilitate the provision of health services of primary care providers acting as the navigator, coordinator, and initial and continuing point of contact in the health care delivery system pursuant to Republic Act No. 11223, otherwise known as the Universal Health Care Act.

“With its institutionalization, the NPNRS is geared to re-define and reform the nature of the health delivery system of the Philippines to become more responsive and towards greater equity, accessibility, and quality,” Tan said.

Under the bill, the NPNRS will support and strengthen the province-wide and city-wide health care provider networks throughout the country.

It will facilitate coordination among local government units, hospitals, infirmaries, other health facilities, telehealth service providers, local, and national government agencies to maximize the use of limited health resources and improve access to quality health services for patients.

It will likewise serve as a guide in directing patients as well as a gatekeeper in ensuring rational and efficient use of existing health resources and interconnect and facilitate communication among hospitals, infirmaries, other health facilities, telehealth service providers, local, and national government agencies to improve access to quality health services for patients.