A BILL seeking tax incentives for doctors rendering free services to indigent patients, especially those serving in far-flung areas, has been filed at the House of Representatives.
Under House Bill No. 5672 filed by Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte, physicians who continuously render pro bono services to poor patients will be given tax credits to be deducted from their gross income.
The bill said the tax incentives is one way of recognizing the doctors’ “selfless and committed efforts in helping provide quality healthcare to Filipinos.”
It said with or without the pandemic, these doctors “have braved the frontlines” to be able to extend their services for free to the underprivileged and marginalized.
The measure noted that according to the University of the Philippines’ latest estimates, there are 3.7 doctors in the country for every 10,000 Filipinos, which is way below the World Health Organization-prescribed ratio of one for every 1,000 or 10 for every 10,000 people.
Duterte said that despite this dismal ratio, many doctors still choose to render pro bono services especially in far-flung communities where health care remains scarce.
Under HB 5672, the Department of Health and the Philippine Medical Association are tasked to evaluate the pro bono services rendered by physicians by considering the number of hours put in and the nature of the treatment involved in providing the free services.
The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), in consultation with the DOH and PMA, will promulgate the rules and regulations for the effective enforcement of the bill’s provisions.
