A new bill in the House of Representatives aims to give patients more control over who can make medical decisions for them if they’re unable to do so themselves.
Photo: Right to Care Card/Facebook
House Bill No. 7068, called the “Right to Care Act,” was filed by Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima. The measure would allow individuals to designate a “health care agent” through a formal registration process. This information could be linked to their PhilHealth ID and a Department of Health-managed registry.
According to De Lima, current rules don’t always recognize partners, family members, or loved ones in non-traditional relationships when medical decisions need to be made. She described the bill as an effort to make the system more inclusive and reduce barriers for people who may otherwise be excluded.
The proposed measure draws on existing local ordinances, including Quezon City’s Right to Care program, and incorporates ideas from other lawmakers who have filed similar proposals.
Quezon City introduced its Right to Care card in 2023, allowing residents, including queer couples, to authorize partners as next-of-kin for health decisions. By 2025, 468 couples had applied. San Juan City also passed a local ordinance in 2025.
If approved nationally, the Right to Care Act could extend this kind of recognition to more patients across the country. The bill is currently under review in the House.
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