Manila, March 2 -- The Senate on Monday approved a measure authorizing the Department of Health (DOH) to determine and adjust the bed capacity and service capability of hospitals under its supervision and control.

Senate Bill No. 1508, or the "DOH Hospital Bed Capacity and Service Capability Rationalization Act," empowers the DOH to set and approve authorized bed capacities through administrative issuance, taking into account development plans, catchment population, burden of disease, available human resources and health care provider networks.

The measure, approved with 20 affirmative votes, zero negative and zero abstentions, requires the continued updating and implementation of the Philippine Health Facility Development Plan to guide...