What are the basic considerations need in establishing a hospital?

The proponent should have a complete understanding or knowledge on project viability and sustainability.

For new general hospitals, a Certificate of Need (CON) should be obtained from the Center for Health Development (Regional Health Office) in the region where the proposed hospital is to be located. The proponent must satisfy all the criteria set for CON issuance.

What are the requirements for the Certificate of Need for the establishment of a new general hospital?

A completed Application Form mus be submitted to the Center for Health Development (CHD). This form can be downloaded from the DOH website (www.doh.gov.ph under Doing Businees with DOH).  The Evaluation Tool used by the CHD to evaluate CON applications based on a set of criteria can also be downloaded from the website.

What are the steps required in the application for a Permit to Construct (

A Permit to Construct is needed for the construction of new health facilities, transfer of site of existing facility, upgrading in category of an existing faciilty, increase in bed capacity in an existing facility, expansion or renovation of an existing health facility, re-opening of previously closed health facilities, and for the license application of existing health facilities whose license has lapsed for more than two years.

The proponent obtains an Application Form for Permit to Construct from the BHFS, CHD or from the DOH website.  A completed Application Form is then submitted either to the CHD or BHFS, along with other documentary requirements and payment of the corresponding application fee.  The PTC application is then evaluated by the Health Facility Establishment Review COmmittee (HFERC) established for this purpose.

If the application is approved, a PTC certificate is issued to the proponent together with the evaluation and recommendations of the HFERC, with a copy furnished to the concerned CHD.  The proponent may then begin construction/renovation/expansion of a health facility.  If the application is disapproved, a copy of the evaluation and recommendations of the HFERC will be sent to the proponent.  THie proponent shall then revise the floor plans of the proposed health facility and re-submits then to the BHFS. 

Is there a minimum space requirement for each area in a health facility?

Yes. For a hospital, for example, there are specific areas which require a particular amount of space.  This information contained in the different CHecklists for the Evaluation of Floor Plans for each of the health facilitiesm, which can be downloaded from the DOH website.

On the other hand, there are other areas in a health facility for which there are only recommended guidelines on the floor area.  These guidelines can be downloaded from the DOH website.

What are the documents needed in the application for a Permit to Construct?

a.  A completed application form for PTC

b.  Three (3 sets of Site Development and Architectural Floor Plans, showing all areas in a healthfacility with appropriate scale, dimensions and labels, and demonstrating proper spatial and functional relationship of areas.  For some health facilities, such as hosptials, the floor plans must be signed and sealed by a Architect.

c.  If the application is filed at the CHD, a Letter of Endorsement to the Director of the BHFS

d.  If a new health facility:

i. Certificate of Need for new general hospitals from the CHD
ii. Zoning Certificate/Locational Clearance from the CIty/Municipal Planning and Development Office (Note: this is not required in some health facilities, eg. Clinical laboratories)

e.  Proof of registration of Name of Health Facility

i.  DTI/SEC Registration (for private health facility)
ii. Enabling Act/Board Resolution (for government health faclity) 

How long will it take to secure a Permit to Construct for a health facility?

Upon submission of complete documents, each application for a Permit to Construct is approved/disapproved within five (5) to fifteen (15) working days.