Quezon City Pilots Right-To-Care Card for LGBT Patients
Quezon City has taken a landmark step for LGBT+ rights and healthcare equality with the pilot rollout of its Right-to-Care Card. Launched by the Quezon City Government through the Gender and Development Council Office, this pioneering card empowers queer couples to make critical medical decisions for each other, challenging age-old barriers that have excluded LGBT+ families from hospital decision-making rooms. In a country where national law has yet to catch up with the realities faced by queer Filipinos, this initiative marks a bold stride toward genuine inclusion and respect for every QCitizen, regardless of gender or identity.
Learn about the Right to Care Card
How does the Right-to-Care Card work?
The card’s legal backbone is a Special Power of Attorney (SPA) signed and notarized by the couple in front of legal counsel. This SPA authorizes each partner to consent to, refuse, or withdraw medical treatments; access medical records; and handle admissions, discharges, or medical waivers on behalf of their partner. The card itself comes with a secure QR code, giving hospital staff instant access to the notarized SPA, so partners are never left scrambling for proof during emergencies. For now, it’s honored in major Quezon City government hospitals, such as Quezon City General Hospital, Novaliches District Hospital, and Rosario Maclang Bautista General Hospital. With ongoing orientation seminars and outreach efforts, city officials are working hard to expand acceptance to even more healthcare providers.
CHR: Right to Care Card a landmark for equality
Who can apply and what’s the process?
Queer couples can apply as long as at least one partner is a Quezon City resident. Applicants register for an orientation, either in person at the Gender and Development Council Office or online. After attending the legal orientation, both partners sign the SPA in front of the city’s legal counsel. The council then processes and notarizes the document, and couples are notified within a week when their e-copies are ready. The physical Right-to-Care Card can take up to four weeks for release. This process ensures both legal validity and accessibility, making the card practical for everyday realities.
See detailed application steps here
What does the card guarantee?
With the Right-to-Care Card, queer partners no longer have to fear being sidelined in moments of crisis. Cardholders are empowered to:
- Consent to or refuse medical treatment for their partner
- Access and manage essential medical records
- Authorize hospital admissions and discharges
- Handle waivers and, if necessary, initiate disputes
- Gain growing recognition in both public and (soon) private hospitals in Quezon City
This initiative is already making a difference: as of 2025, 468 couples have secured their cards, and a new city ordinance is moving to ensure all hospitals in Quezon City will honor the program.
Read how Quezon City is setting the trend for LGBT+ inclusion
Know Your Rights: Standing Tall, Together
Traditionally, only legal spouses or next of kin were authorized to make decisions in hospitals, leaving queer couples invisible in the eyes of the system. Now, with the Right-to-Care Card, Quezon City affirms that love and chosen family matter in urgent moments. The Commission on Human Rights has called this a “monumental step” for equality, showing that strong local leadership can make the law work for every Filipino rainbow family.
Wondering how to register your partnership or support the expansion of inclusive programs? Reach out to the Gender and Development Council Office, and let’s continue building a Quezon City where every love counts.
