FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 746 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
1 
After more than four (4) decades since the passage of RA No. 5921 
entitled "An Act Regulating the Practice of Pharmacy and Setting Standards of 
Pharmaceutical Education in the Philippines and for Other Purposes," this law has 
not been amended in spite of social, economic, political and professional changes. 
The Philippine Pharmacists Association (PPhA) has taken the initiative to 
propose amendments based on a series of consultations with various sectors and 
stakeholders to make it more responsive to the needs of the modern society. The 
PPhA, in consultation with the Philippine Regulations Commission (PRC) has 
created the Committee on the Revision of the Pharmacy Law, which is composed 
of active pharmacy leaders who conducted a review and assessment of the 
implementation of the said law. It took them 5 years to review this measure. 
This bill seeks to standardize and regulate pharmacy education; examine 
registration of graduates of schools and colleges of pharmacy; supervise, control 
and regulate the practice of pharmacy; enhance professional competence through 
continuing professional development and research; and integrate pharmacy 
profession. Further, the PRC and the Professional Regulatory Board of Pharmacy 
shall have the primary responsibility to conduct licensure examinations for 
pharmacists; approve the registration of pharmacists and the certification of drug 
handlers, prepare, adopt and issue the Table of Specifications; among others. 
In view of the foregoing, passage of the bill is earnestly sought. 
Senator 


2 
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
."I'L.fN 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 7 4 6 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
[ 
REGULATING THE PRACTICE OF PHARMACY IN THE PHILIPPINES, 
REPEALING FOR THE PURPOS.E REPUBLIC ACT NO. 5921, THE PHARMACY 
LAW, AS AMENDED, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
ARTICLE I 
GENERAL PROVISIONS 
SECTIOIN 1. -
Title. • This Act shall be known as the "Philippine 
Pharmacy Act of 2010". 
SEC. 2. -
Statement of Policy. 
The state recognizes the vital role of 
pharmacists in quality healthcaredelivery through their services in providing safe, 
effective, and quality drugs or medicines; drug information, patient medication 
counseling, and health promotion. The pharmacists' professional service shall, 
therefore, be promoted as a component of the total healthcare system, which shall 
ensure the physical well-being of the Filipinos. 
Hence, the state shall develop and nurture competent, productive, morally upright, 
and well-rounded pharmacists whose standards of professional practice and 
service shall be excellent, qualitative, world-class and internationally recognized, 
globally competitive through regulatory measures, programs, and activities that 
foster their continuing professiona,1 development. 
SEC. 3. - Objectives . • This Act provides for, and shall govern: 
(a) the standardization and regulation of pharmacy education, 
(b) the examination for registration of graduates of schools and colleges of 
pharmacy, 
(c) the supervision, control, and regulation of the practice of pharmacy in the 
Philippines 
(d) the enhancement of professional competence through continUing 
professional development, research, and other related activities and 
(e) the integration of the pharmacy profession. 
SEC. 4. - Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the term: 
(a) Biologic Products are microorganisms, sera, toxins and similar products 
used for the prevention or cure of human diseases; 


3 
(b) Brand Name means the proprietary or trade. name given by the 
manufacturer to distinguish its product from those of the competitors; 
(c) Cipher means a method of secret writing that substitutes other letters or 
characters for the letter intended or transpose the letter after arranging 
them in blocks or squares; 
(d) Code means a system of words or other symbols arbitrarily used to 
represent words; 
(e) Compounding is the preparation, miXing, assembling, packaging, or 
labeling of a drug (i) as the result of a prescription or drug order by a 
physician, dentist, optometrist, or veterinarian, based on the said 
practitioner-patient-pharmacist relationship in the course of professional 
practice, or (ii) for the purpose of, or in relation to, research, teaching, or 
chemical analysis and not for sale or dispensing; 
(f) Cosmetics are (i) products intended to be applied, poured, sprinkled, or 
sprayed on, introduced into, or otherwise applied to the human body, or any 
part thereof for cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness or 
improving the appearance, or (ii) ingredients or other substances intended 
for use as a component of any such product; 
(g) Counterfeit drug/medicine/pharmaceuticaf refers to medicinal products with 
the correct ingredients but not in the amounts as provided, wrong 
ingredient, without active. ingredient/s, with insufficient quantity of active 
ingredient, which result in the reduction of the drug's safety, efficacy, 
quality, strength or purity. It is a drug that is deliberately and fraudulently 
mislabeled with respect to identity and/or source or with fake packaging, 
and can apply to both branded and generic products. It shall also refer to: 
(i) 
the drug itself or the container or labeling thereof or any part of such 
drug, container, or labeling bearing without authorization the 
trademark, trade name or other identification mark or imprint or any 
likeness to that which is owned or registered in the Bureau of Patent, 
Trademark and Technology Transfer (BPTTT) in the name of 
another natural or juridical person; 
(ii) 
a drug product refilled in containers by unauthorized persons if the 
legitimate labels or marks are used; 
(iii) 
an imported drug product not registered with the Food and Drug 
Administration (FDA), except drugs brought in the country for 
personal use as confirmed and justified by accompanying medical 
records; and 
(iv) 
a drug which contains no amount of a different active ingredient or 
less than eighty percent (80%) of the active ingredient it purports to 
possess as distinguished from an adulterated drug including 
reduction or loss or efficacy due to expiration. 
(h) Dangerous drugs include those listed in the Schedules annexed to the 
1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs as amended by the 197 
Protocol, and in the Schedules annexed to the 1971 Single Convention on 
Psychotropic Substances as enumerated in the attached annex in Republic 
Act No. 9165, which is an integral part of the Act; 


4 
(i) Devices refers to any instrument, apparatus, implement, machine, implant, 
in vitro reagent or calibrator, software, material or other similar or related 
article: 
(a) intended by the manufacturer to be used, along or in combination, for 
human beings for one or more of the specific purpose(s) of: 
(i) diagnosis, prevention, monitoring, treatment, alleviation of diseases 
of diseases, 
(ii) diagnosis, monitoring, treatment, alleviation of or compensation for an 
injury 
(iii) investigation, replacement or modification or support of the anatomy of a 
physiological process, 
(iv) supporting or sustaining life, 
(v) control of conception, ' 
(vi) disinfection of medical devices, 
(vii) providing information for medical or diagnostic purposes by means of 
an in vitro examination of specimen derived from the human body; and 
(b) which does not achieve its primary intended action in or on the human 
body by pharmacological, immunological or metabolic means, but which 
may be assisted in their intended function by such means; 
U) Dispensing is a process wl")ereby a pharmacist receives and checks a valid 
prescriber's medication order or prescription, and makes available drugs 
and medicines, with advice on their proper use and other relevant 
information; 
(k) Drugs and Medicines refer to chemical compounds or biological 
substances, other than food, intended for use in the treatment, prevention 
or diagnosis of disease in humans or animals, including but not limited to: 
(i) 
any article recognized in the official United States Pharmacopoeia,-
National Formulary, official Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the 
United States, Philippine Pharmacopoeia, Philippine National Drug 
Formulary, 
British 
Pharmacopoeia, 
European 
Pharmacopoeia, 
Japanese Pharmacopoeia, and any official compendium or any 
supplement to them; 
(ii) 
any article intended for use in diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, 
or prevention of disease of man and animals; 
(iii) 
any article other than food intended to affect the structure or any 
function of the human body or animals; 
(iv) 
any article intended for use as a component of articles specified in 
clauses (i), (ii), and (iii) not including devices or their components, 
parts, accessories; and 
(v) 
herbal and/or traditional drugs which are articles of plant or animal 
origin used in folk medicine which are: (a) recognized in the 
Philippine National Drug Formulary; (b) intended for use in the 
treatment, or cure or mitigation of disease symptoms, injury or body 
defects in human$; (c) other than food, intended to affect the 
structure or any function of the human body; (d) in finished or ready-
to-use dosage form; and (e) intended for use as a component of any 
of the articles specified in clauses (a), (b), (c) or (d); 


41 
' 
5 
(I) Drug or Pharmaceutical Laboratory or Pharmaceutical Manufacturing 
Laboratory means an establishment where pharmaceutical products, 
proprietary medicines, or pharmaceutical specialties are formulated, 
prepared, compounded, and standardized; 
(m)Drug Establishments means FDA-registered companies involved in the 
manufacture, importation, repacking, and/or distribution of drugs or 
medicines; 
(n) Drug Outlets refer to drugstores, pharmacies, and other business 
establishments which are registered with the FDA and which legally sell 
drugs and medicines; 
(0) Drugstore or Pharmacy means a place or establishment licensed by FDA 
where drugs, chemicals, pharmaceutical products, specialties, and devices 
are legally sold at retail or wholesale and where medical, dental, and 
veterinary prescriptions are compounded and dispensed; 
(p) Expiration Date means the date after which the product is not expected to 
possess its claimed potency, efficacy, quality, and safety; and after which it 
is not legal to sell or distribute or use the said product; 
(q) Filling of a prescription refers to the act of dispensing or giving out of 
medicines in accordance with the doctor's order; 
(r) Househo/d 
Remedies 
shall 
refer 
to 
any 
preparation 
containing 
pharmaceutical substances of common or ordinary use to relieve common 
physical ailments which may be dispensed without a medical prescription in 
original packages, bottles or containers, the nomenclature of which has 
been duly approved by FDA in the process of registration as defined in 
FDA AD No.115 s. 1991); . 
(s) Generic Name means the scientifically and internationally recognized name 
of the active ingredientls as approved by the Food and Drug Administration; 
(I) Label means a display of written, printed or graphic information upon the 
immediate container, or attached to or accompanying any pharmaceutical 
products. 
(u) Labeling means all labels and other written, printed, or graphic matter (1) 
upon any item or any of its'containers or wrappers or (2) accompanying any 
such item; 
(v) Over-the- counter drugs are drugs used for symptomatic relief of minor 
ailments which may be dispensed without a prescription. 
(w) Pharmaceutical products or Pharmaceutical specialties are drugs, 
preparations, or mixture 'of drugs under a brand or generic name and 
intended for the cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease in man 
or animals 
(x) Pharmacist-only over-the:.counter drugs are 
FDA-classified over-the-
counter drugs and/or substances which should only be obtained from the 
drugstore or pharmacy with mandatory pharmacist's advice on their 
selection and proper use; 
(y) Person includes an individual, partnership, corporation, or any juridical 
entity; 


6 
(z) Pharmaceutical marketing means any activity undertaken, organized or 
sponsored by a drug establishment which is directed at promoting the 
prescription, recommendation, supply, administration or consumption of its 
pharmaceutical product(s) through direct personal contact and all media, 
including the internet; 
(aa) 
Pharmacy Assistants are those persons who assist pharmacists in 
dispensing medicines in community, hospital, industrial settings and in 
other activities, such as, but not limited to medical missions, under the 
supervision of the pharma,cist and as described in Sections 17 and 42 of 
this Act; 
(bb) 
Physician's samples refer to medicines given to a physician for free 
for promotional purposes; 
(cc) 
Prescription drugs are those drugs which can only be dispensed by a 
pharmacist to a patient upon the presentation of a valid prescription from a 
physician, dentist, optometrist or veterinarian and for which pharmacist's 
advice on their proper use is necessary; 
(dd) 
Refilling of a prescription refers to the act of dispensing or giving out 
the remaining balance of medicines ordered in the prescription when the 
whole quantity ordered is not yet completely filled; 
(ee) 
Secret Keys means a characteristic style or symbols kept from the 
knowledge of others or disclosed confidentially to a few individuals. 
SEC. 5. - Enforcement. -
The Professional Regulatory Board of Pharmacy and the 
Professional Regulation Commission are the body responsible for the implementation of 
the provisions of this Act. 
ARTICLE II 
THE PROFESSIONAL REGULATORY BOARD OF PHARMACY 
SEC. 6. - The Board of Pharmacy and its Composition. - There is hereby 
created a Professional Regulatory Board of Pharmacy, hereinafter called the 
Board, under the administration, control, and supervision of the Professional 
Regulation Commission therein ·after called the Commission, composed of a 
Chairman and four (4) members, each of which represent the areas of practice of 
community, hospital, manufacturing, academe, and government service, who shall 
be appointed by the President of the Philippines from the recommendees ranked 
by the Commission from the list of nominees submitted by the Accredited 
Integrated National Organization for Pharmacists. 
SEC. 7. - Qualifications of Board Members. - To be appointed as member 
of the Board of Pharmacy, a person shall be: 
, 
(a) A citizen of the Philippines and a resident for at least five (5) years; 
(b) A duly registered pharmacist, preferably a holder of a Master of Science in 
Pharmacy, or its equivalent degree and has been in the practice of 
pharmacy for at least ten years; 
(c) Of good moral character with a valid certificate of registration, valid 
professional identification .card and preferably with teaching experience; 
and preferably representing each field of practice; 


.' 
7 
(d) At the time of appointment, not a member of the faculty or administrative 
office of any school, col/ege or university offering degree programs in 
pharmacy nor connected in a review school or center; nor has any direct or 
indirect pecuniary interests' in any school, college, or any institution offering 
pharmacy; and 
(e) A member of good standing for at least five (5) years of the accredited 
integrated national pharmacy association but, at the time of nomination, not 
an officer or trustee thereof. 
SEC. 8. -
Term of Office of Board Members. - The chairman and the 
members of the Board shall hold office for three (3) years after appointment or 
until their successors shall have been appointed and duly qualified; Provided, the 
incumbent Board members shall finish their terms to complete the membership of 
the Board. Provided, further, that the chairman or any member may be re-
appointed for another term but in no case shall helshe serve for more than six 
years. 
SEC. 9. - Compensation of the Board of Pharmacy. - As provided for in 
RA No. 8981, known as the "PRC Modernization Act of 2000", the members of 
the Board shall receive allowances and benefits equivalent to at least two salary 
grades lower than the salary grade of the Commissioner, while the chairman of the 
Board shall receive a monthly compensation equivalent to two steps higher than 
the members of the Board. The chairman and members shall be entitled to other 
allowances and benefits provided under existing laws. 
SEC. 10. - Powers, Functions and Duties of the Board. - The Board shall 
exercise these specific powers, functions, and duties: 
(a) Conduct licensure examination for pharmacists; 
(b) Approve the registration of pharmacists and the certification of drug 
handlers as covered by Sec. 42 of this Act; 
(c) Prepare, adopt, and issue the Table of Specifications for the subjects in the 
board licensure examination for pharmacists in consultation with the 
academe; determine and prepare the questions therefor; score and rate the 
examination papers with the name and signature of the Board member 
concerned appearing thereon and submit the results in all subjects duly 
signed by the members of the Board to the Commission no later than three 
(3) days from the last .day of examination unless extended by the 
Commission for justifiable cause/s; 
(d) Review andlor amend the scope of licensure examination; 
(e) Add, delete, modify the scope, definition and standards of practice of 
pharmacy; 
(f) Reprimand any pharmacist, suspend, or revoke hislher certificate of 
registration on the grounds as provided for in Sec. 46 hereof, after a formal 
administrative investigatio'1; 
(g) Promulgate from time to time the necessary rules and regulations for the 
effective enforcement of this Act; 
(h) Monitor the conditions affecting the practice of pharmacy in the Philippines 
and adopt measures that may be deemed proper for the enhancement of 
the profession andlor the maintenance of high professional, academic, 
ethical and technical standards; 
(i) Verify or confirm the qualifications and conditions of pharmacists employed 
in drugstores, hospital pharmacies, drug or pharmaceutical laboratories, 
drug traders, importers, cosmetics and medical device establishments for 
which the Board may designate inspectors from the Food and Drug 
Administration and other related institutions for such purpose; 


8 
0) Investigate cases arising from violations of this Act, the rules and 
regulations promulgated thereunder and the Pharmacist's Code of Ethics, 
technical standards, and other Board issuances and for this purpose, may 
issue summons, subpoena duces ad testificandum and subpoena duces 
tecum to the respondents 'and/or witnesses to compel their attendance in 
such investigations or hearings: Provided that, the decision of the Board 
shall, unless appealed to the Commission, becomes final and executory 
after fifteen (15) days from receipt of notice of judgment or decision; 
(k) Cite a person in contempt for failure or refusal to obey the lawful order of 
the Board in accordance with the Revised Rule of Court; 
(I) Delegate the hearing or investigation of administrative cases filed before 
them whereat the hearing shall be presided over by at least one (1) 
member of the Board conc~rned assisted by a Legal or Hearing Officer of 
the Commission, provided that if the charge is not related to the technical 
practice of the profession, the hearing may be conducted without a member 
of the Board; 
(m)Conduct, through the Legal Officers of the Commission, summary 
proceedings on minor violations of the respective regulatory laws, as 
determined by the Board. Violations of the rules and regulations issued by 
the Board to implement, this Act, including violations of the general 
instructions to examinees committed by examinees, and render summary 
judgment thereon which shall, unless appealed to the Commission, become 
final and executory after fifteen (15) days from receipt of notice of judgment 
or decision; 
, 
(n) Subject to the final approval by the Commission, recommend registration 
without examination and the issuance of corresponding certificate of 
registration and professional identification card to foreign pharmacists duly 
licensed in countries with agreement of reCiprocity with the Philippine 
government; 
(0) Prepare an annual report of accomplishments on programs, projects, and 
activities of the Board during the year for submission to the Commission 
after 
the 
close 
of 
each 
calendar 
year 
including 
appropriate 
recommendations on issues or problems affecting the practice of pharmacy; 
(p) Issue and promulgate guidelines on continuing professional development 
education in coordination with the accredited professional organization; 
(q) Recommend to the CHED for the closure of the program or course of 
pharmacy offered by a school/college pursuant to the laUer's policy thereon; 
and 
(r) Perform any implied, incidental, necessary power for the effective 
implementation of this Act 
SEC. 11. - Grounds for Suspension or Termination of Term of Office of 
the Chairman or Member of th~ Board from his/her Office. - The President of 
the Philippines, upon the recommendation of the Commission, after giving the 
Chairman or the member of the Board an opportunity to defend himself/herself in 
an administrative investigation conducted by the Commission, may remove or 
suspend him/her on any of the following grounds: 
(a) 
Gross neglect, incompetence or dishonesty in the discharge of his/her 
duty; 
(b) Violation of any of the causes/grounds/ and the prohibited acts provided in 
this Act and the offenses in the Revised Penal Code, the Anti-Graft and 
Corruption Practices and other laws; 
(c) 
Involvement in the manipulation, tampering or rigging of the licensure 
examination, its questions and/or its results and the disclosure of 
classified and confidential information pertaining to the licensure 
examination. 


9 
(d) Conviction of an offense involving moral turpitude by a court of 
jurisdiction. 
The Commission, in the conduct of investigation shall be guided by Section 7, 
and Section 15 of RA No. 8981 and the rules on administrative investigation 
thereof, and the applicable provisions of the New Rules of Court. 
ARTICLE '" 
EXAMINATION, REGISTRATION, CERTIFICATION, AND LICENSURE 
SEC. 12 . • Passing of Licensure Examination Requirement. - Except as 
otherwise specifically allowed under this Act, applicants for registration for the 
practice of pharmacy shall be required to pass a licensure examination as 
provided for in this Act and in accordance with Sec. 7 (d) of R.A. No. 8981. 
SEC. 13 . • Qualifications' of Applicants. - An applicant for the licensure 
examination for pharmacy shall satisfactorily show that he/she possesses the 
following qualifications: 
(a) Citizen of the Philippines: or a foreign citizen whose country/state has 
reciprocity with the Philippines in the practice of pharmacy; 
(b) Of good moral character and reputation; 
(c) A holder of a Bachelor's degree in pharmacy duly recognized or accredited 
by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and conferred by a 
school! college/university duly authorized by the government or its 
equivalent degree obtained by either a Filipino or foreign citizen from an 
institution of learning ina foreign country/state, provided it is duly 
recognized and/or accredited by CHED; 
(d) Not convicted of an offense involving moral turpitude by a court of 
competent jurisdiction; and 
(e) He must have completed an Internship Program which shall consist of at 
least nine hundred sixty hours (960 hours), six hundred hours (600 hours) 
of which shall be spent "equally distributed in a community pharmacy, 
hospital pharmacy, or pharmaceutical industry - manufacturing, regulatory, 
marketing, or research - and other related fields, while three hundred sixty 
hours (360 hours) of internship shall be spent in any of the accredited 
pharmacy establishments or entity chosen by the candidate. 
For this purpose, the abovementioned community pharmacy, pharmaceutical 
company, and hospital pharmacy shall keep a separate record of pharmacy 
students who underwent said internship program directly under their control 
and as a result thereof, shall issue the proper certificate of said hours of 
internship. It shall also be the duty of said establishments to submit semi-
annually a complete report of the names of those who have undergone 
training under their supervision and the corresponding number of hours of 
internship credit of each of the pharmacy students to their respective colleges 
or schools and to the Board .. 
SEC. 14 .• Scope of Examination. -
The licensure examination for 
pharmacists shall be divided into two major divisions: Pharmacy as Science and 
Pharmacy as Practice. Pharmacy as Science shall consist of subjects in Group I 
(Public Health, Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Parasitology), Group " (Drug 
Delivery Systems, Physical Pharmacy, Manufacturing Pharmacy, Quality Control I, 
Quality Control II), Group III (Pharmaceutical Biochemistry, Pharmacognosy, Plant 
Chemistry, and Philippine . Medicinal Plants, Pharmacy and Chemistry of 
Medicinals I and Pharmacy and Chemistry of Medicinals II. 


10 
Pharmacy as Practice shall be made up of the following subjects: Group IV 
(Pharmaceutical Calculations, Hospital Pharmacy, Clinical Pharmacy, Dispensing 
and Medication Counseling), Group V (Biopharmaceutics and Pharmacokinetics, 
Pharmacology 
I, 
Pharmacology 
II, 
Clinical 
Toxicology), 
and 
Group VI 
(Pharmaceutical Jurisprudence and Ethics, Pharmaceutical Marketing and 
Entrepreneurship and Pharmaceutical Administration and Management). 
The subjects shall be weighed as'follows: Group 1,10%; Group II, 20%; Group III, 
20%; Group IV, 20%; Group V, 20%; and Group VI, 10 %. 
The Board subject to the approval by the Commission may introduce relevant 
changes, as the need arises, to the content of the examination and the relative 
weight attributed to each subject in the examination may be made after 
consultation with the duly recognized association of schools or colleges of 
pharmacy and the CHED. 
. 
SEC. 15. -
Holding of Examination. -
Examination for registration to 
practice pharmacy in the Philippines shall be given twice a year in such places and 
dates as the Commission may designate in the Resolution thereof on the Master 
Schedules for all licensure examinations in accordance with Sec. 7 (d) of R.A. No. 
8981. The said places and dates may be subject to change under valid 
circumstances and reasons. 
SEC. 16. -
Ratings In the Licensure Examination. -
In order to be 
registered and licensed as a pharmacist, a candidate must obtain a general 
weighted average of seventy-five per cent (75%) or over with no ratings of fifty 
percent (50%) in more than two (2) subjects. 
. 
SEC. 17. Registration and Licensure of Pharmacy Assistant. -
A 
general weighted average below 75% but not lower than 70%, with no ratings of 
fifty percent (50%) in more than two subjects, shall qualify an examinee to be 
registered and licensed by the Professional Regulation Commission to practice as 
a pharmacy assistant who shall work under the supervision of a registered 
pharmacist. To be licensed as a pharmacist, a pharmacy assistant must pass 
succeeding board licensure examination for pharmacists with a general average 
rating as provided in Section 16. 
. 
SEC. 18. - Report of Rating. -The Board shall submit to the Commission 
the ratings obtained by each candidate within ten (10) calendar days after the 
examination, unless extended for just cause. Upon the release of the results of the 
examination, the Commission shall send by mail the rating received by each 
examinee at his/her given address using the mailing envelope submitted during 
the examination. 
SEC. 19. -
Oath of Profession. -
All successful candidates in the 
licensure examination shall take their oath of profession before the Chairman or 
any member of the Board or any authorized officer of the Commission to 
administer oaths, prior to entering' the practice of pharmacy. 
SEC. 20. -
Issuance of Certificate of Registration and Professional 
Identification Card. - A certificate of registration shall be issued to those who are 
registered upon payment of fees prescribed by the Commission. It shall bear the 
signatures of the Chairperson and the Commissioners of the Commission and the 
Chairman and Members of the Board, stamped with the official seal of the 
Commission and of the Board, certifying the person named therein is entitled to 
the practice of the profession with all the privileges appurtenant thereto. Until 
revoked or suspended in accordance with this Act, it shall remain in full force and 
effect. 
. 


11 
A professional identification card bearing the registration number and date, its 
validity and expiry duly signed by the Chairperson of the Commission shall 
likewise be issued to every registrant who has paid the prescribed fee. It shall be 
reissued upon compliance with the continuing professional development education 
requirement as specified in Article IV, Sec. 27 (d) of this Act and upon payment of 
the prescribed three-year registration fees therefor. 
SEC. 21. - Affixing RPh after a Registered Pharmacist's Name. - Only 
pharmacists who are duly registered and licensed by the Board and the 
Commission has the right to affix-the title, "Registered Pharmacist" or "R.Ph." after 
his/her name. 
SEC. 22. - Grounds for Non-registration. - The Board shall not register any 
successful examinee for registration who has been: 
(a) Convicted of an offense involving moral turpitude by a court of competent 
jurisdiction, 
(b) Found guilty of immoral or dishonorable conduct by the Board, 
(c) Summarily adjudged guilty for violation of the General Instructions to 
Examinees by the Board, 
(d) Declared of unsound mind by the court of competent jurisdiction, and 
(e) Found addicted to dangerous drugs. 
In refusing such registration, the Board shall give the applicant a written statement 
setting forth the reasons therefor and shall file a copy in its records. 
SEC. 23. -
Reissuance of Revoked Certificate of Registration, 
Replacement of Lost or Daml.lged Certificate of Registration, Professional 
Identification Card or Temporary/Special Permit. -
The Board may upon 
petition, reinstate or reissue a revoked certificate of registration after two (2) years 
from the date of the revocation of the certificate of registration or the surrender of 
the revoked certificate and/or the professional identification card if still valid, to the 
Board and/or the Commission. The Board mayor may not require the pharmacist 
whose certificate had been revoked to take another licensure examination. The 
petitioner shall prove to the Board that he/she has valid reason/s to be reinstated 
to the practice of pharmacy. For the grant of his/her petition, the Board shall issue 
a Board Resolution subject to the approval of the Commission. 
Duplicate copy of lost or damaged certificate of registration, professional 
identification card or temporary/special permit may be reissued in accordance with 
rules thereon and upon payment of the prescribed fee therefor. 
SEC. 24. - Non-paymen't of the PRC Registration Fees. -
The Board 
shall suspend a registered pharmacist from the practice of his/her profession for 
non-payment of the PRC registration fees for more than three (3) consecutive 
years from its last or previous year of payment. The resumption of his/her practice 
shall take place only upon payment of delinquency fees plus surcharges and 
interest and in accordance with the rules of the Commission. The running of the 
three-year period may be interrupted upon written notice about the discontinuance 
of his/her practice and surrender of his/her certificate of registration with 
professional identification card to the Board and/or the Commission. 
SEC. 25. -
Vested Rights: Automatic Registration. - All pharmacists 
registered before the effectivity. of this Act shall automatically be registered 
hereunder, subject to the policy as to future requirements. 
Certificates 
of 
registration 
and 
professional 
identification 
cards 
or 
temporary/special permits held by such persons in good standing at such 


12 
effectivity shall have the same force and effect as though they were issued on or 
after the said effectivity. 
ARTICLE IV 
REGULATION OF THE PRACTICE OF PHARMACY 
SEC. 26. - Scope of the Practice of Pharmacy. - A person deemed to be 
practicing pharmacy within the meaning of this Article is one who shall, with or 
without a fee, salary, percentage or other rewards, paid or given directly to himself 
or indirectly through another-
(a) Prepare, compound or manufacture, analyze, assay, preserve, store, 
distribute, sell and/or dispense any medicine, drug, chemicals, cosmetics, 
pharmaceuticals, devices or contrivances used in pursuance thereof; or 
(b) render services, such as but not limited to (i) regulatory services, (ii) 
pharmaceutical marketing, (iii) drug information service and (iv) medication 
management which covers the following: drug selection and procurement, 
storage and distribution, dispensing, medication counseling and medication 
therapy monitoring, whenever the expertise and the technical knowledge of 
the pharmacist is required, in any drug establishment/outlet or healthcare 
institution or 
(c) provide other services where pharmaceutical knowledge is required; or 
(d) engage in teaching scientific, technical or professional pharmacy courses 
in a school or college of pharmacy; or 
(e) conduct or undertake scientific research in all aspects involving drugs and 
healthcare, or 
(f) dispense drugs during lDedical missions and in other situations where 
supervision of drugs is required. 
All government and non-government agencies, establishments, institutions, and 
regulatory body with functions that involve the practice of pharmacy shall be 
headed and managed only by a qualified, duly registered and licensed pharmacist. 
All pharmacists are expected to abide by current standards such as the Good 
Pharmacy Practice, Good Laboratory Practice, Good Distribution Practice, Good 
Manufacturing Practice, and Good Clinical Practice, which are deemed vital in the 
performance of one's roles and functions in different practice areas. 
The Board, subject to the approval by the Commission, may add to, delete, or 
modify the above acts, services, or activities as the need arises. 
SEC. 27. -
Prerequisites for the Practice of Pharmacy. - A person can 
practice pharmacy in the Philippines provided he/she: 
(a) has satisfactorily passed the licensure examination for pharmacists given 
by the Board and the Commission, 
(b) is duly registered with and licensed by the Board and the Commission, 
(c) is an active member of the accredited integrated national professional 
organization, 
' 
(d) has submitted continuing professional development education units as 
required by the Continuing Professional Education Council for pharmacists 
or pertinent laws and regulations for the renewal of his/her professional 
identification card, and/or ' 
(e) a holder of a valid temporary/special permit issued by the Board and the 
Commission to foreign licensed pharmacists pursuant to this Act. 
SEC. 28. - Foreign Reciprocity. - No foreigner shall be allowed to take the 
licensure examination for pharmacists, register, receive his/her certificate of 
registration and professional identification card, and practice pharmacy in the 


13 
Philippines unless the requirements for the licensure examination and registration 
and practice of pharmacy imposed under the laws and the regulations in his/her 
foreign country or state are substantially the same as those required and 
contemplated by the Philippine laws and regulations, and unless the said foreign 
laws and regulations allow Filipino citizens to practice pharmacy within the territory 
of the said foreign country/state on the same basis and grant the same privileges 
as those enjoyed by the citizens, subjects or nationals thereof. 
SEC. 29. -
Practice throug,h Temporary/Special Permit. - A temporary/ 
special permit may be issued ,by the Board subject to the approval of the 
Commission and payment of applicable fees to the following: 
(a) licensed pharmacists from foreign countries whose services whether for 
free or a fee 
(1) if they are internationally renowned pharmacists or experts in any 
field or specialty of pharmacy, 
(2) if their services are deemed necessary for lack of specialists or 
experts in a particular field, 
(b) licensed pharmacists from foreign countries or states whose services shall 
be for free and limited to indigent patients as beneficiaries; or 
(c) licensed pharmacists from foreign countries or states employed as visiting 
faculty in a field or specialty of pharmacy. 
The permit shall, among other things, contain these limitations and conditions for a 
period of no more than one year, subject to renewal, the field or specialty of 
pharmacy, and the specific place of practice including clinics, hospitals, and 
schools of pharmacy. The Board subject to the approval by the Commission shall 
promUlgate rules and regulations on the implementation of this particular Section. 
SEC. 30. -
Indication' of Numbers: Certificate of Registration, 
Professional Tax Receipt and Accredited Integrated National Organization 
(AINO) Membership. -
The pharmacist shall be required to indicate on any 
document he/she signs, uses or issues in connection with the practice of 
pharmacy the following information: 
(a) his/her registration number and date of issuance, 
(b) the expiration date of his/her professional identification card, 
(c) the Professional Tax Receipt (PTR) Number and date of issuance, and 
(d) the certificate of AINO membership (annual/lifetime), number and the 
official receipt of payment, number and date. 
SEC. 31. - Registry of Pharmacists. - The Board shall prepare and maintain 
a registry of the names, residences and/or office addresses of all registered 
pharmacists which shall be updated annually in cooperation with the Accredited 
Integrated National Organization (AINO), indicating therein the status of the 
certificate of registration, professional identification card and Accredited Integrated 
National Organization (AI NO) membership, whether valid or inactive due to death, 
or other reasons, delinquent, suspended or with revoked certificate of registration. 
The said registry of pharmacists shall be conspicuously posted within the premises 
of the Commission and the information therein made available to the public upon 
inquiry or request. 
SEC. 32. - Display of Certificate of Registration. - It shall be the duty of 
every pharmacist engaged in the practice of pharmacy either on his/her own 
account or under the employ of another to display his/her original certificate of 
registration in a prominent and conspicuous place in a retail drug outlet or drug 
establishment which he operates or in which he/she is employed in his/her 
professional capacity as pharmaCist. No pharmacist shall, with his/her knowledge, 


14 
allow his/her certificate of registration to be displayed in such establishment when 
he/she is not actually employed or operating therein in his/her professional 
capacity. 
SEC. 33. -
Compounding and Dispensing. - No drug or pharmaceutical 
product of whatever nature and kind shall be compounded, dispensed, sold or 
resold, or otherwise be made available to the consuming public except through a 
FDA-licensed retail drug outlet or other business establishments which are duly 
established in accordance with the provisions of applicable laws. 
Prescription drugs and pharmacist-only over-the-counter drugs shall be dispensed 
only by registered pharmacists. 
Prescription drugs shall be dispensed only upon presentation of a valid 
prescription. 
Compounding and dispensing by duly registered and licensed pharmacists shall 
be in accordance with current good manufacturing practice, good laboratory 
practice, and good pharmacy practice, with the safety and protection of individual 
patients as ultimate objective. 
Licensed 
pharmaceutical 
manufacturers, 
importers 
and 
wholesalers 
are 
authorized to sell their products only to duly licensed drug outlets, wholesalers and 
other drug establishments. 
A registered and licensed pharmacist may refuse to compound, dispense or sell 
drugs and pharmaceutical products, if not in accordance with this Act. 
SEC. 34. - Pharmacist Requirement and Compensation. - Every drug 
establishment/outlet selling prescription and pharmacist only over-the-counter 
drugs whether owned by the government or a private person or firm shall at all 
times when open for business be under the direct control, supervision, and 
responsibility of a registered and licensed pharmacist. For retails outlets selling 
only over-the-counter drugs, they shall be under the supervision of a registered 
and licensed pharmacist. 
Processes 
involving 
the 
preparation, 
quality 
control, 
or 
repacking 
of 
pharmaceutical products in quantities greatly in excess of single therapeutic doses 
shall for each respective operation be under the direct and immediate supervision 
of a registered and licensed pharmacist. In the sale of pharmaceutical products, 
medicines and drugs, at wholesale, such business shall be conducted under the 
immediate supervision of a registered and licensed pharmacist. 
All government and non-government agencies and units which handle the 
procurement and distribution of drugs should have a supervising pharmacist. All 
rural health units dispensing meqicines should be supervised by a pharmacist or a 
pharmacy assistant as defined in this Act. 
Pharmacists in government service shall receive a starting salary equivalent to 
Salary Grade 15 as provided in R.A. 6758 (Compensation and Position 
Classification Act of 1989) and its amendments. Those pharmacists in the private 
sector shall receive an entry-level salary in peso equivalent of Salary Grade 15 
being received by government pharmacists. 
SEC. 35. - Responsibility for Quality of Drugs, Cosmetics and Medical 
Devices. -
It shall be the duty of the registered pharmacist of drug 
outlet/establishment to ensure that all drug products, cosmetics and medical 
devices conform to standards of safety, quality and efficacy and strictly adhere to 


15 
the guidelines as provided for in this Act and other pertinent rules and regulations 
and issuances. Owners, managers, and/or pharmacists in charge of the operation 
of drug outlets and drug establishments shall be held responsible. 
It shall be unlawful for any person to manufacture, prepare, sell or dispense any 
prescription drug, pharmaceutical, medical devices, or cosmetics under any 
fraudulent name, direction or pretense or to adulterate any drug, pharmaceutical, 
medical devices, or cosmetics offered for sale. Any drug, pharmaceutical product, 
medical device/s or cosmetics shall be held to be adulterated or deteriorated within 
the meaning of this section if it differs from the standard or quality or purity given in 
the 
United 
States 
Pharmacopeia/National 
Formulary 
and 
Philippine 
Pharmacopeia, in its latest edition, or any standard 
reference for drugs and medicines given official recognition, and those which fall 
within the meaning as provided for in the Food Drug, Cosmetic and Devices Act, 
RA No. 3720, as amended by pertinent laws and the Food and Drug 
Administration Act, R.A. 0711. 
In cases of drug products sold in their original packings, the seal of which has not 
been broken or tampered with, the liability that may arise because of their quality 
and purity, rests upon the manufacturer or importer, the distributor, representative, 
or dealer who is responsible for their distribution or sale. 
SEC. 36. - Filling and Partial Filling of Prescription. -
All 
prescriptions shall be filled or compounded only by a registered and licensed 
pharmacist following the standards of purity, safety and quality. Completely filled 
prescriptions should be surrendered to the pharmacist for recording. 
Partial filling of prescription is dispensing units less than the total quantity indicated 
in the prescription. The prescription should contain information as to how many 
units were served and shall be returned to the buyer after being recorded in the 
appropriate book or equivalent system. The drugstore, which completes the filling 
of the prescription, shall keep the prescription on file for a prescribed period of 
time. 
SEC. 37. - Physician's sample. - Drugs, biologic products, devices or 
proprietary medicines, given or intended to be given free to the physician and 
other qualified person by any manufacturer or distributor or its medical 
representative/detail man as part of its program or promotion, should not be sold. 
The statement "Sample, not for sale" shall appear conspicuously on the container, 
package, or carton of the drug or device to be given. It shall be unlawful to 
remove, erase, deface already m~rked original labels of samples. 
SEC. 38. -
Prohibition against use of Cipher or unusual terms in 
prescriptions and prescription switching - Pharmacists should not compound 
or dispense prescriptions, recipes or formulas which are written in ciphers, codes 
or secret keys or prescriptions of drugs using unusual names which differ from 
those in standard pharmacopeias or formularies. 
The pharmacist dispensing or compounding prescriptions should not substitute the 
drug or drugs called for in the prescription with any other drug or substance or 
ingredient without prior consultation with, and a written consent of the person 
prescribing, except in accordance with RA 6675, known as the Generics Act of 
1988, and other pertinent laws and regulations. 
SEC. 39. - Label of Dispensed Medicines. -
Upon every box, bottle or 
package containing medicine compounded or dispensed by a registered and 
licensed pharmaCist based on prescription, there shall be pasted, affixed or 


16 
imprinted a seal or label bearing, among others, name of patient, generic name of 
drug; brand name, if any, strength, expiry date, directions for use, and name and 
address of drugstore and other requirements prescribed by the Cheaper 
Medicines Act (RA 9502) and its implementing rules and regulations. 
Every prescription which in its preparation contains any quantity of a drug, which is 
habit-forming, or a derivative of such drug, shall have an auxiliary label or a 
notation, 'Warning - May be habit forming". Such prescriptions should comply with 
the requirements of the R. A. 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 
2002, and any future amendments thereto. 
Filled prescription for external use shall bear the auxiliary label, "For External 
Use". 
SEC. 40. - Record Books for Prescription. - All prescriptions dispensed 
in the drugstore shall be recorded in the book or an equivalent recording system 
approved by FDA for this pllrpose indicating therein, among others, the 
prescription number, name of prescriber, generic name and brand, dosage 
strength, quantity of drug, name of the patient and address, and initials of 
pharmacist. It shall be open to inspection by the proper authorities at any time of 
the day when the pharmacy is qpen to the public and must be preserved for a 
period of not less than two (2) years after the last entry in it has been made. 
All prescriptions shall be attached to the prescription book or compiled (for 
equivalent recording system) and numbered consecutively and shall be preserved 
for the same period of time as required. 
All required information on dangerous drugs dispensed by a pharmacy shall be 
recorded in the Dangerous Drugs book or an equivalent recording system as 
required by RA 9165. 
SEC. 41. - Requirements for the Opening and Operation of Retail Drug 
Outlet or Establishment. -
The minimum requirements necessary for the 
opening of retail drug outlet or establishment shall be in accordance with the rules 
and regulations prescribed by the Food and Drug Administration in accordance 
with the provisions of this Act. 
The application for the opening of a retail drug outlet or other business 
establishments should not be approved unless applied for by a Filipino registered 
pharmacist either as owner or as pharmacist-in-charge pursuant to the provisions 
of this Act. 
SEC. 42. - Handling of Drugs by Persons Other than a Pharmacist. -
For the purpose of this section, persons handling drugs other than the pharmacist 
are: professional medical representatives, pharmacy assistants, pharmacy 
aides/clerks, and other persons who assist pharmacists in dispensing medicines or 
any other person performing functions involving the handling of drugs and drug 
products. It is preferred that these positions are occupied by those who finished 
pharmacy degree, not necessarily licensed as pharmacists and who has 
undergone the prescribed training from a Commission-accredited provider. 
The professional medical representative or detailman is one who represents any 
duly authorized manufacturer, distributor, trader and wholesaler of drugs, 
pharmaceuticals, biologic products and devices, whose primary duty is to 
introduce said products to legiti.mate prescribers and which forms part of their 
program for promotion by describing its use, composition, action, dosage, 
administration, contraindication, advantages and other relevant information about 
the drugs being promoted. 


17 
The pharmacy assistant is one who helps the pharmacist in compounding, 
dispensing of medicines and giving of information on proper use of medicines 
while the pharmacy aide/clerk is involved in other aspects of operation assigned 
by the pharmacist. 
Any person who shall be employed or engaged as professional medical 
representative or pharmacy aide/clerk shall undergo comprehensive standardized 
training programs approved by the Board with providers approved and/or 
accredited by the Board in accordance with criteria established therefor. 
ARTICLE V 
ACCREDITED INTEGRATED NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR 
PHARMACISTS 
SEC. 
43. 
-
The 
Accredited Integrated National Professional 
Organization (AINO) of Pharmacists - The pharmacists are integrated under 
one national accredited professional organization that is duly registered with the 
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The Board subject to the approval 
by the Commission shall accredit the said organization as the only integrated 
national organization for registered pharmacists (and pharmacy assistants). All 
pharmacists (and pharmacy assistants) whose names appear in the registry shall 
ipso facto or automatically become members thereof and shall receive all the 
benefits and privileges accorded to its members upon payment of the required 
fees and dues. Membership to the foregoing shall not be a bar to membership in 
any other association of pharmacists. 
SEC. 44. -
Membership to the Accredited Integrated National 
Professional Organization. -
All registered pharmacists (and pharmacy 
assistants) must be members of the AINO and must maintain membership 
throughout the duration of the practice of the profession. Professional identification 
card shall not be renewed if the-requirements for membership with AINO are not 
met including credit units for attendance to duly accredited continuing professional 
development (CPD) education activities. 
SEC. 45. - Specialty Boards in Various Areas of Pharmacy Practice. -
Specialty Boards created withi'n the affiliate organizations and societies for 
recognition of the' AINO (1) for the Board, subject to the approval of the 
Commissioner shall accredit specialties in various areas of practice, (2) setting 
standards of practice within different specialties, and (3) establishing qualifications 
and requirements for certification of practitioners under each specialty. 
ARTICLE VI 
VIOLATIONS, ADMINISTRATIVE SANCTIONS, AND PROCEDURES 
SEC. 46. - Revocation or Suspension of the Certificate of Registration 
and Cancellation of Temporary or Special Permit. - The Board shall have the 
power, upon notice and hearing to revoke or suspend the certificate of registration 
of a registered pharmacist or to cancel a temporary or special permit granted to a 
foreign pharmacist on the basis of the following: 
(a) 
Violation of this Act on unauthorized practice of pharmacy, violation of 
any provision of this Act, the Rules and Regulations (RR) thereof, the 
Code of Ethics for Pharmacists, Code of Good Governance, Code of 
Technical Standards fQr the practice of pharmacy, policy, and measure 
of the Board and/or the Commission; 


18 
(b) 
Malpractice or gross incompetence; negligence, or imprudence resulting 
to death or injury of the patient; 
(c) 
Dishonorable conduct and/or conviction by a competent court of any 
criminal offense involving moral turpitude; 
(d) 
Fraud or deceit in the acquisition of the certificate of registration, 
professional identification card or temporary/special permit or renewal of 
license; 
(e) 
Display of certificate of registration of a pharmacist who is not actually 
employed in such an establishment as required by law. 
(f) 
Addiction to alcoholic beverages or to any habit-forming drug rendering 
him incompetent to practice his/her profession; 
(g) 
Aiding or abetting the illegal practice of a non-registered and licensed 
person by allowing him/her the use of his/her certificate of registration 
and/or professional identification card or his/her special/temporary 
permit; 
(h) 
Acting as a dummy of an alien or a person who is not qualified to 
establish and operate a retail drugstore; 
(i) 
Insanity or any mental disorder that would render the person 
incompetent to practice his/her profession; 
0) 
False, 
extravagant 
or 
unethical 
advertisements 
and 
product 
endorsements where the pharmacist's name, professional organization 
he/she represents, and similar information are used; 
(k) 
Manufacture, sale, offering for sale of counterfeit drugs and committing 
other acts in violation of Sec. 4 of the Special Law on Counterfeit Drugs, 
R.A. No. 8203; 
(I) 
Illegal manufacturing, sale, possession, dispensing of dangerous drugs 
and other pertinent acts in violation of Dangerous Drugs Act, R.A. No. 
9165; 
(m) 
Committing acts in violation of Sec. 6 of p.o. No. 881 on Hazardous 
Substances; and 
(n) 
Practicing pharmacy while under suspension. 
(0) 
Practicing with an expired professional identification card. 
SEC. 47. - Non-renewal of license. - The following are the grounds for the 
non-renewal of professional identification card: 
(a) 
Refusal to join or to remain a member of good standing of the AINO; 
(b) 
Non-payment of annual registration fees for three (3) continuous years; 
(c) 
Non-compliance 
with 
the 
continuing 
professional 
development 
requirement, for the renewal of his/her professional identification card; 
and 
The Board shall periodically evaluate the aforementioned grounds and revise as 
the need arises subject to the approval of the Commission. 
Any person, entity or organization may file charges according to the provision of 
this section against any registrant, or the Board may investigate violation of any of 
the abovementioned causes. Affidavit of complaint under oath shall be filed 
together with the affidavits of witnesses and other documentary evidence with the 
Board through the Legal and Investigation Office. The move to conduct an 
investigation shall be embodied in a formal charge to be signed by at least a 
majority of the members of the Board. The rules on administrative investigation 
issued by the Commission shall govern the hearing or investigation subject to 
applicable provisions of this Act, R.A. No. 8981 and its rules and regulations 
thereof, and Rules of Court. 


19 
SEC. 48. - Administrative Investigation/Sanctions. -
Administrative 
investigations shall be conducted· by the Board assisted by the Legal or Hearing 
Officer of the Commission. The existing rules of evidence shall also be observed 
and applied during administrative investigations. 
If the Board, by a majority vote of the members, shall find that the charges are 
sustained by evidence adduced, it may, at its discretion reprimand the respondent 
or revoke or suspend his certificate of registration. 
SEC. 49. - Procedure and Rules. - The Board upon receipt of a formal 
complaint under oath against any pharmacist shall furnish the latter a copy of the 
complaint, which shall be answered in writing within ten (10) days from receipt 
thereof. If the Board, after careful, study of the records, finds that there 
is a valid ground to the charge, it shall conduct a formal investigation and set the 
dates of the hearing thereof. 
For this purpose, a subpoena and/or subpoena 
duces tecum may be issued by the chairman of the Board or by the Chief, Legal 
and Investigation Division. The investigation proceedings shall at all times be 
recorded. The investigation shall have been terminated and resolved within ninety 
(90) days from the time the first date of hearing shall be set and heard. 
SEC. 50. -
Rights of Respondent. -
The respondent pharmacist is 
entitled to be heard or be represented by counsel; to have speedy public hearing, 
to confront, and to cross-examine the witness or witnesses against him; to 
summon and present witness or witnesses in his behalf; or to avail himself/herself 
of any other process for the protection of his/her constitutional rights. 
SEC. 51. - Motion for Reconsideration. - A motion for reconsideration within 
the prescribed period may be made based on any of the following grounds: 
(a) Grave abuse of discretion by the Board, 
(b) Findings not supported by sUbstantial evidence, and 
Irregularity in the conduct of inve~tigation. 
SEC. 52. - Appeal/Finality of Decision • • The decision of the Board shall 
automatically become final and executory fifteen (15) days from the appropriate 
service of the decision to the respondent, unless the latter within the same period, 
has appealed the decision to the Commission; provided that said decision of the 
Board and/or the Commission may be appealed to the Court of Appeals. 
ARTICLE VII 
PENAL PROVISIONS 
SEC. 53 .• Penal Provisions. - Any person who shall violate any of the 
provisions of the practice of pharmacy as defined in the following provisions of 
Article IV: 
' 
Registration certificate (Section 32) 
(a) Allowing the display of his/her registration certificate in an outlet or 
establishment by a pharm'acist where he/she is not employed 
(b) Display of a pharmacist's registration certificate by an outlet or 
establishment when the pharmacist is not employed 
Dispensing and compounding (Sections 27, 33, 38, 42) 
(c) Dispensing done in, or offering for sale of prescription drugs in a place not 
licensed by FDA as drug outlet 
(d) Dispensing of prescription of and pharmacist-only over-the-counter drugs 
by a person other than a registered pharmacist 
(e) Dispensing of prescription drugs without presentation of a valid prescription 
(f) Compounding of prescription drugs and pharmacist-only over-the-counter 
drugs done by a person other than a pharmacist 


20 
(g) Selling of prescription and pharmacist-only over-the-counter drugs by 
manufacturers, importers, and wholesalers to unlicensed drug outlets and 
other drug establishments 
(h) Substitution of prescription dru'gs which are not generically equivalent to 
what was on the prescription without the consent of the prescriber 
(i) Compounding not in accordance with the current Good Manufacturing 
Practices and Good Pharmacy Practice 
U) Forcing, coercing or intimidating a registered pharmacist to compound or 
dispense drugs not in accordance with this Act 
(k) Preparation and compounding of pharmaceutical products in quantities 
greatly in excess of single therapeutic doses without a registered 
pharmacist 
(I) Non-compliance with the labeling requirement for dispensed medicines by 
a drug outlet 
(m)Allowing pharmacy assistants to dispense without the supervision of a 
pharmacist 
Requirement of Pharmacist (Sections 33,34, 36) 
(n) Establishmentioutlet selling prescription and pharmacist-only over-the-
counter drugs which opens for business without a licensed pharmacist 
(0) Compounding by a non-registered pharmacist or pharmacist with 
expired/revoked/suspended license 
(p) Filling of prescription by a non-pharmacist or by a non-registered 
pharmacist or pharmacist with expired/revoked/suspended license 
(q) Wholesale of pharmaceutical products without the direct and immediate 
supervision of a registerecj pharmacist 
(r) Rural Health Units,dispensing prescription drugs and pharmacist-only over-
the-counter drugs without the supervision of a registered pharmacist 
Manufacturing and selfing of pharmaceutical products under fraudulent name and 
address (Section 35) 
, 
Adulteration and misbranding of drugs (Section 35) 
Manufacturing and selfing of unsafe and substandard drugs (Section 35) 
shall upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to a fine of not less than Two Hundred 
Fifty Thousand (Php250,000.00) Pesos but not exceeding Five Hundred Thousand 
(Php500,000.00) Pesos and/or to an imprisonment of not less than one year and 
one day but not more than six years, or both fine and penalty, at the discretion of 
the court. 
SEC. 54. - Other Penalties . • Any person who shall violate any of the following 
provisions of this Act: 
(a) Affixing of the title, R.Ph. by a person who is not a pharmacist and a 
graduate of pharmacy degree who is not registered with PRC (Section 21) 
(b) Practice of pharmacy in the Philippines by a foreigner without special permit 
(Section 28) 
(c) Non-indication by a pharmacist of his/her registration number and 
Professional Tax Receipt number in official documents requiring such 
information (Section 30) , 
(d) Non-display of certificate of registration of a pharmacist in drug 
establishment requiring such (Section 32) 
(e) Non-display of certificate of registration 
of a pharmacist by 
an 
establishmentioutlet (Section 32) 
(f) Non-compliance with this Act's provision on the required salary for a 
registered pharmacist (Section 34) 
(g) Non-compliance by a pharmacist with the requirement on the filling of 
prescription (Section 36) 
(h) Non-compliance by a regilltered pharmacist on the requirement for partially 
filled prescription (Section, 36) 


21 
(i) Selling of physician's samples (Section 37) 
U) The removal, erasure and alteration of mark or label of physician's sample 
(Section 37) 
, 
(k) Non-compliance with the filling up of Record Books by a drug outlet 
(Section 40) 
(I) Employment of persons in a pharmacy without the provision of the required 
training (Section 42) 
(m)Rendering dispensing-related services by non-pharmacists in a drug outlet 
without undergoing the required training (Section 42) 
shall upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to a fine of not less than One Hundred 
Thousand (Php100,OOO.00) Pesos but not exceeding Two Hundred Thousand 
(Php200,OOO.00) Pesos or to an imprisonment of not less than Thirty (30) days but 
not more than One (1) year, or both fine and penalty at the discretion of the court. 
Any person other than the citizens of the Philippines having been found guilty of 
any violation as provided for in this and the preceding section shall, after having 
paid the fine or having served his sentence or both when so adjudged, be also 
subject to immediate deportation. 
For any violation of the provisions of this Act penalized under this and the 
preceding section, which also constitutes or considered as punishable offense or 
described as a violation of other laws, the applicable penalty shall be that of the 
law providing for a higher fine and/or imprisonment. 
For any violation of the rules and regulations implementing the provisions of this 
Act, appropriate penalty shall be i'mposed. 
ARTICLE VIII 
FINAL PROVISIONS 
SEC. 55. • Enforcement. - The Commission shall be the enforcement 
agency of this Act. As such, the Commission shall implement the appropriate 
provisions of this Act, enforce its implementing rules and regulations as adopted 
by the Board, assist the Board in..the investigation of complaints against violators 
of this Act, its rules and regulations, Code of Ethics for pharmacists, professional 
standards, and other policies of the Board and the Commission. 
The Commission and/or the Board shall call upon or request any department, 
instrumentality, office, bureau, Institution or agency of the government, including 
local government units to render such assistance as it may require, or to 
coordinate or cooperate in order.to carry out, enforce or implement the provisions 
of this Act. 
SEC. 56. - Appropriations. -
The Chairperson of the PRC shall 
immediately include in its programs on the implementation of this Act, the funding 
of which shall be charged against their current years' appropriations and 
thereafter, in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
SEC. 57 .. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within one hundred 
and twenty (120) days after the approval of this Act, the Board subject to the 
approval by the Commission, in consultation with the AINO, shall issue and 
formulate the rules and regulations, the Code of Ethics and professional standards 
for pharmacists, to effectively implement this Act. 
SEC. 58. - Separability Clause. - If any clause, provisions, paragraph or 
part hereof shall be declared unconstitutional or invalid, such judgment shall not 
affect, invalidate, impair any other part thereof, but such judgment shall be merely 


22 
confined to the clause, provIsion, paragraph or part directly involved in the 
controversy in which such judgment has been rendered. 
SEC. 59 .• Repealing cla.use. - RA No. 5921, known as the Pharmacy 
Law, as amended by E.O. No. 174, and PD No. 1363, and all other laws are 
hereby repealed, Presidential decrees, executive orders, and other administrative 
issuances and parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act 
are hereby modified, amended, superseded or repealed accordingly. 
SEC. 60 .• Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days 
following the full and complete publication thereof in the Official Gazette or in any 
major daily newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines. 
Approved,