HOUSE OF REPHESENTATIVES
RECEIVED
pare: 19 JUL 2018
Ti Aqofl

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE!
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

SSTPATION UNIT

1740 | ews on, X SERVICE

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by: Hon. Angelina “Helen” D.L. Tan, M.D.

AN ACCREDITING THE PHILIPPINE MEDICAL ASSOCIATION AS THE
INTEGRATED MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION OF THE
PHILIPPINES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Philippine Medical Association, Inc. (PMA) is an organization of doctors
licensed to practice medicine in the country. It is the mother association of all medical
organizations or the umbrella organization of the medical profession of the country
which brings together the entire medical profession under one roof to serve as an
authoritative source of information of health, disease and medical practice.

‘The PMA is responsible for the sustained excellent quality healthcare delivery
through its continuing medical education, formulation of clinical practices, and
guidelines, directly or through the special societies. It polices its own ranks through the
rigid Code of Ethics of the Medical Profession.

The PMA and its specialty societies periodically conduct seminars, workshop and
conventions educating its members on the latest medical technology and medicines. Its
specialty societies determine who are going to be the specialists in the several fields of
medicine.

It has eight specialty divisions: Pathology, Radiology, Anesthesiology, Surgery,
Physicians, Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology and Family Medicine. All of these
specialty divisions have several sub-specialty societies. To date, there are 28,000
physicians who are members of the PMA. Membership in the PMA is coursed through
the Component Society, the basic unit of the Association. There are presently 117
Component Societies equitably distributed in all regions of the country.

All provinces and cities in the Philippines have component societies, more
popularly known as medical societies. A group of these medical societies form a region
or regional councils. The Board of Governors exercise control and supervision over the
regional councils and the component societies. The Board of Governors has the power to
realign regions and component societies and further has the power to create new
component societies or delist existing ones.

There is no other medical organization that possesses the breadth, composition,
membership and nationwide coverage of the PMA. In almost all matters affecting health
or the medical profession, the government seeks the advice of the PMA.

‘As such, this proposed measure seeks to institutionalize the Philippine Medical
Association as the integrated professional medical organization in the country where all


physicians wanting to practice medicine will be required to become members of the
PMA.

In so doing, it puts the PMA as a partner of the government in the improvement of
the health care delivery system by institutionalizing a mechanism to regulate and rid the
medical profession of so-called misfits found to be negligent in the medical practice.

With the passage of this measure, the medical profession, just like the legal
profession, will be integrated into one (1) accredited organization, to be known as the
Philippine Medical Association (PMA).

In view thereof, early approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

A
ANGELINA nna (fl TAN, M.D.

4th District, Quezon


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 1740

Introduced by: Hon. Angelina “Helen” D.L. Tan, M.D.

AN ACCREDITING THE PHILIPPINE MEDICAL ASSOCIATION AS THE
INTEGRATED MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION OF THE
PHILIPPINES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Integrated Medical
Professional Organization Act".

SEC. 2. The Philippine Medical Association, Inc. shall be the only Integrated
Medical Association Professional Organization in the Philippines.

SEC. 3. Membership. - All physicians duly registered with the Professional
Regulations Commission shall become members of the Philippine Medical Association,
Inc. Membership in good standing of the PMA shall be a condition precedent for his
renewal of license and for the continuous practice of medicine.

SEC. 4. Organization. - The organizational structure of the Philippine Medical
Association, Inc. including the specialty divisions, specialty and sub- specialty societies
and the component medical societies and as a non-stock, non- profit corporation duly
registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission shall be retained

SEC. 5. Rules and Regulations. - The Philippine Medical Association shall
prescribe rules and regulations to implement the integration of the medical profession
including the various specialty divisions, the specialty and subspecialty societies and
their training program, and the component and affiliate medical societies.

SEC. 6. Complaints. - The Philippine Medical Association shall hear complaints
against its members. The Philippine Medical Association shall prescribe its procedures.
The rules shall be liberally construed and the technical rules of procedure on evidence
shall not be strictly applied.

SEC. 7. Grounds. - A person may file a verified complaint before the Philippine
Medical Association against a PMA member based on the following grounds:

a) _ gross negligence, ignorance or incomplete in the practice of his/her
profession resulting in death, physical injury to a person;

b) conviction by a court of competent jurisdiction of any criminal offense
involving moral turpitude;

c) immoral or dishonorable conduct;

@) insanity;


e) _ fraud in the acquisition of the certificate of registration, and professional
license or renewal thereof;

f) addiction to alcoholic beverages or to any habit forming drug rendering him
or her incompetent to practice his or her profession;

g) _ false or extravagant or unethical advertisement;

h) _ performing or aiding in any criminal abortion;

i) _ knowingly issuing any false medical certificate;

J) _ issuing any statement or spreading any news or rumor which is derogatory
to the character and reputation of another physician without justifiable
motiv

k) aiding or acting as a dummy of unqualified or unregistered person to
practice medicine; and

1) ___ violation of the Code of the PMA

SEC. 8. Penalties. - The Philippine Medical Association may impose penalties of
reprimand, suspension or expulsion. All cases filed or pending under this act shall not
be discussed or taken in any forum until after the same shall have been decided with
finality.

SEC. 9. Implementing Rules. - The Philippine Medical Association shall
promulgate the implementing rules and guidelines within 60 days after the enactment
of this Act.

SEC. 10. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared
unconstitutional or invalid, other provisions not affected herein shall remain in full
force and effect.

SEC. 11. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, order, rule and regulations that are
inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed and/or modified accordingly.

SEC. 12. Effectivity. - This act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of national circulation,
which ever is earlier.

Approved,