1 
Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Twentieth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 2981 
Introduced by Representatives Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, Yedda 
Marie K. Romualdez, Andrew Julian K. Romualdez and Jude A. Acidre 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR A PHILIPPINE MEDICAL ACT, REPEALING FOR THE 
PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 2382, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE 
KNOWN AS THE MEDICAL ACT OF 1959 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
A responsive and competent healthcare system relies heavily on its human 
health resources, particularly its physicians, who serve as the backbone of patient 
care and public health delivery. Ensuring their welfare, professional development, 
and legal protection is critical not only to maintaining the quality of medical services 
but also to building a resilient and accessible healthcare system for all. 
The COVID-19 pandemic exposed long-standing vulnerabilities in the 
Philippine health sector and highlighted the urgent need for structural reforms. 
Among the most pressing concerns was the shortage and uneven distribution of 
physicians, particularly in remote and underserved communities. The continued 
migration of Filipino physicians to other countries in search of better working 
conditions, higher pay, and more opportunities for career growth has placed 
additional strain on the country’s healthcare system, particularly in ensuring the 
timely and adequate delivery of medical services. This trend is driven by persistent 
August 4, 2025
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challenges in the local healthcare sector, such as insecure employment, insufficient 
facilities, outdated medical equipment, and limited avenues for professional 
advancement. 
Republic Act No. 2382, or The Medical Act of 1959, as amended by Republic 
Act Nos. 4224 and 5946, serves as the primary law regulating the medical profession 
in the Philippines. However, it is now outdated and no longer fully addresses the 
current needs and challenges faced by physicians. Given the significant 
developments in science, technology, medical education, and the changing demands 
of the healthcare system, there is an urgent need to revise and modernize this law to 
make it more responsive and relevant. 
This bill aims to respond to this need by promoting the efficiency, 
responsiveness, and integrity of all aspects of the medical profession. It seeks to 
strengthen the framework governing basic medical education, internship and 
residency training, licensure and registration, post-graduate medical education, and 
the practice of medicine.  
Moreover, this measure seeks to address the economic and professional 
concerns of physicians, particularly those serving in rural and underserved areas, by 
reinforcing their legal protections and ensuring opportunities for continuous growth 
and development. It is rooted in the recognition that our doctors are not only vital 
providers of care but also essential pillars of a functioning and equitable healthcare 
system. 
In line with Article II, Section 15 of the 1987 Constitution, which declares 
that the State shall “protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill 
health consciousness among them,” and Article XIII, Section 11, which mandates 
the State to adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development, 
this bill affirms the indispensable role of physicians in realizing these constitutional 
goals. 
We entrust our health and our very lives to our doctors. It is only right that we 
provide them with legislation that protects their rights, strengthens their profession, 
and empowers them to serve with excellence and compassion. 
This measure was also filed during the 19th Congress and was primarily 
referred to the Civil Service and Professional Regulation, where it was approved on 
third and final reading by the House of Representatives. 


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In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
FERDINAND MARTIN G. ROMUALDEZ 
YEDDA MARIE K. ROMUALDEZ 
ANDREW JULIAN K.  ROMUALDEZ 
JUDE A. ACIDRE 


1 
Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Twentieth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 2981 
Introduced by Representatives Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, Yedda 
Marie K. Romualdez, Andrew Julian K. Romualdez and Jude A. Acidre 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR A PHILIPPINE MEDICAL ACT, REPEALING FOR THE 
PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 2382, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE 
KNOWN AS THE MEDICAL ACT OF 1959 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled: 
ARTICLE I 
TITLE, POLICY, OBJECTIVES AND ENFORCEMENT 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Philippine 
Medical Act”. 


2 
 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. – The State recognizes the vital role of 
physicians in the prevention, maintenance, safeguarding, treatment, and enhancement 
of the life, health, and general welfare of the citizenry. The professional roles and 
services of physicians shall, therefore, be promoted and regarded as a fundamental 
pillar in a health care model that provides access to quality and cost-effective, 
preventive, promotive, curative, rehabilitative, and palliative health services. 
 
SEC. 3. Coverage. – This Act provides for and shall govern the: 
(a) Standardization, upgrading and regulation of the basic medical 
education, medical internship, and postgraduate medical education and 
training; 
(b) Licensure and the registration of physicians; 
(c) Supervision and regulation of the practice of medicine; 
(d) Integration of the medical profession under one national professional 
organization of physicians; and 
(e) Upholding preventive, promotive and curative disease prevention and 
promotion of health, patient welfare and patient safety as the primary 
consideration in the practice of medicine and promoting competence, 
moral values, and professional ethics of members of the medical 
profession. 
 
SEC. 4. Enforcement. – For purposes of implementing the provisions of this 
Act, there shall be created the following: Medical Education Council (MEC) under 
the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Professional Regulatory Board of 
Medicine (PRBM) under the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC); 


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Postgraduate Medical Education Council (PGMEC) under the PRBM, and the 
Integrated Philippine Medical Association (IPMA). 
 
These entities may call upon or request any department, instrumentality, 
office, bureau, institution, or agency of the government including local government 
units (LGUs) to render such assistance as they may require to carry out, enforce, or 
implement the professional regulatory policies of the government or any program 
or activity they may undertake pursuant to the provisions of this Act. 
 
ARTICLE II 
DEFINITION OF TERMS 
 
SEC. 5. Definition of Terms. – As used in this Act: 
 
(a) Accreditation refers to the formal or official approval granted to a 
person, a program or organization, upon meeting essential requirements 
of achievement standard, including qualifications or units of a 
qualification, usually for a particular period of time, as accrediting body; 
 
(b) Basic Medical Education refers to a post-baccalaureate program 
offered by a medical college recognized by the CHED composed of core 
curricular and clinical subjects, the completion of which leads to the 
conferment of the degree of Doctor of Medicine and grants the holder 
the eligibility to take the Physician Licensure Examination inclusive of 
a one (1) year medical internship, offered by a medical college 
recognized by CHED; 


4 
 
 
(c) Illegal Practice of Medicine refers to the practice of the medical 
profession without the required valid certificate of registration and valid 
professional identification card as a Physician, or such other permits 
evidencing the authority to practice as may be issued by the PRC and           
the PRBM, including the Special Temporary Permit, or Temporary        
Training Permit; 
 
(d) Innovative Curriculum refers to a curriculum that applies non-
traditional, flexible, creative, and open curricular frameworks, teaching-
learning models, and methods of evaluation and assessment applied to 
basic medical education in real world situations as defined by the CHED 
in its pertinent policies, standards and guidelines for medical education 
program: Provided, That the same program outcomes are achieved that 
will lead to the same MD degree; 
 
(e) Integrated Philippine Medical Association (IPMA) refers to the 
integrated national professional organization of physicians in the 
Philippines recognized and accredited by the PRBM of the PRC; 
 
(f) Medical College refers to a learning institution which has complied with 
the standards and requirements set forth and duly recognized by the 
CHED to offer a complete basic medical education program leading to 
a degree of Doctor of Medicine. It may also be known as a college of 
medicine, faculty of medicine, institute of medicine, school of medicine 
or other similar names; 


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(g) Medical Specialist refers to a duly licensed physician who, after having 
completed the prescribed training in an accredited postgraduate 
education and training institution and passed the corresponding 
specialty board certifying examination, is qualified to practice a 
particular medical specialty or subspecialty; 
 
(h) Medical Specialty refers to a major branch or discipline of medicine that 
is focused on a defined group of patients, diseases, or skills in which a 
physician-practitioner has special additional knowledge, skills, 
experience, and expertise acquired after completion of a formal 
postgraduate education and training program in a PRBM accredited 
training institution; 
 
(i) Physician Licensure Examination refers to an evaluative process 
conducted by the PRBM of the PRC to eligible candidates to determine 
their competency to practice the profession as physicians and a 
successful result thereof being a requirement for the issuance of a PRC 
professional license; 
 
(j) Postgraduate Medical Education and Training refers to an educational 
program either through a clinical or non-clinical track, pursued after 
conferment of a Doctor of Medicine degree, and referring to any type of 
formal medical education or training in a hospital, community, facility, 
institute, or higher education institution (HEI) or any combination 
thereof leading to specialization; 


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(k) Primary care refers to initial contact, accessible, continuous, 
comprehensive, and coordinated health care or medical care that is 
accessible at the time of need including a range of services for all 
presenting conditions, and the ability to coordinate referrals to other 
health care providers in the health care delivery system, when necessary; 
 
(l) Resident or Fellow Trainee refers to a duly licensed physician 
undergoing postgraduate medical education and training in a particular 
specialty or subspecialty of medicine in an accredited training 
institution; 
 
(m) Specialty Board Certifying Examination refers to the evaluative process 
conducted at the end of the residency and fellowship training program; 
(n) Special Temporary Permit refers to the privilege granted to a foreign 
Physician to be able to practice in the Philippines for a limited period of 
time, subject to limitations and conditions provided for by law; 
 
(o) Telemedicine refers to the practice of medicine by means of            
electronic and telecommunications technologies such as by telephone,                   
internet-enabled messaging, short messaging   service (SMS), or audio- 
and video-conferencing to deliver health care at a distance between a 
patient at an originating site, and a physician at a distant site; and 
 


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(p) Temporary Training Permit refers to the authority granted to a foreign 
medical professional by the PRBM and the PRC for the purpose of 
undergoing medical residency or fellowship training in the Philippines. 
 
ARTICLE III 
MEDICAL EDUCATION COUNCIL 
 
 
SEC. 6. Creation. – There is hereby created a Medical Education Council 
(MEC) under the CHED and shall be composed of the following: 
 
(a) Chairperson of the CHED or the Chairperson’s duly authorized 
representative as Chairperson of the MEC; 
 
(b) Secretary of Health or the Secretary’s duly authorized representative                
as member; 
 
(c) Chairperson of the PRBM or the Chairperson’s duly authorized 
representative as member; 
 
(d) President of IPMA or the President’s duly authorized representative as 
member; 
 
(e) President of the association of Philippine medical colleges or its duly 
authorized representative as member; 
 


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(f) President of the national association of hospitals duly recognized by the 
Department of Health (DOH) or the President’s duly authorized 
representative as member; and 
 
(g) The Dean of the University of the Philippines College of Medicine as 
permanent member. 
 
 
The Chairperson and members of the MEC shall hold office during their 
incumbency in the respective institutions or associations that they represent. 
 
 
The MEC shall, within sixty (60) days after the effectivity of this Act, appoint 
a Technical Panel on Medical Education (TPME) upon the recommendation of the 
IPMA. The TPME shall consists of a Chairperson and at least seven (7) outstanding 
members of the academe, the profession or both whose responsibility is to assist 
the MEC in carrying out its functions and powers on basic medical education, 
except for the medical internship program. 
 
 
The MEC shall, within sixty (60) days after the effectivity of this Act, also 
appoint a Technical Panel on Medical Internship (TPMI) upon the 
recommendation of the IPMA.  The TPMI shall consists of a Chairperson and at 
least seven (7) Deans of CHED-recognized medical colleges or their 
representatives whose responsibility is to assist the MEC in carrying out its 
functions and duties on the medical internship program. 
 


9 
 
 
Members thereof who are not government officials or employees shall be 
entitled to per diem chargeable against the funds of the CHED, as approved by the 
MEC, subject to existing rules and regulations of the Department of Budget and 
Management (DBM). 
 
 
SEC. 7. Functions and Duties. – The MEC shall have the following functions   
and duties: 
 
(a) Recommend the opening and recognition of new medical colleges 
especially in areas of need upon compliance with the minimum 
requirements; 
 
(b) Determine the minimum requirements for physical facilities of medical 
colleges such as buildings, hospitals, equipment and supplies, apparatus, 
instruments, appliances, laboratories and bed capacity for instruction 
purposes, operating and delivery rooms, facilities for out-patient services, 
community health services, and others that are necessary for didactic and 
practical instruction in accordance with recent trends; 
 
(c) Determine the minimum number and the standard qualifications of 
administrative and academic teaching personnel including student-
teacher ratio; 
 
(d) Determine the minimum required curriculum leading to the degree of 
Doctor of Medicine, including medical internship; 


10 
 
 
(e) Recommend the implementation of an acceptable innovative medical 
curriculum or strategy in a medical college that has exceptional faculty, 
students, equipment, and facilities; such medical colleges with an 
innovative curriculum may prescribe admission and graduation 
requirements other than those prescribed in this Act; 
 
(f) Determine the minimum requirements for admission into a recognized 
medical college; 
 
(g) Develop and put into place programs as well as adopt and implement 
policies that will encourage and allow applicants coming from 
marginalized areas or groups as well as financially-challenged families to 
be admitted into medical colleges and complete their medical education; 
 
(h) Maintain a registry of medical students enrolled in medical colleges, and 
conduct tracer studies for medical graduates for up to five (5) years from 
graduation; 
 
(i) Recommend the closure or suspension of the degree of Doctor of 
Medicine program of a medical college by reason of poor performance in 
the Physician Licensure Examination over a given period of time based 
on statistical data furnished by the PRBM, or upon inspection of the 
medical college by the MEC for reasons of various deficiencies or 
violations; 


11 
 
 
(j) Promulgate, prescribe, and enforce policies and programs which will 
ensure the proper and orderly operations and upkeep of medical colleges 
in order to ensure that basic medical education is not treated merely as a 
business enterprise but one with a social dimension; 
 
(k) Regulate, supervise, and monitor the medical internship program; 
 
(l) Recommend to the Unified Financial Assistance System (UniFAST) 
Board and CHED, policies and strategies for the effective implementation 
of Republic Act (RA) No. 10687, otherwise known as the “Unified 
Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education (UniFAST) 
Act” and RA No. 11509, otherwise known as the “Doktor Para sa Bayan 
Act” on matters related to government scholarships for medical education 
and prescribe mechanisms for the effective implementation of return-
service agreements; and 
 
(m) Promulgate, prescribe, and enforce the necessary rules and regulations for 
the proper implementation of the foregoing function. 
 
SEC. 8. Medical Internship Program. – Medical Internship is a phase  
of the professional education of the physician to further hone the academic and 
technical proficiency in medicine.  It is a twelve (12) month rotation conducted in 
an accredited health facility and community undertaken after graduation in most 
medical schools or can be incorporated in the final year of innovative medical 


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programs. Medical Internship is under the supervision of CHED which delegates 
the authority to implement the program to the authorized association of Philippine 
medical colleges. The Technical Panel for Medical Internship shall have the 
following functions and duties: 
 
(a) Formulate a one (1)-year standardized curriculum for medical internship that 
may be rotating hospital-based, community-oriented, or combination of both, 
including accreditation standards for health institutions; 
 
(b) Review the medical internship curriculum and accreditation standards at least 
every four (4) years; 
 
(c) Formulate and implement regulations and procedures for accredited health 
 institutions including sanctions for non-compliance; 
 
(d) Accredit hospitals and other health facilities or settings that will be allowed 
to conduct a medical internship training program; 
 
(e) Regularly evaluate and monitor the compliance of accredited health 
institutions with the prescribed curriculum and accreditation standards, and 
institute mechanisms for program evaluation; 
 
(f) Determine the reasonable processing fee for eligible applicants to the 
internship program and an administrative fee for accreditation of health 
institutions; 
 


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(g) Assist clinical clerks in coordination with their medical colleges, in making              
an informed choice when selecting a particular health institution for their      
medical internship; 
 
(h) Formulate and implement a national internship matching program including 
mechanisms for transfers after having been matched; 
 
(i) Develop and implement a system for accredited health institutions to monitor 
and evaluate the performance of their medical interns; 
 
(j) Receive concerns and resolve complaints from medical interns or host 
institutions; and 
 
(k) Recommend to the MEC for the issuance of a certificate of completion of 
medical internship to a medical intern upon the recommendation of the 
accredited health institution following the satisfactory completion of the 
internship program. 
 
ARTICLE IV 
THE PROFESSIONAL REGULATORY BOARD OF MEDICINE 
 
 
SEC. 9. Creation. – There is hereby created a PRBM, under the 
administrative control and supervision of the PRC. The PRBM shall be composed 
of a Chairperson, a Vice Chairperson and five (5) members. The Chairperson of 
the PRBM shall be elected from among themselves by the members at a meeting 
called for a purpose. The PRBM Chairperson shall serve for one (1) year and 


14 
 
subject for re-election. Each vacant position of the PRBM shall be appointed by 
the President of the Republic of the Philippines from a list of three (3) nominees 
submitted exclusively by the PRC from recommendations coming from the IPMA, 
other professional organizations of physicians, or recognized medical colleges. 
The PRBM shall be organized not later than six (6) months from the effectivity of 
this Act. 
 
 
SEC. 10. Powers and Duties. – The PRBM shall be vested with the following 
specific powers, functions, duties, and responsibilities: 
 
(a) Supervise, regulate, and monitor the practice of medicine in the Philippines, 
including telemedicine; 
 
(b) Determine and evaluate qualifications of the applicants for the Physician 
Licensure Examination and foreign applicants for special permits to practice 
medicine in     the Philippines or temporary training permits for post-graduate 
medical education and training; 
 
(c) Prepare the test questions in the Physician Licensure Examination in 
accordance with recognized principles of evaluation and pertinent provisions 
of Section 18 of this Act; prescribe the syllabi of the subjects and their relative 
weights for the licensure examinations; conduct the examination; and 
determine the final rating of the examination papers of each examinee; 
 


15 
 
(d) Ensure that test questions in the Physician Licensure Examination are 
appropriately formulated to assess the knowledge, skills and attitudes of              
the examinees; 
 
(e) Determine, amend or revise the coverage of the subjects in the Physician 
Licensure Examination and their relative weights, and the proper conduct of 
the examinations, including the security of the examination questions to 
ensure that there are no leakages in the system, subject to the approval of the 
PRC; 
 
(f) Explore and develop ways on how to measure and evaluate the clinical 
competence of examinees and integrate the same into the Physician Licensure 
Examination; 
 
(g) Register successful examinees in the Physician Licensure Examination in the 
roll of physicians and issue the corresponding certificates of registration; 
 
(h) Issue special or temporary permits to foreign medical professionals to 
practice medicine for specific projects, duration of time, and place of 
practice; 
 
(i) Administer the qualifying assessment for foreign medical professionals who   
intend to train in the Philippines for a particular specialty or sub-specialty 
field of practice; 
 


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(j) Monitor the conditions affecting the practice of the medical profession, 
respond to emerging needs, and adopt measures for the enhancement of the 
quality of the education and practice of medicine in coordination with the 
appropriate regulatory bodies; 
 
(k) Monitor the performance of medical colleges and their compliance with the 
rules and regulations of the MEC, in coordination with CHED; 
 
(l) Conduct inspection of establishments where physicians are practicing and in 
the case of medical schools, in coordination with the MEC as provided in 
Section 9 of RA No. 8981, otherwise known as the “PRC Modernization Act 
of 2000”; 
 
(m) Promulgate rules and regulations including a Code of Ethics of the Medical 
Profession, administrative policies, orders, and issuances to carry out the 
provisions of this Act, in collaboration with the IPMA; 
 
(n) Conduct regular quality assurance programs and activities to ensure quality 
medical education; 
 
(o) Investigate meritorious cases of violations of this Act, Code of Ethics, and 
the pertinent rules and regulations, administrative policies, orders, and 
issuances which are recommended for decision by the IPMA. The rules on 
administrative investigation promulgated by the PRC shall govern the 
conduct of such investigations: Provided, That a majority of the members of 
the PRBM with the assistance of the Legal Division of the PRC shall conduct 


17 
 
the hearings. A member of the PRBM shall be assigned to preside over each 
case for hearing; 
 
(p) Issue subpoena ad testificandum or subpoena duces tecum to secure 
attendance of respondents or witnesses as well as the production of 
documents: Provided, That failure to comply therewith by the party to whom 
a subpoena has been issued shall be punishable by way of indirect contempt. 
For this purpose, the PRBM is hereby vested the power to cite any party for 
contempt which may be exercised pursuant to the applicable provisions of 
Rule 71 of the Rules of Court; 
 
(q) After due notice and hearing, cancel examination papers or bar any examinee 
from future examinations, or both; refuse or defer the registration of an 
examinee; reprimand the physician with a stern warning; suspend the 
physician from the practice of the profession; revoke the physician’s 
certificate of registration; cancel special or temporary permit; impose the 
payment of penalty fee, reprimand, suspend, or remove from the roll of 
physicians on account of continuous non-payment of annual registration fees, 
reinstate or re-enroll a physician’s name in the said roll; and re-issue or return 
the physician’s certificate of registration and professional identification card.  
 
A decision of suspension, revocation of the certificate of registration or 
removal from the roll by the PRBM as provided herein, may be appealed to 
the PRC within fifteen (15) days from receipt thereof; 
 
(r) Administer the physician's oath; 
 


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(s) Institute and prosecute or cause to be instituted and prosecuted any and all 
criminal action against any violation of this Act or the rules and regulations 
of the PRBM, or both, subject to the provisions of Section 5, Rule 110 of the 
Rules of Criminal Procedure, as amended; 
 
(t) Adopt an official seal; 
 
(u) Coordinate with the MEC in prescribing, amending or revising the curricular 
courses in a Doctor of Medicine program; 
 
(v) Assist the PRC in the implementation of its prescribed guidelines and criteria 
on continuing professional development (CPD) for licensed physicians 
consistent with RA No. 10912, otherwise known as the “Continuing 
Professional Development Act of 2016”; 
 
(w) Set the standards and guidelines for the issuance and re-issuance of certificates 
of registration including compliance with the PRBM’s CPD program; and 
 
(x) Perform such other functions and duties as may be necessary to implement the 
provisions of this Act efficiently and effectively. 
 
The policies, resolutions, rules and regulations, orders, or decisions issued or 
promulgated by the PRBM shall be subject to the review, revision, and approval 
by the PRC. The orders or decisions may be appealed to the PRC within the 
prescribed period.  However, in case of imminent and immediate danger to 


19 
 
patients, the PRBM’s final decisions, resolutions or orders rendered in any 
administrative case shall be immediately executory.  
 
SEC. 11. Qualifications of Members of the Board. – Each PRBM member at 
the time of appointment must have the following qualifications: 
 
(a) A natural born Filipino citizen and has been a resident of the Philippines 
for at least ten (10) consecutive years; 
 
(b) A holder of a valid certificate of registration and updated professional 
identification card as a physician; 
 
(c) Has been practicing medicine for at least ten (10) years;  
 
(d) A continuing bona fide member of the IPMA; 
 
(e) Has not been convicted by final judgment by a competent court of a 
criminal offense involving moral turpitude; 
 
(f) Has at least ten (10) years’ experience as a faculty member of a medical   
college and preferably with an academic rank of Associate Professor; 
 
(g) Not a current member of the faculty staff of any medical college; 
 
(h) Does not have any pecuniary interest in an institution which offers and 
operates a program for the degree of Doctor of Medicine; and 


20 
 
 
(i) Not connected with or has no pecuniary interest in a review center, school, 
group, or association offering classes or lectures as preparation for the 
Physician Licensure Examination. 
 
 
SEC.  12. Term of Office. – The members of the PRBM shall hold office 
from the date of their appointment for a term of five (5) years or until their 
successors shall have been qualified and appointed, subject to reappointment for 
another term only. Appointments to fill up vacant positions for reasons other than 
through expiration of regular terms, including physical or mental incapacity shall 
be for the unexpired period only.  
 
A successor to a member whose term of office has expired shall be appointed 
for the full term of five (5) years from the date of expiration of the term of office 
for which member’s predecessor was appointed.  
 
Each member shall take an oath of office before the performance of their 
duties and responsibilities. The incumbents whose terms have not yet expired or 
who are merely on a hold over capacity, at the effectivity of this Act, shall be 
allowed to serve the unexpired portion of their terms or may be re-appointed under 
this Act. 
 
 
SEC. 13. Compensation. – The Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, and 
members of the PRBM shall receive compensation and allowances or other 
benefits pursuant to the provisions of RA No. 8981, and other pertinent laws and 


21 
 
comparable to the compensation and allowances received by the chairperson and 
members of existing professional regulatory boards. 
 
 
SEC. 14.  Suspension or Removal. – The President, upon recommendation 
of the PRC after giving the member an opportunity to be heard by himself or by 
counsel in a proper administrative investigation to be conducted by the PRC, may 
suspend, or remove any member of the PRBM on any of the following grounds: 
 
(a) Neglect of duty or incompetence; 
 
(b) Unprofessional, unethical, or dishonorable conduct; 
 
(c) Manipulation or rigging the results of any Physician Licensure 
Examination, divulging of secret information, disclosure of the said 
examination, or tampering of the grades therein; or 
 
(d) Final conviction by the court of any criminal offense involving moral 
turpitude. 
 
SEC. 15. Administrative Management, Custody of Records, Secretariat and 
Support Services. – The PRBM shall be under the supervision and control of the 
PRC, with the PRC chairperson as the chief executive officer thereof. All records 
of the PRBM shall be under the custody of the PRC. 
 


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The PRC shall designate the secretary of the PRBM and shall provide the 
secretariat and other support services from the organic personnel of the PRC to 
implement the provisions of this Act. 
 
  ARTICLE V 
PHYSICIAN LICENSURE 
EXAMINATION 
 
 
SEC. 16. Examination Required. – All applicants for registration prior to the 
issuance of certificate of registration and a professional identification card as a 
physician, shall be required to pass the Physician Licensure Examination as 
provided for in this Act, and shall be subject to the payment of the fees prescribed 
by the PRC. 
 
SEC. 17. Qualifications for Applicants for the Physician Licensure 
Examination. – All applicants for the Physician Licensure Examination must 
possess all qualifications and none of the disqualifications hereunder set forth as 
follows:  
 
(a) A citizen and resident of the Philippines or a citizen of a foreign country 
or State that observes reciprocity in the practice of medicine with the 
Philippines; 
 
(b) Is mentally, emotionally and physically sound with a certificate of good 
moral character signed by the Dean of the medical college from where 
the applicant graduated; 


23 
 
 
(c) Has not been convicted by final judgment by a court of any criminal 
offense; 
 
(d) A holder of the degree of Doctor of Medicine or its equivalent for 
innovative curriculum, conferred by a medical college established in 
the Philippines and duly recognized by the CHED, or a degree 
conferred by a foreign college of medicine and accredited by the CHED 
as substantially equivalent to the degree of Doctor of Medicine 
conferred by medical colleges in the Philippines; and 
 
(e) Has completed a one (1) year medical internship. 
 
 
SEC. 18. Scope of Physician Licensure Examination. – The Physician 
Licensure Examination shall cover the following fourteen (14) individual or 
combined subjects with the relative weights for each: 
 
(a) Anatomy and Histology;  
(b) Physiology; 
(c) Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; 
(d) Pharmacology and Therapeutics; 
(e) Microbiology and Parasitology; 
(f) Anatomic and Clinical Pathology; 
(g) Internal Medicine, Neurology, Dermatology, Geriatrics, Oncology,  
Psychiatry Behavioral Medicine, and Clinical Neuroscience; 
(h) Obstetrics and Gynecology;  


24 
 
(i) Pediatrics and Nutrition; 
(j) Surgery, Anesthesiology and Pain Management;  
(k) Ophthalmology, Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, and 
Orthopedics; 
(l) Family and Community Medicine, Preventive Medicine and Public 
Health Economics, Physical and Rehabilitative Medicine, Palliative 
Medicine; 
(m) Medical Ethics; and 
(n) Legal Medicine, Medical Jurisprudence, and Medical Informatics. 
 
 
Diagnostic, Interventional and Therapeutic Radiology shall be integrated into 
all clinical subject clusters. 
 
 
In case there is a need or when circumstances require, or to conform with 
technological advancements and other developments, the PRBM, in consultation 
with the MEC and recognized association of medical colleges, may revise the 
substance, format, and the conduct of the examinations. 
 
 
Each of the fourteen (14) subjects shall have its syllabus or table of 
specifications for purposes of the Physician Licensure Examination. The PRBM 
shall apply the table of specifications after a lapse of three (3) months reckoned 
from the concurrence of all the following requisites: 
 
(1) Consultation with the association of medical colleges; 
(2) Approval by the PRC; 


25 
 
(3) Publication of the PRBM resolution in a newspaper of general 
circulation; and 
(4) Dissemination to all medical colleges. 
 
SEC. 19. Venues and Schedule of Examinations. – The PRBM shall 
administer the examinations for the registration of physicians at least twice a year 
in such places as the PRC may designate in accordance with the provisions of RA 
No. 8981. However, in case of a public health emergency, disaster, or calamity, 
whether natural or human-induced, the PRBM may postpone such examinations to 
a later date. 
 
 
An applicant may be allowed to take the examinations in two (2) parts. The 
first part shall consist of questions from basic medical courses enumerated in 
paragraphs (a) to (f) of Section 18 of this Act, and the rest may be taken up in the 
second part: Provided, however, That the two (2)-part examinations must be taken 
within one (1) and the same year. 
 
SEC. 20. Rating in the Examination. – To pass the Physician Licensure 
Examination, an examinee must obtain a general average rating of at least seventy-
five percent (75%) in all fourteen (14) subjects: Provided, That there is no rating 
obtained in any subject below fifty percent (50%): Provided, further, That any 
examinee who fail in the Physician Licensure Examination (PLE) for the third time 
shall be required to take a refresher course taken from an accredited medical school 
as a requirement prior to allowing such examinee to take subsequent PLE. 
 


26 
 
The PRBM shall issue specific guidelines on the refresher course 
requirement. 
 
SEC. 21. Report and Publication of the Results of Examination. – The 
PRBM shall report the rating of each examinee to the PRC within ten (10) days 
from the last day of examination or any other period granted by the PRC. The 
official results of the examination containing the list of topnotcher examinees with 
their respective medical colleges and the names of the medical colleges obtaining 
the top percentage of successful examinees shall be published by the PRC. 
 
 
The report of rating of every examinee shall be sent via registered mail to the 
examinee’s given address, using the examinee’s mailing envelope submitted prior 
to the examination. 
 
SEC. 22. Oath. – All successful examinees shall be required to take the 
physician’s oath before the PRBM or any person authorized by the PRC to 
administer it before they are issued their certificates of registration and 
professional identification cards, or before they are allowed to start their practice 
of the medical profession.  
 
They shall also be required to take their oath of membership in the IPMA. 
 
SEC. 23. Registration, Issuance of Certificate of Registration and 
Professional Identification Card; Integrated Philippine Medical Association 
Membership Card; Non-registration and Grounds Thereof. – All successful 
examinees, upon compliance with all legal requirements and payment of fees 


27 
 
prescribed by the PRC, shall be registered and issued certificates of registration 
and professional identification cards. They shall likewise be deemed members of 
the IPMA upon compliance with all requirements and payment of reasonable 
compulsory dues. Upon presentation of their certificates of registration and 
professional identification card, they shall be issued a separate IPMA membership 
card. 
 
 
The certificate of registration of a physician shall bear the registration number 
and the date of issuance and the signatures of the chairperson of the PRC and the 
members of the PRBM. Moreover, this document must  be stamped with the seals 
of the PRC and the PRBM, certifying that the name of the person stated therein 
appears in the Registry, Roster, or Roll of Physicians under the custody of the PRC; 
that the person has complied with all the legal requirements for registration as a 
physician; and that the person is entitled to exercise all the privileges appurtenant 
to the practice of medical profession: Provided, That the physician does not violate 
this Act, its implementing rules and regulations, the Code of Ethics of the Medical 
Profession, and other regulatory issuances and policies of the PRC and the PRBM. 
 
 
The professional identification card shall bear the name of the registered 
licensed physician, the registration number, the date of issuance, and the date of 
the expiration of the license. Together with the IPMA membership identification 
card, the physician is deemed qualified to practice medicine in the Philippines. 
 
 
Updating of practice information such as location, affiliation, and field of 
practice and specialization shall be required for renewal of the PRC identification 
card and IPMA membership card. 


28 
 
 
 
A successful examinee who has been finally convicted by a competent court 
of a criminal offense, found guilty by the PRBM of dishonorable or immoral 
conduct, or declared by a court to be of unsound mind, shall not be registered. The 
decision of the PRBM, finding the examinee guilty of dishonorable or immoral 
conduct may be appealed to the PRC within fifteen (15) days from receipt of the 
PRBM's decision or resolution, and to the Court of Appeals within the same period 
from the receipt of the decision or resolution of the PRC. The facts and the reasons 
for refusal to register shall be clearly stated in writing, communicated to the 
examinee, and duly incorporated in the records of the PRC. 
 
SEC. 24. Registration of Foreign Medical Graduates of Philippine Medical 
Schools.  –  A foreign student who has been conferred the Doctor of Medicine 
degree from a Philippine College of Medicine recognized by the Commission on 
Higher Education (CHED) and completed the 12-month internship in the 
Philippines is eligible for registration and practice. To this end, the CHED is hereby 
mandated to issue the required certification or appropriate documentation thereto. 
 
The said foreign medical graduates who obtained their medical degrees in 
Philippine medical schools who opt to pursue medical practice in the Philippines 
shall be allowed to take the Physician Licensure Examination and upon passing the 
PLE, shall be entitled to practice medicine subject to the provisions of Section 40 
or Section 41 of this Act. 
 
ARTICLE VI 
THE POSTGRADUATE MEDICAL EDUCATION COUNCIL 


29 
 
 
SEC. 25. Creation. – There is hereby created the Postgraduate Medical 
Education Council, herein referred to as the PGMEC, under the Professional 
Regulatory Board of Medicine (PRBM). 
 
 
The PGMEC shall be headed by the incumbent chair of the PRBM or its duly 
authorized representative and the following as members: 
(a) Chairperson of the Civil Service Commission or a duly authorized 
representative; 
(b) Secretary of Health or a duly authorized representative; 
(c) Secretary of Labor and Employment or a duly authorized 
representative; 
(d) One (1) representative from the IPMA; 
(e) One (1) representative from the private hospital association; and 
(f) Three (3) representatives, one (1) from each of three (3) different 
Medical Practice Groups. 
 
 
The PGMEC shall constitute a Medical Practice Group (MPG) for each lead 
or primary medical specialty previously identified by the PRBM through a 
resolution. Each MPG shall be composed of a chairperson and at least six (6) but 
not to exceed twelve (12) members who must all be licensed physicians and 
actively engaged in the professional practice of the respective medical specialty. 
 
 
The IPMA shall promulgate a nomination process for the membership of each 
MPG as recommended by the primary professional specialty organization or 
specialty board based on an explicit set of qualifications. It shall appoint the 


30 
 
chairperson and members of each MPG for a term of two (2) years: Provided, That, 
no chairperson nor member shall serve for more than three (3) consecutive terms. 
 
 
To provide equal opportunity for representation, the IPMA shall select which   
MPGs will be represented in the PGMEC based on a yearly rotation mechanism 
for all existing MPGs. 
 
 
Each MPG with the assistance of and in coordination with the corresponding 
professional specialty organization or specialty board shall constitute four (4) 
committees to assist the PGMEC in discharging its functions: 
 
(a) Committee on Training  
It shall establish standards of residency or fellowship training including the 
curriculum and all necessary resources for each medical specialty or 
subspecialty. It shall regularly monitor the performance and achievements 
of all trainees including the conduct of in-service training examinations to 
evaluate the competencies achieved by trainees per year level. It shall 
regularly review the training curriculum to keep up with emerging trends 
and new developments. 
 
(b) Committee on Accreditation 
It shall establish standard requirements for the accreditation of postgraduate 
medical education and training programs of healthcare institutions in a 
particular medical specialty or subspecialty and regularly review these in the 
light of emerging trends and new developments. It shall regularly monitor the 
compliance of training programs of healthcare institutions with the 


31 
 
established guidelines. It shall screen, inspect, examine, assess and 
recommend the approval of new training programs. It may recommend 
sanctions including the withdrawal of accreditation for training programs 
with repeated or major deficiencies. 
 
(c) Committee on Certification 
It shall determine the eligibility credentials of graduate residents or fellows 
in training in preparation for the specialty board certifying examination. It 
shall formulate and conduct the specialty board certifying examinations to 
determine whether a graduate resident or fellow in training has satisfactorily 
attained the required proficiencies of a specialist or practitioner of the 
corresponding specialty or subspecialty of medicine. 
 
(d) Review Committee 
It shall formulate policies on compensation, benefits and working conditions 
of residents or fellows in training and other policies related to postgraduate 
medical education and training. It shall handle complaints of residents, 
fellows, patients, or physicians and submit recommendations to the PRBM 
for approval and action regarding complaints filed. It shall also screen 
foreign medical professionals who would like to undergo residency or 
fellowship training in the country. It shall establish guidelines for the 
recognition of new medical specialties or subspecialties and receive 
applications for such. It shall study, review, hear, and recommend the approval 
or disapproval of applications for recognition of a new medical specialty or 
subspecialty. 
 


32 
 
 
The members of the PGMEC shall perform their duties as such without 
compensation or remuneration, subject to reasonable per diem allowances as 
approved by the PRC and subject to existing rules and regulations of the DBM. 
Members thereof who are not government officials or employees shall be entitled 
to necessary travelling expenses, per diem and representation allowances 
chargeable against the funds of the PRC, subject to existing rules and regulations 
of the DBM. 
 
SEC. 26. Powers and Functions of the PGMEC.  – The PGMEC shall ensure   
the quality, sustainability, and development of post-graduate medical education 
and training for all specialties and subspecialties of medicine. Through the 
respective MPGs and the professional specialty organizations or specialty boards, 
it shall perform the following functions: 
 
(a) Oversee the establishment of standards of postgraduate medical 
education and training in all medical specialties or subspecialties 
including their training curricula and desired outcomes; 
 
(b) Ensure that the standards set for postgraduate medical education and 
training are aligned with the Career Progression and Specialization 
Program of the PRC and the PRBM, national health agenda, responsive 
to the health needs of the population, and at par with international norms; 
 
(c) Oversee the accreditation of postgraduate medical education and training 
programs; 


33 
 
 
(d) Oversee the compliance of accredited postgraduate medical education 
and training programs with established accreditation guidelines and 
prescribe remedial measures for those with deficiencies; 
 
(e) In consultation with appropriate agencies, work for the provision of better 
compensation and benefits and humane working conditions for residents 
and fellows in training; 
 
(f) Screen foreign medical professionals who intend to undergo postgraduate 
medical education and training in the country and monitor their 
performance; 
 
(g) Maintain a registry or database of accredited postgraduate medical 
education and training programs, the residents and fellows including 
foreign medical professionals training in those institutions; 
 
(h) Receive and act on complaints and grievances of residents or fellows in 
training against co-residents, co-fellows and their host healthcare 
institution, as well as complaints of patients against trainees; 
 
(i) Oversee the conduct of the specialty board certifying examinations 
including determination of each candidate’s eligibility; 
 


34 
 
(j) Issue the corresponding Certificates of Accreditation to healthcare 
institutions that have complied with all requirements; Certificates of 
Training to resident and fellow trainees who have satisfactorily 
completed their postgraduate medical education and training; and 
Diplomas to eligible candidates who have successfully passed the 
professional specialty board certifying examinations; 
 
(k) Seek or request the assistance and support of any government agency, 
office or instrumentality including government-owned or -controlled 
corporations, local government units as well as non-governmental 
organizations or institutions in pursuance of its functions; and 
 
(l) Formulate other policies as it may deem necessary in pursuance of its 
functions. 
 
SEC. 27.  Accreditation of Postgraduate Medical Education and Training 
Programs. – Postgraduate medical education and training programs shall only be 
conducted in PGMEC-accredited training institutions. The PGMEC shall be the 
only government agency who shall have authority over postgraduate medical 
education and training programs. Through the corresponding MPGs and the 
primary professional specialty organizations or specialty boards, it shall oversee 
the training and certification of medical specialists and subspecialists in the 
country. 
 


35 
 
 
Certificates of Competence or similar certifications issued by different 
professional specialty or sub-specialty organizations or specialty boards prior to 
the passage of this Act, shall be replaced with new Diplomas to be issued by 
PGMEC upon submission of the original or certified true copy of the original 
certificates. 
 
SEC. 28. Qualifications of Applicants to Postgraduate Medical Education 
and Training Programs. – The following shall be the minimum qualifications of 
applicants to postgraduate medical education and training programs: 
 
(a) Must be a registered and licensed Physician; 
(b) Has no previous criminal conviction or administrative liability, or both; 
(c) Has obtained temporary training permit from the PRBM in the case of 
foreign medical professionals; and  
(d) Has complied with the other qualifications as may be required by the PRBM 
and the PRC. 
 
SEC. 29.  General Conditions for the Postgraduate Medical Education and 
Training of Foreign Medical Professionals.  – The following general conditions 
shall be applied to foreign medical professionals undergoing postgraduate medical 
education and training in the Philippines: 
 
(a) Accredited postgraduate medical education and training programs shall be 
allowed to accept foreign medical professionals only in cases wherein no 
Filipino physician is applying for the same vacancy. Filipino physicians 


36 
 
shall be given the first priority in filling up vacancies for residency or 
fellowship trainee positions; 
 
(b) Foreign medical professionals shall secure clearance from the PRBM 
prior to applying for a training position with any accredited postgraduate 
medical education and training program; 
 
(c) Foreign medical professionals shall undergo basic language course in 
Filipino or the dialect that is used in the locality where the accredited training 
institution is located before commencing postgraduate medical education 
and training. A certificate of proficiency in Filipino and the dialect of the 
locality shall be obtained by the foreign medical professional from a CHED-
accredited state university or tertiary education institution in the locality 
where the foreign medical professional intends to undergo postgraduate 
medical education and training before the PRBM may issue a clearance. For 
accredited institutions located in areas wherein English is the language used 
and understood by the majority, proficiency in a dialect shall no longer be 
required;  
 
(d) Foreign medical professionals shall be required to undergo a seminar on 
Philippine history, culture, and government as well as the Philippine laws 
affecting the health care delivery system, such as RA No. 11223,  otherwise 
known as the “Universal Health Care Act”; RA No. 10173, otherwise known 
as the “Data Privacy Act of 2012”; RA No. 11332, otherwise known as the  
“Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases”; RA No. 11058, otherwise 
known as the “Health Events of Health Correction Act,” and among others 


37 
 
prior to the commencement of postgraduate medical education and training; 
and 
 
(e) Foreign graduates of medicine must have no previous criminal conviction 
or administrative liability in the Philippines and their country of origin. 
 
 
The PRBM, subject to the approval of the PRC, shall issue specific guidelines 
on the issuance of the Temporary Training Permit to foreign medical professionals 
intending to undergo residency training. 
 
SEC. 30. Working Conditions of Residents or Fellows in Training. – The 
following shall be strictly observed by all accredited postgraduate medical 
education and training healthcare institutions: 
 
(a) No resident or fellow trainee shall be allowed to go on duty for more than 
twenty-four (24) hours straight, except in extraordinary cases to be 
determined by the corresponding hospital administrator or training 
program director; 
 
(b) Resident and fellow trainees shall be entitled to one (1) day off from 
hospital duty every week; unless there is an agreement to the contrary 
between the hospital and medical resident; 
 
(c) Resident and fellow trainees shall be provided with standard quarters in 
the hospital where they can stay and rest during their tour of duty; 


38 
 
 
(d) Resident and fellow trainees shall only perform those functions that are 
related to their education and training. As such, their superiors are hereby 
prohibited from issuing unrelated orders or are demeaning to a trainee's 
dignity as a person. The PGMEC shall receive and investigate complaints 
of this nature; 
 
(e) Resident and fellow trainees are entitled to adequate periods for meal 
breaks and personal care during their tour of duty; 
 
(f) Resident and fellow trainees shall always be supervised by their superiors 
especially when performing critical procedures on patients. In the case of 
a junior trainee, the more senior trainee or consultant shall be available 
for supervision and assistance, and in the case of senior trainees, their 
consultant; and 
 
(g) Residents and fellow trainees shall be treated equally. No trainee shall be 
discriminated because of gender, race, ethnicity, or religion. 
 
In any and all cases described above, it is the quality and continuity of patient 
care that should be the most important consideration.  
 
SEC. 31. Professional Conduct of Resident or Fellow Trainees. – In  
addition to the Code of Ethics of the Medical Profession as jointly approved by the     


39 
 
IPMA and the PRC, a resident or fellow trainee shall always observe the following 
professional conduct: 
 
(a) Uphold the dignity, privacy and rights of their patients; 
 
(b) Perform their functions with utmost diligence especially those related to 
care of patients so as not to inflict any harm on them; 
 
(c) Refrain from engaging in unacceptable practices such as: 
(1) Receiving any form of payment from their patients; 
(2) Accepting commissions from laboratories, diagnostic facilities, or 
pharmacies for referring patients to these facilities; 
(3) Obtaining excess and unused medicines, drugs and other materials 
from patients or the supply source, without proper permission; 
(4) Selling medicines, drugs and other materials to patients or their 
relatives; 
(5) Selling free samples of drugs or other medicines; and 
(6) Receiving money or any form of incentives from any 
pharmaceutical company for prescribing their brand of drugs, 
medicines, and other materials; 
 
(d) Treat superiors, subordinates, co-workers, and patients’ relatives with    
utmost respect; 
 


40 
 
(e) Observe the provisions of RA No. 6675, otherwise known as the 
“Generics Act of 1988” and RA No. 9502, otherwise known as the 
“Cheaper and Quality Medicines Act of 2008”; and  
 
(f) Render full-time service to the healthcare institution where the trainee is 
employed and shall not engage in any part-time job outside the institution. 
 
SEC. 32. Responsibilities of Accredited Postgraduate Medical Education 
and Training Healthcare Institutions. – In addition to the enforcement of the 
provisions of this Act, accredited postgraduate medical education and training 
institutions shall have the following responsibilities: 
 
(a) Regularly submit the names of residents and fellow trainees in their  
institution and such other relevant information to the PRBM; 
 
(b) Provision of the necessary standard quarters, logistics, equipment, and  
other supplies to trainees while undergoing postgraduate medical 
education and training; and 
 
(c) Conduct periodic evaluation of competencies acquired by resident and 
fellow trainees per year level. 
 
SEC. 33. Grievance System. – A grievance system is hereby established, 
wherein any aggrieved party may seek redress in accordance with the following 
rules and procedures: 


41 
 
 
(a) A written complaint must be filed with the Review Committee of the 
respective MPG, hereinafter referred to as the Committee. The 
Committee shall rule on the complaint through a notice of resolution 
within sixty (60) calendar days from receipt thereof; 
 
(b) An appeal from the decision of the Committee must be filed with the 
PGMEC within thirty (30) calendar days from receipt of the notice of 
resolution; 
 
(c) The PGMEC shall promptly and expeditiously issue its decision or 
resolution on each appeal or grievance within sixty (60) days from the 
date it is submitted to it for determination; or employee to the penalties 
prescribed under Section 34 of this Act; and 
 
(d) All parties shall keep the proceedings confidential during the pendency 
of the case before the Committee. 
 
SEC. 34. Hearing Procedures of the Committee. – Upon the filing of the 
complaint, the Committee, after consideration of the allegations thereof, may 
dismiss the case outrightly due to lack of verification, or for failure to state the 
cause of action, or any other valid ground for the dismissal of the complaint after 
consultation with the PGMEC, or require the respondent to file a verified answer 
within five (5) days from service of summons. 
 


42 
 
 
In case the respondent fails to answer the complaint within the reglementary 
five (5)-day period herein provided, the Committee, motu propio or upon motion 
of the complainant, may render judgment as may be warranted by the facts alleged 
in the complaint and limited to what is prayed for therein. 
 
 
After an answer is filed and the issues are joined, the Committee shall require 
the parties to submit, within ten (10) days from receipt of the order, the affidavits 
of witnesses and other evidence on the factual issues defined therein, together with 
a brief statement of their positions setting forth the law and the facts relied upon 
by them. In the event that the Committee finds, upon consideration of the 
pleadings, the affidavits and other evidence, and position statements submitted by 
the parties, that a judgment may be rendered thereon without need of a formal 
hearing, it may proceed to render judgment not later than ten (10) days from the 
submission of the position statements of the parties. 
 
 
In cases where the Committee deems it necessary to hold a hearing to clarify 
specific factual matters before rendering judgment, it shall set the case for hearing. 
At such hearing, the proponent may conduct a direct examination of witnesses on 
the basis of their affidavits and may be cross examined by the adverse party. The 
order setting the case for hearing shall specify the witnesses who will be called to 
testify, and the matters which their examination will pertain to. The hearing shall 
be terminated within fifteen (15) days, and the case decided upon by the Committee 
within fifteen (15) days from such termination. 
 
 
The decision of the Committee shall become final and executory fifteen (15) 
days after notice thereof: Provided, That the same may be appealable to the 


43 
 
PGMEC within thirty (30) days from receipt of the copy of the judgment appealed 
from. An appellee shall be given fifteen (15) days from notice to file a 
memorandum after which the PGMEC shall decide on the appeal within sixty (60) 
days from the submittal of the said pleadings. 
 
 
The decision of the PGMEC shall also become final and executory fifteen 
(15) days after notice thereof: Provided, however, That the same may be reviewed 
by the Supreme Court on purely questions of law in accordance with the Rules of 
Court. 
 
 
The Committee and the PGMEC, in the exercise of their quasi-judicial 
functions can administer oaths, certify to official acts, and issue subpoena to 
compel the attendance and testimony of witnesses, and subpoena duces tecum and 
ad testificandum to enjoin the production of books, papers, and other records, and 
to testify therein on any question arising out of this Act. Any case of contumacy 
shall be dealt with in accordance with the provisions of the Revised Administrative 
Code and the Rules of Court. The PGMEC or the Committee, as the case may be, 
shall prescribe the necessary administrative sanctions. 
 
 
In all its proceedings, the PGMEC or the Committee shall not be bound by 
the technical rules of evidence: Provided, finally, That the Rules of Court shall 
apply with suppletory effect. 
 
SEC. 35. Violations. – Any healthcare training institution or any of its 
resident or fellow trainees, or both, that have been found violating any provisions 
of this Act shall have the following penalties: 


44 
 
 
(a) First Offense - Reprimand; 
 
(b) Second Offense - Suspension with duration depending on the gravity of the 
offense but not exceeding six (6) months; and 
 
(c) Third Offense - Revocation of the accreditation of the training institution, 
or in the case of a resident or fellow in training, non-issuance of a 
Certificate of Training and removal from the postgraduate medical 
education and training program. 
 
ARTICLE VII 
REGULATION OF THE PRACTICE OF THE MEDICAL PROFESSION 
 
SEC. 36. Acts Constituting the Practice of Medicine. – The following are    
acts constituting the practice of medicine: 
 
(a) History taking and physical examination of any person for any disease, 
injury, or deformity; and diagnosing, treating, operating, prescribing, or 
dispensing any remedy therefor; 
 
(b) History-taking and examination of any person through submission of 
photographs 
and 
videos 
or 
any 
communication 
through 
telecommunication or electronic means for any disease, injury, or 
deformity; diagnosing and prescribing or dispensing any remedy therefor 
through electronic means or telemedicine; 


45 
 
 
(c) History-taking and physical examination of any person’s mental condition 
for any ailment, real or imaginary, regardless of the nature of the remedy 
or treatment administered, prescribed, or recommended; 
 
(d) Offering or undertaking to diagnose, treat, operate, prescribe, or 
administer any remedy for any human disease, injury, deformity, physical 
or mental condition, either personally or by means of signs, cards or 
advertisements by way of mass media, or any other means of 
communication; 
 
(e) Using or affixing “M.D.” to the person’s name in written or oral 
communications. Unless otherwise specified, the letters “M.D.” shall 
mean Doctor of Medicine: Provided, That only those who have passed the 
Physician Licensure Examination and licensed to practice the medical 
profession are allowed to use the title “M.D.”; and 
 
(f) Conducting formal medical classes in medical colleges, seminars, 
lectures, symposia and the like unless the subject matter being taken up 
involves basic science fundamentals in the furtherance of its applications 
in clinical medicine. 
 
SEC. 37. Exceptions in the Practice of Medicine. – For purposes of this Act, 
the following shall not be considered as engaging in the practice of medicine: 
Provided, That they are attending to patients under the direct supervision and control 
of a duly licensed physician: 


46 
 
(a) Medical students, clinical clerks, and medical interns attending to patients; 
 
(b) Foreigners who intend to undergo or are undergoing postgraduate medical 
education and training or otherwise under training with a valid special  
permit from the PRBM; 
 
(c) Non-medical persons who perform specific interventions in emergency 
situations to save life or preserve limb according to their level of  
competence determined by their prior training and certification; 
 
(d) Non-medical educators who have attained a Masters or Doctorate degree  
on a specific field in the basic sciences of medicine who conduct 
teaching-learning activities for medical students, interns, or licensed 
physicians; and 
 
(e) Practitioners of Traditional and Complementary Medicine Modalities or 
systems who are regulated by the Philippine Institute of Traditional and 
Alternative Health Care. 
 
SEC. 38. Scope of Medical Practice. – The scope of the practice of medicine  
is the application of medical knowledge, skill, and judgment for the promotion of 
good health; the prevention and treatment of physical, mental, or psycho-social 
diseases, disorders, injuries, and conditions; the assessment and management of a 
physical, mental, or psycho-social disease, disorder, injury, or condition of an 
individual or group of individuals at any stage of the biological life cycle, including 


47 
 
the prenatal and postmortem periods delivered either in clinical or non-clinical 
settings. 
 
(a) Clinical Practice of Medicine 
 
(1) General Medical Practice refers to the professional practice of a 
General Physician who has completed basic medical education and 
medical internship, has obtained a PRC license, and has not 
completed any formal postgraduate medical education and training as 
defined in this Act. 
 
(2) A General Physician or a Medical Specialist may serve as a Primary 
Care Provider as provided for in RA No. 11223, when the defined 
competencies in Primary Care as certified by the DOH are achieved. 
 
(3) Limited Specialty Care Practice refers to the clinical practice of a  
General Physician with additional credentials to independently 
provide particular emergency and essential health care services in 
locations where specialist physicians are unavailable or inaccessible, 
obtained after undergoing the necessary qualifications and training as 
may be determined by the corresponding MPGs and PGMEC in 
collaboration with the respective professional specialty organizations 
or specialty boards and monitored regularly by the same. The 
corresponding MPGs and PGMEC, in consultation with the DOH, 
shall determine the localities where specialist physicians are 
unavailable or inaccessible. 


48 
 
 
 
(4) Specialty Medical Practice refers to the professional practice of a  
Specialist Physician who is a licensed physician and has completed 
additional formal postgraduate medical education and training in a  
distinct clinical medical discipline focused on a defined group of  
patients, diseases, skills, or philosophy and has been certified by the 
PGMEC upon the recommendation of the corresponding MPGs. The  
scope of specialty medical practice refers to the diagnosis and 
management of specific conditions as defined by the corresponding  
MPG and PGMEC for a particular specialty or subspecialty: 
Provided, That those who have been in practice for at least ten (10) 
years in good standing by IPMA and with specific and sufficient 
specialty training prior to the effectivity of this Act shall be 
recognized and certified by the PGMEC as specialist physician.  
 
(b) Non-Clinical Practice of Medicine 
 
This refers to the practice of the profession wherein the physician is 
engaged in the application of medical knowledge and skills in the fields 
of health research and policy, basic medical education, public health and 
health systems management, health communications, healthcare industry 
and administration, and among others. 
 
This Act shall not be construed to affect or prevent the practice of any other 
legally recognized profession. 


49 
 
 
The foregoing list notwithstanding any act that requires the application of 
medical knowledge, skills, training, and competence shall be deemed to constitute 
the practice of medicine. 
 
SEC. 39. Establishment of Physician-Patient Relationship. – The physician 
and patient interacting through telecommunication services, for purposes of 
telemedicine practice, shall be considered to have established a physician-patient 
relationship, and all pertinent laws governing and related to the said relationship 
shall likewise apply.  
 
 
A physician-patient relationship may be established through telemedicine and 
the health care services provided through this means shall be held to the same 
standards of practice and conduct as in-person services. The relationship is firmly 
established when the physician agrees to undertake diagnosis and treatment of the 
patient and the patient agrees to be treated, whether there has been an in-person 
encounter or not. 
 
SEC. 40. Reciprocity. – A foreigner may be allowed to practice medicine in 
the Philippines without having to pass the Physicians Licensure Examination, if 
the country of which the foreigner is a citizen, allows Filipino citizens to practice 
medicine under the same conditions such as the following: 
 
(a) The country of which the foreigner is a citizen, imposes the same 
academic and training requirements for its citizens to be able to practice 
medicine; 


50 
 
(b) There is a reciprocity agreement, executive agreement, or international 
agreement, or treaty to this effect signed by both governments of the 
Philippines and the country of which the foreigner is a citizen; and 
 
(c) The foreigner must show documents equivalent to the PRC 
Identification Card or Certificate of Registration attesting that the 
foreign country’s regulatory board of medicine has allowed the person 
to practice medical profession in their country. 
 
SEC. 41.  Special Permits to Practice Medicine in the Philippines. – In the 
absence of reciprocity agreement, executive agreement, international agreement, 
or treaty, a foreigner may be allowed to practice in the Philippines subject to the 
following conditions: 
 
(a) The foreigner must obtain a special permit from the PRC; 
 
(b) The special permit shall specify the purpose, limitations, place of practice,  
and such other conditions as may be imposed by the PRC such as: 
 
(1) A period of not more than one (1) year, subject to renewal or  
extension: Provided, That the renewal or extension shall be under 
the same process and requirements as hereinabove described; 
 
(2) The specific area of medical specialization;  
 


51 
 
(3) The specific place of practice, such as clinic, hospital, center, 
medical college, as the case may be; 
 
(c) Payment of the required fees; and 
 
(d) Undertaking that the foreigner shall abide by the Code of Ethics of the 
Medical Profession in the Philippines. 
 
 
The PRC may issue a special permit to a foreign medical professional not 
covered by any reciprocity agreement or under Section 40 hereof under the 
following guidelines: 
 
(a) Physicians who are citizens of and licensed in foreign countries and who 
intend to render free medical services to patients, indigent or otherwise, in 
the Philippines in a particular local hospital, center, or clinic: Provided, That 
a reasonable honorarium may be allowed for daily subsistence during their 
stay or service in the Philippines, and: Provided, further, That they render 
such services under the direct supervision and control of a duly licensed 
Filipino physician; 
 
(b) Physicians who are internationally well-known medical specialists or 
publicly acknowledged as experts in any field of medical specialization; 
 
(c) Physicians of foreign countries whose services are urgently necessary, 
owing to the lack of available local specialists or experts, or for the 


52 
 
promotion and advancement of the practice of medicine including, the 
conduct of formal classes or training and acting as resource persons in 
medical seminars, fora, or symposia; and 
 
(d) Physicians licensed in foreign countries who are employed as exchange 
professors in any area of medical specialization. 
 
Other categories of foreign physicians as may be determined by the PRBM 
and the PRC. 
 
SEC. 42. Administrative Investigation and Disciplinary Actions. – The 
PRBM shall have the power, upon proper notice and hearing, after finding of guilt, 
issue and reprimand, to suspend from the practice of profession, or revoke the 
certificate of registration of a physician, or cancel the special or temporary permit 
or temporary training permit issued to a foreign medical professional for any of the 
following grounds or causes: 
 
(a) Final conviction by a court of competent jurisdiction of any criminal 
offense involving moral turpitude; 
 
(b) Immoral or dishonorable conduct; 
 
(c) Mental incapacity; 
 


53 
 
(d) Fraud in the acquisition of the certificate of registration and the 
professional identification card or temporary or special permit or 
temporary training permit; 
 
(e) Gross negligence, ignorance, or incompetence in the practice of the 
profession, resulting in injury to or death of the patient; 
 
(f) Addiction to alcoholic beverages, any habit-forming drug, or any form of 
illegal gambling, rendering the person incompetent to practice the 
profession; 
 
(g) Making or causing to be made false, misleading, extravagant, or unethical 
advertisements, or making or causing to be made advertisements wherein 
things other than the physician’s name, profession, limitation of practice, 
clinic hours, and office and home addresses are mentioned; 
 
(h) Issuance of any false statement or spreading any false news or rumor 
which is derogatory to the character and reputation of another physician 
without justifiable motive; 
 
(i) Issuing any false medical certificate or findings or making any fraudulent 
claims with government or private health insurance knowingly; 
 
(j) Performance of, or aiding in, any criminal abortion; 
 


54 
 
(k) Allowing oneself to be substituted by an unqualified or unlicensed person 
to practice general or specialty medicine: Provided, however, That this 
provision shall not apply to accredited training programs where students, 
interns, or residents or fellows in training are allowed to perform tasks 
under supervision; 
 
(l) Substituting for another medical practitioner in the professional care of 
the latter’s patient without the patient’s knowledge and consent; 
 
(m) Abetting or assisting in the illegal practice by a person who is not lawfully 
qualified to practice the profession; 
 
(n) Using or advertising any title or description tending to convey the 
impression to the general public that one is a medical specialist in a 
particular field of medicine when in fact the person does not possess the 
necessary qualifications to practice the specialty; 
 
(o) Practicing the profession during the period of the suspension or during 
the period that the license is revoked; 
 
(p) Willful failure or refusal to be a member in good standing of the IPMA; 
and  
 
(q) Violation of any provision of the Code of Ethics of the Medical Profession 
as jointly approved by the IPMA and the PRC.   


55 
 
 
SEC. 43. Rights of the Parties. – The private complainant and the 
respondent physician shall have the right to be heard, to a counsel, to a speedy and 
impartial hearing, to confront and to meet the witnesses, to compulsory processes, 
to secure the attendance of witnesses and the production of evidence, and to all 
other rights guaranteed by the Constitution and the Rules of Court. All cases filed 
or pending under this Act, except those filed or pending in courts and other quasi-
judicial and investigative bodies, shall not be discussed nor taken up in any other 
forum until after the same shall have been decided with finality. 
 
SEC. 44. Appeal from Judgment. – The decision of the PRBM shall become 
final fifteen (15) days from the date of receipt of such decision by the parties or 
their counsel. Within the same period, the aggrieved party may ask for a 
reconsideration of the decision for being contrary to law or for insufficiency of 
evidence. No second motion for reconsideration to the PRBM shall be allowed. A 
decision of suspension, revocation of the certificate of registration, or removal from 
the roll of physicians by the PRBM as provided herein may be appealed to the PRC 
within fifteen (15) days from receipt thereof. 
 
SEC. 45. Re-issuance of Revoked Certificate of Registration and 
Professional Identification Card and Replacement of Lost Certificate of 
Registration and Identification Card. – After two (2) years, the PRBM may order  
the reinstatement of any physician whose certificate of registration has been 
revoked, if the respondent, for reasons of equity and justice and when the cause for 
revocation has disappeared or has been cured and  corrected or has shown or has 
acted in an exemplary manner in the community, upon proper application therefor 


56 
 
and the payment of the required fees, issue another copy of the certificate of 
registration and professional identification card. 
 
A new certificate of registration or professional identification card to 
replace a certificate or card that has been lost, destroyed, mutilated, or otherwise 
could no longer be used for its purpose, may be issued, subject to the rules of the 
PRC. 
 
SEC. 46. Mandatory Use of Certificate of Registration Number, 
Professional ID Number, IPMA Membership Number, and Professional Tax 
Receipt Number. – A registered licensed physician shall indicate the certificate of 
registration number, the number and the expiry date of the professional  
identification card, IPMA membership number, and Professional Tax Receipt 
number on the prescription and other documents used or issued in connection with 
the practice of profession. 
 
SEC. 47. Vested Rights. – All physicians registered at the time this Act takes 
effect  shall be automatically registered under the provisions hereof, without 
prejudice, if any, to the other requirements herein set forth. 
 
All physicians whose names appear in the Registry, Roll, or Roster of 
Physicians at the time of the effectivity of this Act shall automatically be registered 
by the PRBM and PRC as physicians, and thereafter by the IPMA as its bona fide 
members pursuant to Section 23 of this Act. 
 
 


57 
 
ARTICLE VIII 
INTEGRATED PHILIPPINE MEDICAL ASSOCIATION 
  
SEC. 48. Integration of the Profession. – For purposes of this Act, the existing 
Philippine Medical Association shall be integrated into the Integrated Philippine 
Medical Association (IPMA). All physicians, duly registered and licensed with the 
PRBM and PRC, shall automatically become members of the IPMA, maintain such 
memberships therein as a requisite to practice the profession, and receive benefits 
and privileges appurtenant thereto upon payment of the required reasonable fees 
and dues. Membership in the IPMA shall not be a bar to membership in other 
associations of physicians.   
 
The objectives of the IPMA shall be as follows: 
 
(a) Elevate the standards of the medical profession that is responsive to the 
health needs of the population; 
 
(b) Assist the PGMEC with the education, training and certification of 
medical specialists and subspecialists; 
 
(c) Foster and maintain the high ideals of integrity, competence, 
professionalism and compassion; 
 
(d) Provide opportunities for continuing professional development and 
research; 
 


58 
 
(e) Assist government health agencies in public health policy formulation, 
implementation, and health care delivery; 
 
(f) Promote the welfare and interests of its membership; and 
 
(g) Promote encourage, and conduct medical outreach programs and projects 
to the marginalized sectors of the community. 
 
SEC. 49. The Integrated Philippine Medical Association. – The IPMA shall 
have perpetual succession and shall have all legal powers appertaining to a juridical 
person, particularly the power to sue and be sued; to contract and be contracted 
with; to hold real and personal property as may be necessary for corporate 
purposes; to mortgage, lease, sell, transfer, convey and otherwise dispose of the 
same; to solicit and receive public and private donations and contributions; to 
accept and receive real and personal property by gift, devise or bequest; to levy 
and collect membership dues and special assessments from its members; to adopt 
a seal and to alter the same at pleasure; to have offices and conduct its affairs in 
the National Capital Region; and generally to do all such acts and things as may be 
necessary or proper to carry into effect and promote the purposes for which it was 
organized. 
 
SEC. 50. Investigative and Recommendatory Power of the Integrated 
Philippine Medical Association. – The IPMA shall have the power to investigate 
complaints against physicians for violation of this Act, the Code of Ethics of the 
Medical Profession, and the pertinent rules and regulations, administrative 


59 
 
policies, orders and issuances. The rules on administrative investigation 
promulgated by the IPMA shall govern in such proceeding. 
 
 
If the complaint appears to be meritorious, the association shall issue a 
recommendation to file the proper charges before the PRBM. 
 
 
If the complaint does not merit action, or if the answer shows to the 
satisfaction of the association that the complaint is not meritorious, the same may 
be dismissed. The PRBM may review the case motu proprio or upon timely appeal 
of the complainant filed within fifteen (15) days from notice of the dismissal of the 
complaint. 
 
SEC. 51. Mandatory Continuing Professional Development. – The PRBM 
shall implement a mandatory continuing professional development for physicians 
consistent with RA No. 10912. 
 
SEC. 52. The State shall subsequently enact a statute mandating all              
medical practitioners in both private practice and government employment to         
secure a malpractice insurance coverage to answer for any liability or damages or 
death of a patient as a result of malpractice. The cost of the insurance premium of 
government-employed medical practitioners shall be subsidized by the State. Not 
more than fifty percent (50%) of the cost of insurance premium shall be passed on 
proportionately to paying patients by private practitioners. 
 
ARTICLE IX 
PENAL PROVISIONS 


60 
 
 
SEC. 53. Penalties. – Except as otherwise allowed under this Act, no person 
shall practice or offer to practice the medical profession in the Philippines or be 
appointed as medical practitioner to any position without having previously 
obtained a certificate of registration and professional identification card from the 
PRC. 
 
 
The penalty of imprisonment of not less than one (1) year but not exceeding 
five (5) years, or a fine of not less than Two hundred thousand pesos (P200,000.00) 
but not exceeding Five hundred thousand pesos (P500,000.00), or both, upon the 
discretion of the court, shall be imposed upon: 
 
(a) Any person who practices or offers to practice medicine in the Philippines 
with a fraudulent certificate of registration, professional identification card, 
or temporary or special permit or temporary training permit in accordance 
with the provisions of this Act; 
 
(b) Any person who shall attempt to use a revoked or suspended certificate of 
registration or professional identification card, or a cancelled or expired 
temporary or special permit or temporary training permit; 
 
(c) Any person using or attempting to use the certificate of registration or 
professional identification card or temporary or special permit or temporary 
training permit duly issued to another; 
 


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(d) Any person who shall give any false or forged documents, credentials, or 
any other proof of any kind to the PRBM or PRC in order to obtain a 
certificate of registration or professional identification card or temporary or 
special permit or temporary training permit; 
 
(e) Any person who shall falsely present oneself as a bona fide licensed 
physician with like or different name; 
 
(f) Any person who is not a licensed physician and who uses or advertises any 
title or description tending to convey the impression to the public that one is 
a registered and licensed physician or medical specialist; and 
 
(g) When any of the acts defined in paragraphs (a) or (b) of this Section is 
committed by a person against three (3) or more persons, or when any of 
such acts are committed by at least three (3) persons who conspire with one 
another, or when death occurs, the offense shall be considered as a qualified 
offense and shall be punished by life imprisonment and a fine of not less 
than Five hundred thousand pesos (P500,000.00) but not more than Two 
million pesos (P2,000,000.00). Prosecution of an offense under this Act shall 
be without prejudice to a separate prosecution under the provisions of the 
Revised Penal Code and other laws. 
 
 
SEC. 54. Cease-and-Desist Order. – The PRBM shall issue a cease-and- 
desist order after due notice and hearing, to enjoin any person illegally practicing 
medicine from the performance of any act constituting the practice of the 


62 
 
profession. Any such person who, after having been so enjoined, continues in the 
illegal practice of medicine, shall be charged and punished for contempt of court. 
The said injunction shall not relieve the person illegally practicing medicine from 
criminal prosecution and punishment as provided for in the preceding section. 
 
 
However, if it is shown that the public will suffer grave injustice or 
irreparable injury, the chairperson of the PRBM, or in the chairperson’s absence, 
any PRBM member holding office, may issue the cease-and-desist order within 
seventy-two (72) hours.  The Rules of the Court is suppletory for this purpose. 
 
ARTICLE X 
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS 
 
 
SEC. 55. Annual Report. – The PRBM shall, on or before the end of January 
of the year following the enactment of this Act, and every year thereafter, submit 
to the PRC its annual report of accomplishments on programs, projects, and 
activities for the calendar year together with its appropriate recommendations on 
issues or problems affecting the practice of medicine. 
 
 
SEC. 56. Appropriations. – The amount necessary for the implementation of 
this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
 
 
SEC. 57. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within ninety (90) days 
after the approval of this Act, the PRC, in consultation and coordination with 
appropriate government agencies, representatives from the private sector, and other 


63 
 
stakeholders, shall promulgate the necessary implementing rules and regulations 
for the effective implementation of this Act. 
 
 
SEC. 58. Transitory Provisions. – The incumbent Professional Regulatory 
Board of Medicine shall continue to function in the interim until such time the new 
PRBM shall have been constituted pursuant to this Act. 
 
 
SEC. 59.   Separability Clause.  –  If any part or provision of this Act is 
declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not affected 
shall remain in full force and effect. 
 
 
SEC. 60.  Repealing Clause. – RA No. 2382, otherwise known as the 
Medical Act of 1959, RA No. 1243, as amended by RA No. 2251, otherwise known 
as the law on the Tenure of Office of Hospital Residents in Government Training 
Hospitals under DOH, RA No. 5901, otherwise known as Forty Hours a Week of 
Labor for Government and Private Hospitals or Clinic Personnel, Presidential 
Decree No. 1424, otherwise known as the Hospital Residency Law, and all other 
laws, decrees, executive orders, and other administrative issuances and parts 
thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby modified, 
superseded, or repealed accordingly. 
 
 
SEC. 61. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation in the 
Philippines. 
 
 
Approved,