JUN 
THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Firsf Regular Session 
1 
S E N A T E  
Introduced by Senator S. R. Osmeiia 111 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
For more than forty years, the Medical Act of 1959 has been the governing 
law on the practice of medicine in the country. 
The laws creating the Philippine 
Regulations Commission (PRC) and the Commission on Higher Education 
(CHED) included provisions further improving the medical profession. 
In the same manner, medical technological advances and innovations 
have proliferated to enhance and improve the life-saving services of the health 
professionals. 
These changes makes it necessary to update and upgrade the curriculum 
of study and practice of medicine. 
This measure incorporates the mission, vision and goals of the PRC and 
the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) distilled from more than 100 years of 
monitoring the medical profession in the country. 
To further quality care for the Filipino people and the demands of globally- 
competitive health professionals, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
SERGIO OSMENA 111 
Senator 
lchnr 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
1 
Introduced by Senator S. R. OsmeAa I l l  
AN ACT 
REGULATING THE EDUCATION AND LICENSURE OF PHYSICIAN AND 
THEIR PRACTICE OF MEDICINE IN THE PHILIPPINES AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives in Congress 
Assembled: 
I 
ARTICLE I - TITLE, POLICY AND OBJECTIVES 
2 
SECTION I. 
Title - This shall be known as the “Physician’s Act of 2004”. 
3 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy - The State recognizes the vital role of 
4 physicians as professionals involved in the preservation, safeguard, cure and 
5 
enhancement of life, health, and general welfare of the citizenry. Physicians’ 
6 
professional services shall, therefore, be promoted as a regular component of the 
7 
primary health care system and as a vehicle towards the progress of the country. 
8 
SEC. 3. Objectives - This Act provides for and shall govern: (a) the 
9 
standardization, upgrading, and regulation of the operation of medicine-proper 
10 
courses including internship training; (b) the examination for registration and 
11 
licensure; (c) supervision, control and regulation of the practice of medicine; (d) 
12 
the integration of the profession and (e) the development of the competence, 
13 
moral values, and professional attitude of physicians through continuing 
14 
professional medical education (CPME). 
1.5 
ARTICLE II - THE BOARD OF MEDICAL EDUCATION 
IG 
SEC. 4. Composition of the Board of Medical Education . The Board 
17 
of Medical Education, hereinafter referred to as the Board, shall be headed by 


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
28 
the Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and 
composed of the following as members: the Secretary of the Department of 
Health (DOH) or his duly authorized representative; the Chairperson of the 
Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), the President of the Philippine 
Medical Association (PMA) and the President of the Philippine Medical Colleges 
Inc. (APMC) and the Chairperson of the Board of Medicine. 
The Chairperson and members of the Board shall hold office during their 
incumbency in their respective positions. 
The Board, shall, within sixty (60) days after the effectivity of this Act, shall 
appoint a technical panel composed of specialists and academicians from the 
Government and private sector to be appointed by the Board in the discharge of 
its functions and powers. 
SEC. 5. Composition and other Benefits - The Chairperson, members, 
and the staff of the Board of Medical Education shall receive compensation and 
other benefits 
SEC. 6. Functions and Duties -The Board of Medical Education shall 
have the following functions and duties: 
(a) 
To determine and prescribe requirements for admission into a 
recognized college of medicine; 
To determine and prescribe requirements for minimum physical 
facilities of colleges of medicine, to wit: 
building, including 
hospitals, equipment and supplies, 
apparatus, 
instruments, 
appliances, laboratories and bed capacity for instruction purposes, 
operating and delivery rooms, facilities for outpatient services and 
others, used for didactic and practical instruction in accordance with 
modern trends; 
To determine and prescribe the minimum number and standard and 
qualification of teaching personnel including student-teacher ratio; 
(b) 
(c) 


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
28 
29 
(d) 
To determine and prescribe the minimum required curriculum with 
internship leading to degree of Doctor of Medicine; 
(e) 
To 
authorize 
the 
implementation of 
experimental medical 
curriculum in a medical school that has exceptional faculty and 
instruments facilities. 
Such an experimental curriculum may 
prescribe admission and graduation requirements other than those 
prescribed in this Act. 
Provided, that only exceptional students 
shall be enrolled in the experimental curriculum; 
To accept applications for certification for admission to a medical 
school and keep a registry of those issued with said certificate; and 
to collect from said applicants a reasonable fee as may be 
determined by the Board which shall accrue to the operating funds 
of the CHED; 
To select, determine and approve hospitals, or some departments 
of the hospitals, for training which comply with the minimum specific 
physical facilities as provided in subparagraph (b) hereof; 
To recommend to the CHED the closure or suspension of the 
Degree of Doctor of Medicine upon evaluation of the statistical 
information on the performance of the said college in the Physical 
Licensure Examination as furnished by the Board of Medicine and 
the Professional Regulation Commission; and 
To promulgate, prescribe, and enforce the necessary rules and 
regulations for the proper implementation of the foregoing 
functions. 
(9 
(9) 
(h) 
(i) 
SEC. 7. Minimum Required Course - Students seeking admission to 
medical course must have a bachelor’s degree in science or arts. 
The medical course leading to the degree of doctor of medicine shall be 
five (5) years including internship and shall consist of the following subjects: 
Anatomy 


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
28 
Physiology 
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology 
Pharmacology & Therapeutics 
Microbiology & Parasitology 
Medicine 
Pathology & Oncology 
Obstetrics & Gynecology 
Pediatrics and Nutrition 
Neurology & Psychiatry 
Ophthalmology, Otology & Laryngology 
Orthopedics 
Urology 
Radiology 
Surgery 
Preventive Medicine & Public Health 
Legal Medicine, Medical Jurisprudence, Ethics & Economics 
Provided, that the Board is hereby authorized to modify, rearrange, re- 
cluster, add to or reduce the subjects listed above as the needs and demands of 
progress in the medical profession may require. 
SEC. 8. Admission Requirements - The medical college may admit any 
student who has not been finally convicted in court of any criminal offense 
involving moral turpitude and who presents: (a) a record showing completion of 
a bachelor’s degree in science or arts; (b) a certificate of eligibility for entrance to 
a school of medicine from the Board of Medical education; (c) a certificate of 
good moral character issued by two former professors in the college offering the 
pre-medicine course(s); and (d) certificate of live birth. Nothing in this Act shall 
be construed to inhibit any college of medicine from establishing, in addition to 
the preceding, any other entrance requirements that may be deemed reasonable. 


5 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
28 
29 
For the purpose of this Act, the term ‘College of Medicine” shall mean to 
include faculty of medicine, institute of medicine, school of medicine or to her 
similar institution that has met the standards and requirement set forth by the 
Board, offering a complete medical course leading to the degree of Doctor of 
Medicine or its equivalent course obtained. 
Every college of medicine must keep complete records of enrolment, 
grades, graduates and must publish each year a catalogue giving the following 
information: 
I. 
date of publication 
2. calendar of academic year 
3. faculty roll indicating whether on full part or part time basis 
4. requirements for admission 
5. grading system 
6. requirements for promotion 
7. requirements for graduation 
8. curriculum and description of course by department 
9. number of students enrolled in each class in the preceding year 
ARTICLE 111 . THE PRACTICE OF MEDICINE 
SEC. 9. Prerequisite to the Practice of Medicine - No person shall 
engage in the practice of medicine in the Philippines unless s/he holds a (I) a 
valid certificate of registration and a valid professional license issued by the 
Professional Regulation Commission, or (2) a valid special/temporary permit 
issued by the Board of Medicine subject to approval by the PRC, unless s/he is 
exempted from this Act from holding any of the foregoing license. 
SEC. I O .  Acts Constituting Practice of Medicine - A person shall be 
considered as engaged in the practice of medicine who shall: 
I.) for compensation, fee, salary or reward in any form paid to him 
directly or through another, even without the same, physically 
examine any person, and diagnose, treat, operate or prescribe and 


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
28 
dispense any remedy for human disease, injury, deformity, 
physical, mental, psychical condition or any ailment, real or 
imaginary, regardless of the nature of the remedy or treatment 
administered, prescribed or recommended, or 
2.) 
by means of signs, cards, advertisements, written or printed matter, 
or through the 
radio, television 
or any other 
means of 
communication, either offer or undertake by any means or method 
to diagnose, treat, operate or prescribe and dispense any remedy 
for any human disease, injury, deformity, physical, mental or 
physical condition or 
who shall falsely use M.D. after hidher name. 
3.) 
SEC. 1 I .  Practice through Special Permit/Temporary Permit - 
Special/Temporary permit may be issued by the Board of Medicine subject to 
approval by the PRC and payment of the fees it has prescribed and charged 
thereof to the following persons: 
(1) 
Licensed physicians from foreign countries/states whose 
services are either for a fee or free. 
(a) 
if they are internationally well-known specialists or 
outstanding experts in any branch or specialty of 
medicine; and 
(b) 
if their 
services 
are 
urgently 
and importantly 
necessary for lack or inadequacy of available local 
specialists/experts 
or 
for 
the 
promotion 
or 
advancement of the practice of medicine through 
transfer of technology. 
(2) 
Licensed physicians from foreign countrieslstates whose 
services shall be free and limited to indigent patients in a 
particular hospital, center or clinic; 


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
28 
29 
(3) 
Licensed physicians from foreign countries/states employed 
as exchange professors in a brand of specialty of medicine 
by colleges of medicine. 
The permit shall, among other things, include these limitations and 
conditions: the period for no more than one (1) year subject to renewal, the 
branch or specialty of medicine, and the specific place of practice such as clinic, 
hospital, center, college of medicine. The Board of Medicine, subject to approval 
by the PRC, shall prescribe rules and regulations on the implementation of this 
particular Section 
SEC.12. 
Persons Exempted from Holding Valid Certificate of 
Registration and Valid Professional License or Special/ Temporary Permit - 
The preceding section shall not be construed to affect (a) any medical student 
duly enrolled in an approved medical college or school, or graduate under 
training, serving without any professional fee in any government or private 
hospital, provided that he renders such service under the direct supervision and 
control of a registered physician: (b) any legally registered dentist engaged 
exclusively in the practice of dentistry; (c) any duly registered masseur or 
physiotherapist, provided that he applies massage or other physical means upon 
written order or prescription of a duly registered physician, or provided that such 
application of massage or physical means shall be limited to physical or muscular 
development; (d) any duly registered optometrist who mechanically fits or sells 
lenses, artificial eyes, limbs or other similar appliances or who is engaged in the 
mechanical examination of eyes for the purpose of constructing or adjusting 
eyeglasses, spectacles and lenses; (e) any person who renders any service 
gratuitously in cases of emergency, or in places where the services of a duly 
registered physician, nurse or midwife are not available; (9 any person who 
administers or recommends any household remedy as per classification of 
existing, Pharmacy Laws; (9) any clinical psychologist or mental hygienist, in the 
performance of hidher duties in regard to patients with psychiatric problems, 


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
1 1  
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
28 
29 
provided such performance is done with the prescription and direct supervision of 
a duly registered physician; (h) prosthetists who fit artificial limbs under the 
supervision of a registered physician; and (i) cosmetologists who compounds and 
sells beauty skin products provided they do not perform surgical intervention. 
ARTICLE IV - 
Board of Medicine 
SEC. 13. Composition of the Board - 
The 
Board 
of 
Medicine, 
hereinafter referred to as the Board, is hereby created as a collegial body under 
the administrative control and supervision of the Professional Regulation 
Commission, hereinafter called Commission, composed of a Chairman, a Vice- 
Chairman and four (4) Members to be appointed by the President of the 
Philippines from among three (3) recommendees of the Board of Medical 
Education for every vacancy of the Board who were chosen from nominees of 
the PMA and the DOH. 
SEC. 14- Qualification of Board Members 
- Each Board Member 
must, at the time of his appointment, 
Be a natural born Filipino citizen and a resident of the 
Philippines for at least ten (10) consecutive years; 
Be at least forty (40) years old; 
Be a holder of a valid certificate of registration and a valid 
professional license as a physician and practitioner for at 
least ten (1 0) years; 
Be a bona fide member of the PMA, or if not a PMA member, 
be a government physician; 
Not be finally convicted of a criminal offense with moral 
turpitude by the court; 
Have an experience of at least two (2) years as faculty 
member in a college of medicine; 
Not be a member of the faculty in an institute, school, or 
college of medicine or not have a pecuniary interest, direct, in 


7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
28 
any institution which offers and operates the course or degree 
of Doctor of Medicine; and not be connected with a review 
center/school/group or association where review classes or 
lectures 
in 
preparation 
for 
the 
Physician 
Licensure 
Examination are being offered or conducted; and 
Not be an officer of the PMA, nor an Assistant Secretary or 
higher position in the DOH. 
(h) 
SEC. 15. Term of Office - The Members of the Board shall hold office 
from the date of their appointment for a term of three (3) years or until their 
successors shall have been appointed and qualified. They may, however, be 
reappointed for another term after expiry of their first term. Appointments to fill 
up nominees created by causes other than through expiration of regular terms 
shall be for the unexpired period only. Each member shall qualify by taking an 
oath of office before entering upon the performance of his duties. 
The 
incumbents whose terms have not yet expired or who are merely holding over, at 
the effectivity of this Act, shall be allowed to serve the unexpired portion of their 
terms or may be appointed under this Act. 
SEC. 16. Removal of Board Member - 
The 
President, 
upon 
recommendation of the Commission after due investigation , may remove any 
member of the Board on the following grounds: 
(a) Neglect of duty or incompetence; 
(b) Unprofessional, unethical or dishonorable conduct; 
(c) Manipulation 
or 
rigging 
of 
the 
Physician 
Licensure 
Examination’s results, secret information, or disclosure of the 
examination questions prior to the conduct of said examination, 
or tempering of the grades therein; or 
(d) Final conviction by the court of criminal offenses with moral 
turpitude. 


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
SEC. 17. Compensation of the Board Members 
- 
The 
Chairman, 
Vice-chairman 'and Members of the Board shall receive compensation and 
allowances or other benefits pursuant to the rules of the Commission, law, 
executive order and General Appropriations Act. 
SEC. 18. Power and Duties of the Board - The Board shall exercise 
executive/administrative or quasi-legislative or quasi-judicial powers in carrying 
out the provisions of this Act. 
It shall be vested with the following specific 
powers, functions, duties and responsibilities: 
Supervise and promulgate regulations on the practice of 
medicine in the Philippines; 
Determine and evaluate qualifications of the applicants for 
registration with physician licensure examinations and for 
special permits 
Prepare the examination questions in accordance with 
Section 25 hereof or the modifications thereof prescribe the 
syllabi of the subjects and their relative weights for the 
licensure examinations; formulate or adopt test questions and 
deposit them in a test question bank; draw the test questions 
at random through process of computerization and submit the 
examination results to the Commission within the period 
provided for by the rules of the Commission; 
Prescribe, amend or revise the requirements for the subjects 
in the physician licensure examination and their relative 
weights, subject to the approval of the Commission; 
Register successful examinees in the physician licensure 
examination and issue the corresponding certificates of 
registration and professional licenses; 


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
28 
29 
(9 
Issue SpeciaVtemporary permits to foreign physicians to 
practice medicine for specific projects and for a specific 
duration of time; 
Look into the conditions affecting the practice of medicine, 
(9) 
adopt measures for the enhancement of the profession and 
the maintenance of high professional, technical, and ethical 
standards and conduct ocular inspections of places where 
physicians practice their profession; 
Promulgate rules and regulations including a code of ethics 
for physicians, administrative policies, orders, issuances to 
carry out the provisions of this Act. 
Investigate violations of this Act and the rules and regulations, 
code of ethics, administrative policies, orders and issuances 
promulgated by the Board. 
The rule on administrative 
investigation promulgated by the Commission shall govern in 
such investigation; 
Issue subpoena to secure the attendance of respondents or 
witnesses or the production of documents at and relative to 
the investigation conducted by the Board; 
Delegate to the Chairman, Vice-chairman, Member of the 
Board, or a Commission Attorney (PRC Attorney) the hearing 
of an administrative case. If the case is technical or concerns 
strictly the practice of the profession, the investigation shall 
be presided by the Chairman, Vice-chairman or a Member of 
the Board with assistance of a PRC attorney; 
(h) 
(i) 
(j) 
(k) 
' 
(I) 
Render decision, order or resolution on preliminary on 
preliminary investigation or inquiry against violators of this 
Act, Rules and Regulations or any policy on undocketed 
cases and on docketed administrative cases against 


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
28 
examinees or registrants which shall become final and 
executory unless appealed with the Commission within fifteen 
(15) days from receipt thereof. 
The decision of the 
Commission maybe appealed to the Court of Appeals in 
accordance with the procedures provided in the Rules of 
court; 
(m) After due notice and hearing, cancel examination papers 
and/or bar any examinee from future examination; refuse or 
defer hidher registration; reprimand the registrant with stern 
warning; suspend hirnlher from the practice of herlhis 
position; revoke hidher certificate of registration; cancel 
special/temporary permit; remove hidher name from the roll 
of physicians for 
continuous non-payment of annual 
registration 
fees 
and 
non-compliance with 
the 
CPE 
requirements; reinstate or reenroll hidher name in the said 
roll; reissue or return hidher certificate of registration and 
professional license. A decision of suspension, revocation of 
the certificate of registration or removal from the roll by the 
Board as provided herein maybe appealed initially to the 
Commission within fifteen (I 
5) days from receipt thereof. The 
decision of the Commission maybe appealed to the Court of 
Appeals in accordance with the procedures provided in the 
Rules of Court. 
Administer oath in connection with the administration, 
implementation, or enforcement of this Act. 
Prosecute or institute criminal action against any violator of 
the Act and of the rules and regulations of the Board; 
Adopt an official seal; 


I 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
28 
29 
Coordinate with the Board of Medical Education in 
prescribing, amending andlor revising the courses; 
Assist the Commission in the implementation of its prescribed 
guidelines and criteria on the CPE for registered and licensed 
physicians; 
Perform such other functions and duties as may be necessary 
to implement effectively this Act. 
The policies, resolutions, rules and regulations, orders or decisions issued 
or promulgated by the Board shall be subject to the review and approval by the 
Commission; however, the Board’s decisions, resolutions or orders which are not 
interlocutory, rendered in an administrative case, shall be subject to review only if 
on appeal. 
SEC. 
19. Administrative 
Management, 
Custody 
of 
Records, 
Secretariat and Support Services - The Board shall be under the administrative 
and executive management of the Commission with the Commission Chairman 
as the Chief Executive Officer thereof. All records of the Board shall be under 
the custody of the Commission. 
The Commission shall designate the Secretary of the Board and shall 
provide the Secretariat and other support services to implement the provisions of 
this Act. 
SEC. 20. implementing Rules and Regulations - The Board with the 
approval of the Commission shall prescribe, issue, and promulgate Rules and 
Regulations implementing and carrying out the provisions of this Act, which shall 
be effective after fifteen (1 5) days following the completion of its publication in the 
Official Gazette for a major daily newspaper of general circulation in the 
Philippines, whichever comes earlier. 
SEC. 21. Annual Report - The Board shall, on or before the end of 
January of the following year, submit to the PRC and the Board of Medical 
Education its annual report of accomplishments on programs, projects, and 


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
1 1  
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
28 
activities for the calendar year together with its appropriate recommendation on 
issues or problems affecting the practice of medicine. 
ARTICLE V - PHYSICIAN LICENSURE EXAMINATION 
SEC. 22. 
Examination Required - All applicants for registration and 
issuance of a Certificate of Registration and a Professional License as a 
physician shall be required to pass a written technical licensure examination for 
physician as provided for in this Act, subject to the payment of the fees 
prescribed thereof by the Commission. 
SEC. 
23. 
Qualifications of Applicant for Examination - Every 
applicant for examination, prior to admission to the examination, must have t h e  
following qualifications: 
Filipino citizenship or citizenship of a foreign state which provides 
reciprocal rights with the Philippines in the practice of medicine and 
who has been a permanent resident in the Philippines for at least 
three (3) years prior to the examination; 
Mental, emotional and physical soundness; 
Non-conviction by final judgment by a court of any criminal offense 
involving moral turpitude’ 
Holder of the degree of Doctor of Medicine conferred by a college of 
Medicine abroad and accredited by the CHED as substantially 
equivalent to the Degree of Doctor of Medicine offered by a Philippine 
College of Medicine; and 
Completion of one ( 7 )  year of internship in a Philippine hospital or a 
training abroad accredited as equivalent to such internship by a 
Technical Panel. 
SEC. 24. Venue and Schedule of Examination - The examination shall 
be held simultaneously in venue’s and schedule’s that the Commission shall -fix 
after consultation with the Board. 


1 
SEC. 25. Scope of Examination - The Physician Licensure Examination 
2 
shall cover the following twelve (1 2) individual or combined/clustered subjects 
3 
with equal weights for each in one final examination after completion of 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
28 
29 
internship. 
1. Anatomy 
2. Physiology 
3. Biochemistry 
4. Pharmacology & Therapeutics 
5. Microbiology 
& Parasitology 
6. Medicines 
7. Pathology & Oncology 
8. Obstetrics & Gynecology 
9. Pediatrics and Nutrition 
10. Surgery 
11. Preventive Medicine & Public Health 
12. Legal Medicine, Medical Jurisprudence, Ethics & Economics 
As urgent and important need arise so as to conform to technological, 
modern changes, the Board may re-cluster, rearrange, modify the foregoing 
subjects, add to exclude any subject, prescribe the number of final 
examination(s) per year in consultation with the Technical Panel and after 
approval by the Commission. The Board resolution thereon shall not only be 
officially published in the Official Gazette or major daily newspapers of general 
circulation but also circularized and disseminated to all colleges of Medicine. 
Each of the twelve subjects shall have its syllabus or table of specification. 
The board shall apply the syllabi only after necessary consultation with the 
concerned academe, approval by the Commission, publication of its Board 
Resolution pursuant to legal requirements dissemination to all colleges of 
Medicine, and a lapse of at least three (3) months from its effectivity. Each 
syllabus shall be subject to modification or amendment. 


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
1 1  
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
28 
29 
SEC. 26. Rating in the Examination - 
To 
pass 
the 
Physician 
Licensure Examination, an examinee must obtain a general average ratihg in all 
twelve (12) subjects of no less than seventy-five (75%) with no rating in any 
subject below fifty percent (50%). 
However, an examinee who has obtained a general average rating in all 
twelve (12) subjects of no less than seventy-five percent (75%) with a grade of 
below fifty percent (50%) in any subject/s must retake the same subjectk within 
one (1) year from the date of his last examination and must get a grade of no les 
than seventy-five percent (75%) in each subject retaken in order to pass the said 
examination. 
SEC. 27. Report and Publication of the Results of Examination- The 
Board shall report the rating of each examinee to the Commission within ten ( I O )  
days from the last day of the examination. The official results of the examination 
containing the list of top examinees without indication of their respective 
schoolskolleges, the names of the schoolskolleges obtaining top percentages of 
successful graduate-examinees shall be published by the Commission in the 
major daily newspapers of general circulation. 
ARTICLE VI - Registration 
SEC. 28. Oath - All successful examinees shall be required to take their 
oath before the Board or any person authorized by law to administer oath before 
they are issued with their certificates of registration and professional licenses or 
before they start the practice of their profession. 
SEC. 29. Registration, Issuance of Certificate of Registration and 
Professional License, Non-registration - All successful examinees upon 
compliance with all legal requirements and payment of fees prescribed by the 
Commission shall be registered and issued with certificates of registration and 
professional licenses. 
The certificate of registration as a physician shall bear the registration 
number and date of issuance and the signatures of the Commission Chairman 


1 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
28 
and the member of the Boards stamped with the seal of the Commission and the 
Board, certifying that the name of the person stated therein appears in the 
Registry/Roster/Roll of Physicians under the custody of the Commission that he 
has met or complied with all the legal requirements for registration as a 
physician; and that he is entitled to exercise all the privileges appurtenant to the 
practice of his profession provided that he does not violate this Act, the Rules 
and Regulations, Code of Ethics for Physicians, and other regulatory policies of 
the Commission and Board, and that he holds a valid and unexpired professional 
license. 
A successful examinee who has been finally convicted by a court of a 
criminal offense involving moral turpitude, or found guilty by the Board for 
dishonorable or immoral conduct, or declared by the court to be of unsound mind 
shall not be registered. The decision of the Board, finding the examinee guilty of 
dishonorable or immoral conduct, may be appealed by the examinee to the 
Commission and/or to the Court of Appeals. The facts and the reasons for 
refusal to register shall be communicated to the examinee in writing, and duly 
incorporated in the records of the Commission. 
SEC. 30. Revocation of the Certificate of Registration, Suspension 
from the Practice of the Profession, Reprimand, Cancellation of the 
TemporarylSpecial Permit - The Board shall have power, upon proper notice 
and hearing, to revoke the certificate of registration of a physician, suspend him 
from the practice of his profession or reprimand him, or to cancel the 
SpeciaVtemporary permit issued to a foreign physician, for any of the following 
g rou ndslcauses: 
1. Final conviction by a court of criminal offense involving moral 
turpitude; 
2. Immoral or dishonorable conduct; 
3. Insanity; 


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
I t  
12 
13 
14 
15 
I6 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
28 
29 
4. Fraud in the acquisition of the certificate of registration and 
profess io na I I icen se or tem po ra ry/s peci a I pe rm i t ; 
5. Gross negligence, ignorance or incompetence in the practice of 
his profession, resulting to an injury or death of the patient; 
6. Addiction to alcoholic beverages or to any habit-forming drug 
* 
rendering him incompetent to practice his profession, or to any 
form of gambling; 
7. False or extravagant or unethical advertisements wherein other 
thins than his name, profession, limitation of practice, clinic 
hours, and office and home addresses are mentioned; 
8. Performance of, or aiding in any criminal abortion; 
9. Knowingly issuing any false medical certificate; 
IO. Issuing any statement or spreading any news or rumor which is 
derogatory to the character and reputation of another physician 
without justifiable motive; 
11. Aiding or acting, as a dummy of unqualified or unregistered or 
unlicensed person to practice medicine; 
12. Violation of any provision of the Code of Ethics for Physicians 
as prescribed by the organization of physicians accredited by 
the Commission or by the integrated and accredited national 
organization of physicians, and adopted and promulgated by the 
Board subject to approval by the Commission; 
13. Practicing his profession during the period of his suspension 
. from the practice thereof; 
14.Refusal to attend a patient in danger of death if there is no risk 
to his life; and 
15.Violation of this Act, the Rules and Regulations, and other 
policies of the Board and the Commission issued pursuant to 
this Act. 


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
28 
29 
The rules on administrative investigation prescribed and promulgated by 
the Commission shall govern the procedures and conduct of administrative 
investigation before the Board. The rules on evidence in the Rules of Court shall 
be suppletory to the Commission rules. 
The Board may delegate the 
investigation of the case to any of its members or any attorney of the 
Commission. A case that directly and technically involves the practice of the 
profession shall require the presence of Board Member and an attorney of the 
Commission. 
SEC. 31. Rights of Respondents - The respondent physicians shall be 
entitled to be represented by counsel or be heard in person, to have a speedy 
and public hearing, to confront and to cross-examine witness against him, and 
to all other rights guaranteed by the Constitution and provided for in the Rules of 
court. 
SEC. 32. Appeal from Judgment - The decision of the Board shall 
automatically become final fifteen (15) days after the date of its promulgation 
unless the respondent, during the same period, has appealed the said decision 
to the Commission. If the final decision is not satisfactory, the respondent may 
appeal the decision to the Court of Appeals. 
SEC. 33. 
Reissuance of Revoked Certificate of Registration and 
Professional License and Replacement of Lost Certificate of Professional 
Licenses - After two years, the Board may order the reinstatement of any 
physician whose certificate of registration has been revoked, if the respondent 
has acted in an exemplary manner in the community wherein he resides and has 
not committed any illegal, immoral or dishonorable act. 
A new certificate of registration or professional license that has been lost, 
destroyed or mutilated may be issued, subject to the rules of the Commission. 
SEC. 34. 
Indication of 
Professional License Number and 
Professional Tax Receipt - A registered and licensed physician shall indicate 
his certificate o registration/professional license number with date of issuance, 


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
28 
29 
the expiry date of the professional license, and the professional tax receipt 
number, if required, on the prescription and other documents he signs, uses or 
issues in connection with the practice of his profession. 
SEC. 35. 
Integration of the Profession - The profession shall be 
integrated into one and only national organization of registered and licensed 
physicians upon recognition and accreditation by the Board and the Commission. 
A physician duly registered and licensed by the Board and the Commission shall 
automatically become a member of the said organization and shall receive the 
benefits and privileges appurtenant hereto upon payment of required fees and 
dues. Membership in the integrated organization shall not be a bar membership 
in any other association of physicians. 
SEC. 36. Automatic Registration of Physicians - All physicians whose 
name appear at the Registry/Roll/Roster of Physicians at the time of this Act shall 
be automatically or ipso facto registered. 
ARTICLE VI1 - PENALTIES AND SUNDRY PROVISIONS 
SEC. 37. Penalties - Any person who shall practice or offer to practice 
medicine in the Philippines without a valid certificate of registration and a valid 
professional license, or a valid temporary/special permit in accordance with the 
provision of this Act, or any person presenting or attempting to use as his own 
the certificate of registration or professional license or temporarylspecial permit 
or any person who shall give any false or forged evidence of any kind to the 
Board of Commission in obtaining a certificate of registration or professional 
license or temporarykpecial permit or any person who shall falsely impersonate 
any registrant with like or different name, or any registered and licensed 
physician who shall abet or assist the illegal practice of a person who is not 
lawfully qualified to practice medicine, or any person who shall attempt to use a 
revoked or suspended certificate of registration or an invalid or expired 
professional license or a cancelled speciaVtemporary permit, or any person who 
shall use or advertise any title or description tending to convey the impression 


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
28 
29 
that he is a registered and licensed physician when he is not in fact a registered 
and licensed physician, or any person who shall violate any of the provisions of 
this Act and of the rules and regulations and the code of ethics shall, upon 
conviction by the court, suffer the penalties of imprisonment of not less than one 
(1) year nor more than five (5) years or not less than fifty thousand pesos 
(P50,OOO) nor more than two hundred thousand pesos (P200,000.00), or both 
upon discretion of the court. 
SEC. 38. 
Enforcement - The Commission shall be the enforcement 
agency of the Board. As such, the Commission shall implement the concerned 
provisions of this Act, enforce its implementing rules and regulations as adopted 
by the Board, assist the Board in the investigations of complaints against 
violators of this Act, its rules and regulations, Code of Ethics for Physicians and 
other policies of the Board. 
The Commission or the Board shall call upon or 
request 
any 
department, instrumentality, office, bureau, institution, or agency of the 
Government including local government units to render such assistance as it may 
require, or to coordinate or cooperate in order to carry out, enforce or implement 
the professional regulatory policies of the government or any program or activity 
it may undertake. 
SEC. 39. Appropriations - Such sums as may be necessary to carry out 
the provisions of this Act shall be included in the General Appropriations Act of 
the year following its enactment into law and thereafter. 
SEC. 40. Separability Clause - If any clause, provision, paragraph or 
part hereof be declared unconstitutional or invalid, such judgment shall not affect, 
invalidate, or impair any other par thereof, but such judgment shall be merely 
confined to the clause, provision, paragraph or part directly involved in the 
controversy in which such judgment has been rendered. 
SEC. 41. Repealing Clause - R.A. No 3282 known as “The Medical Act 
of 1959”, all laws amending the said Act, all other laws, decrees, executive 


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
orders, and other administrative issuances and parts thereof which are 
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby modified, amended, 
superseded, or repealed accordingly. 
SEC. 42. Effectivity - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days, 
following the completion of its publication in the Official Gazette or any major 
daily newspaper or general circulation in the Philippines, whichever comes 
earlier. 
Approved,