Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
Twentieth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ________ 
Introduced by Representative Giselle Mary L. Maceda 
EXPLANATORY NOTE  
The enactment of Republic Act No. 2382, otherwise known as “The Medical 
Act of 1959”, and its subsequent amendments under Republic Act Nos. 4224 and 
5946, marked a historic milestone in the history of the Philippine medical 
profession. This landmark legislation provided the legal framework for the 
education, licensure, and professional regulation of medical practitioners in the 
country, and for more than six decades, it has served as the foundation and 
cornerstone of the practice of medicine in the Philippines. 
However, it has been more than sixty (60) years since the enactment of this 
historic law. In the intervening decades, the fields of medical science and 
technology have undergone profound transformations and unprecedented 
advances. Innovations in diagnostic techniques, therapeutic modalities, medical 
devices, and healthcare delivery have revolutionized the way diseases are 
understood, treated, and managed. These changes have also deeply impacted the 
roles, responsibilities, and expectations of medical practitioners. 
Given these remarkable advancements and the evolving landscape of 
healthcare, there is an urgent need to update the existing Medical Act of 1959 to 
reflect current realities and future needs. The proposed Philippine Medical Act 
aims to modernize and enhance the regulation of the medical profession by 
upgrading and updating the curriculum for medical education and training to 
equip future physicians with the latest knowledge and skills, providing an 
environment that fosters the continuous cultivation and enhancement of their 
expertise to raise the standards by which their practice is measured, and 
July 29, 2025
4:35 pm
2518


promoting their welfare by offering stronger legal protection and support 
mechanisms. 
Moreover, this bill envisions the integration of all facets of the medical 
profession into one cohesive framework—from medical education, internship, and 
residency training to licensure, registration, and practice. It also seeks to establish 
a unified and Integrated Philippine Medical Association to foster greater 
collaboration and standardization. 
In summary, the proposed Philippine Medical Act aims to holistically 
enhance the quality, efficiency, and responsiveness of the medical profession in the 
Philippines. It ensures that Filipino physicians are not only well-equipped to 
deliver exemplary medical care but are also adequately supported and protected 
by a modern, comprehensive legal framework. This will ultimately translate to 
improved healthcare outcomes and better service to the Filipino people. 
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
  REP. GISELLE MARY L. MACEDA 
 4th District, Manila City 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
Twentieth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ________ 
Introduced by Representative Giselle Mary L. Maceda 
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. 
SECTION 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. 
SECTION 3. Coverage. – This Act provides for and shall govern the: 
2518


 
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.  
 
 
SECTION 4. Enforcement. – For purposes of implementing the provisions of this 
Act, there shall be created the following: Medical Education Council (MEC) under 
CHED, Professional Regulatory Board of Medicine (PRBM) under the Professional 
Regulation Commission (PRC); 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  
 
 
SECTION 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 defined by an 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;   
 
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;  
 
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; 
 
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 service 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 
services 
(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;  
 
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 
 
SECTION 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;  
 
f) President of the national association of hospitals duly recognized by the 
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 consist 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 consist 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.  
 
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) 
 
 
SECTION 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, operative 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;  
 
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;  
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. 
 
 
SECTION 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 
programs. Medical Internship is under the supervision of CHED which delegates 
the authority to implement the program to the authorized association of the 
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;  
 
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 
 
 
SECTION 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 the purpose. The PRBM Chairperson shall serve for one (1) year and 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.  
 
 
SECTION 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;  
 
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 of 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 professional to 
practice medicine for specific projects, duration of time, and place of 
practice;  
 
i) Administer the qualifying assessment for foreign medical professionals who 
intent to train in the Philippines for a particular specialty or sub-specialty 
field of practice;  
 
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 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 
the hearings. A member of the PRBM shall be assigned to preside over each 
case for hearing;  
 
p) Issuance of subpoena as 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 with the power to 
cite any party for contempt which maybe exercised pursuant to the 
applicable provisions of Rule 71 of the Rules of Court; and 
 
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;  
 
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 
patients, the PRBM’s final decisions, resolutions or orders rendered in any 
administrative case shall be immediately executory.  
 
 
SECTION 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 preferable 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  
 
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.  
 
 
SECTION 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) terms 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.  
 
 
SECTION 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 comparable to the 
compensation and allowances received by the Chairperson and members of 
existing professional regulatory boards.   
 
 


 
SECTION 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; and  
 
d) Final conviction by the court of any criminal offense involving moral 
turpitude.  
 
 
SECTION 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.  
 
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 
 
 
SECTION 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.  
 
 
SECTION 17. Qualifications for Applicant 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 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;  
 
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 complete one (1) year medical internship.  
 
 
SECTION 18. Scope of Physician Licensure Examination. – The Physician Licensure 
Examination shall cover the following thirteen (13) 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;  
i) Pediatrics and Nutrition;  
j) Surgery, Anesthesiology and Pain Management;  
k) Ophthalmology, 
Otolaryngology, 
Head 
and 
Neck 
Surgery, 
and 
Orthopedics;  
l) Faily and Community medicine, Preventive Medicine and Public Health 
Economics, Physical and Rehabilitative Medicine, Palliative Medicine; and  
m) Legal Medicine, Medical Jurisprudence, Medical Ethics, 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 MRC and recognized association of medical colleges, may revise the 
substance, format, and the conduct of the examinations.  
 
Each of the thirteen (13) 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;  
3) Publication of the PRBM resolution in a newspaper of general circulation; 
and  
4) Dissemination to all medical colleges.  
 
 
SECTION 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 8981. 
However, in case of a public health emergency, disaster, calamity, whether natural 
or human-induced, the PRBM may postpone such examination 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 examination must be taken 
within one (1) and the same year.  
 
 
SECTION 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 thirteen (13) 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.  
 
The PRBM shall issue specific guidelines on the refresher course requirement.  
 
 
SECTION 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.  
 
 
SECTION 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 in their practice 
of the medical profession.  
 
They shall also be required to take their oath of membership in the IPMA.  
 
 
SECTION 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 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.  
 
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.  
 
 
ARTICLE VI 
THE POSTGRADUATE MEDICAL EDUCATION COUNCIL 
 
 
SECTION 24. 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 representatives 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 
MPH as recommended by the primary professional specialty organization or 
specialty board based on an explicit set of qualifications. It shall appoint the 
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 of 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 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.  
 
The member 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.  
 
SECTION 25. 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;  
 
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 intent 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;  
 
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.  
 
 
SECTION 26. 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.  
 


 
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. 
 
 
SECTION 27. 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.  
 
 
SECTION 28. General Conditions for the Postgraduate Medical Education and Training 
of Foreign Medical Professionals. – The following general conditions shall be applied 
to foreign medical professional 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 
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 10173, otherwise known as 
the “Data Privacy Act of 2012”; RA 11332, otherwise known as the 
“Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases”; RA No. 11058, otherwise 
known as the “Health Events of Health Correction Act”, among others 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.   
 
 
SECTION 29. Working Conditions or 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;  
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 importance consideration.  
 
 
SECTION 30. Professional Conduct of Resident or Fellow Trainees. – In addition to the 
Code of Ethics of the Medical Profession as jointly approved by the 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’ relative with 
utmost respect;  
 
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.  
 
 
SECTION 31. 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 period evaluation of competencies acquired by resident and 
fellow trainees per year level.  
 
 
SECTION 32. Grievance System. – A grievance system is hereby established, 
wherein any aggrieved party may seek redress in accordance with the following 
rules and procedures:  
 
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 its for determination;  
 
d) Non-observance of the periods set forth in this Section shall subject the 
responsible officer or employee to the penalties prescribed under Section 34 
of this Act;  
 
All parties shall keep the proceedings confidential during the pendency of the case 
before the Committee.  
 


 
 
SECTION 33. 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.  
 
In case the respondent fails to answer the complaint within the reglementary five 
(5)-day period herein provided, the Committee, motu proprio 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 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.  
 
 
SECTION 34. 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: 
 
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 
 
SECTION 35. 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 physical examination of any person for any disease, 
injury, deformity, physical enhancement, or anti-aging treatment; and 
diagnosing, treating, operating, prescribing, or dispensing any remedy 
therefor including the use of needles or other percutaneous instruments to 
administer substances such as biologic biostimulators, neurotoxins, 
pharmaceutical drugs, or dermatologic fillers intended to alter, stimulate, 


 
repair, or enhance tissue or physiological functions, as well as the operation 
of energy-based devices, including lasers, intense pulsed light (IPL), 
radiofrequency, ultrasound, microwave, plasma, cryotherapy, and 
electrocautery, for purposes such as tissue ablation, resurfacing, 
remodeling, tightening, coagulation, or any dermatologic, aesthetic, or 
surgical modification; 
 
c) 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, 
prescribing or dispensing any remedy therefor through electronic means or 
telemedicine;  
 
d) 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;  
 
 
e) 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;  
 
f) 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  
 
g) 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.  
 
 
SECTION 36. 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:   
 
a) Medical students, clinical clerks, and medical interns attending to patients;  
 
b) Foreigners who intent to undergo or are undergoing postgraduate medical 
education and training or otherwise under training and 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.  
 
 
SECTION 37. 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 
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 complete 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.  
 
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 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.   
 
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.  
 
The foregoing list notwithstanding any act that requires that application of medical 
knowledge, skills, training, and competence shall be deemed to constitute the 
practice of medicine.  
 
 
SECTION 38. 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.   
 
 


 
SECTION 39. Reciprocity. – A foreigner may be allowed to practice medicine in the 
Philippines without have 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;  
 
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.  
 
 
SECTION 40. 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;  
3) The specific place of practice, such as clinic, hospital, center, medical 
college, as the case maybe;  
 
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 39 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: 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 acknowledge 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 
promotion and advancement of the practice of medicine including the 
conduct of formal classes or training and acting as resource persons in 
medical seminars, for a, or symposia;  
 
d) Physicians licensed in foreign countries who are employed as exchange 
professors in any area of medical specialization; and 
 
e) Other categories of foreign physicians as may be determined by the PRBM 
and the PRC.  
 
 
SECTION 41. Administrative Investigation and Disciplinary Actions. – The PRBM 
shall have the power, upon proper notice and hearing, after finding of guilty, 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;  
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) Addition 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;  
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 of 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.  
 
 
SECTION 42. 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.   
 
 
SECTION 43. 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.   
 
 
SECTION 44. Reissuance of Revoked Certificate of Registration and Professional 
Identification Card and Replacement of Lost Certificate of Registration and Identification 
Card. – After two (2) years, the PRBN 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 acted in an exemplary manner in the community, upon 
proper application therefor 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 not 
longer be used for its purpose, may be issued, subject to the rules of the PRC.  
 
 
SECTION 45. 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 of the prescription and 
other documents used or issued in connection with the practice of profession.   
 
 
SECTION 46. 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 name 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.  
 
 
ARTICLE VIII 
INTEGRATED PHILIPPINE MEDICAL ASSOCIATION 
 
SECTION 47. 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 by 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;  
e) Assist government health agencies in public health policy formulation, 
implementation, and health care delivery;  
f) Promote the welfare and interests of its members; and  
g) Promote, encourage, and conduct medical outreach programs and projects 
to the marginalized sectors of the community.  
 
 
SECTION 48. 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 
and 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.  
 
 
SECTION 49. 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 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.  
 
 
SECTION 50. Mandatory Continuing Professional Development. – The PRBM shall 
implement a mandatory continuing professional development for physicians 
consistent with RA 10912. 
 
 
ARTICLE IX 
PENAL PROVISIONS 
 
 
SECTION 51. 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 (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;  
 
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;  
 
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.  
 
 
SECTION 52. 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 
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 officer, may issue the cease-and-desist order within seventy-two 
(72) hours. The Rules of Court is suppletory for this purpose.  
 
 
ARTICLE X 
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS 
 
SECTION 53. 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.  
 
 


 
SECTION 54. Appropriations. – The amount necessary for the implementation of 
this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA). 
 
 
SECTION 55. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within ninety (90) days after 
the approval of this Act, the PRC, in consultation and coordination with 
appropriate government agencies, representative from the private sector, and 
other stakeholders, shall promulgate the necessary implementing rules and 
regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.  
 
 
SECTION 56. 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. 
 
 
SECTION 57. Separability Clause. – If any portion or provision of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional or invalid, the remainder of this Act or any provision not affected 
thereby shall remain in force and effect.  
 
 
SECTION 58. Repealing Clause. – RA 2382, otherwise known as the Medical Act of 
1959, RA 1242, as amended by RA 2251, otherwise known as the law on the Tenure 
of Office of Hospital Residents in Government Training Hospitals under DOH, RA 
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.  
 
 
SECTION 59. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.  
 
 
Approved,