FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
) 
) 
) 
S. No .. 2163 
Introduced by Senator FRANCIS G. ESCUDERO 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill proposes to professionalize the practice of pharmacy by 
setting a national standard for the profession, likewise creating a professional 
regulatory board to ensure excellent, globally competitive, and accountable 
practice of the same. 
Pharmacy as a health profession links the health sciences with the 
chemical sciences and is charged with ensuring the safe and effective use of 
pharmaceutical drugs. 
The scope of the pharmacy pracLice involves 
traditional roles such as compounding and dispensing medications, but also 
includes more modern services related to health care, including clinical 
services, reviewing medications for safety and efficacy, and providing drug 
information. Pharmacists, therefore, are and should be experts on drug 
therapy, and are the primary health professionals who optimize the use of 
medication to provide patients with positive health outcomes. Education and 
experience in the field should therefore be underscored. 
This bill seeks to address the competency needs of the profession and 
also curb both unintentional or intentional harm that may be caused by an 
unregulated practice. This proposed measure will fulfill this objective through 
the: 
1. Definition of the scope of nature and regulations of the professional 
practice of pharmacy; 
2. Creation of the Professional Regulatory Board of Pharmacy; 
3. Setting up of criteria or qualifications for the licensure of practitioners; 
and 
4. Imposition of penalties for violators of this Act. 
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
~ 
FRANCIS C. ESCUDERO 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regu lar Session 
SENATE 
) 
) 
) 
S. No. 2163 
Introduced by Senator FRANCIS G. ESCUDERO 
AN ACT 
REGULATING THE PRACTICE OF PHARMACY IN THE PHILIPPINES, 
REPEALING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 5921, THE 
PHARMACY LAW, AS AMENDED, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Republic of 
the Philippines in Congress assembled: 
ARTICLE I 
2 
GENERAL PROVISIONS 
3 
Section 1. - Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Philippine Pharmacy Act 
4 
of 2010". 
, 
5 
Sec. 2. -
Statement oj Policy. 
The state recognizes the vital role of 
6 
pharmacists in quality healthcare delivery through their services in providing 
7 
safe, effective, and quality drugs or medicines; drug information, patient 
8 
medication counseling, and health promotion. The pharmacists' professional 
9 
service shall, therefore, be promoted as a component of the total healthcare 
10 
system, which shall ensure the physical well-being of the Filipinos. 
11 
I-Ience, the state shall develop and nurture competent, productive, morally 
12 
upright, and well-rounded pharmacists' whose standards of professional 
13 
practice and service shall be excellent, qualitative, world-class and 
14 
internationally 
recognized, 
globally 
competitive 
through 
regulatory 
15 
measures, programs, and activities that foster their continuing professional 
16 
development. 
17 
Sec. 3. - Objectives. - This Act provides for, and shall govern: 
18 
(a) the standardization and regulation of pharmacy education, 
19 
(b) the examination for registration of graduates of schools and colleges of 
20 
pharmacy, 
21 
(c) the supervision, control, and regulation of the practice of pharmacy in 
22 
the Phili ppines 
23 
(LI) the enhancement of professional competence through continUing 
24 
professional development, research, and other related activities and 
2 


(e) the integration of the pharmacy profession. 
2 
Sec. 4. - Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the term: 
3 
(a) Biologic Products are microorganisms, sera, toxins and similar products 
4 
used for the prevention or cure of human diseases. 
5 
(b) 'Brand Name means the proprietary or trade name given by the 
6 
. manufacturer to distinguish its product from those of the competitors. 
7 
(c) Cipher means a method of secret writing that substitutes other letters or 
8 
characters for the letter intended or transpose the letter after arranging 
9 
them in blocks or squares. 
10 
(d) Code means a system of words or other symbols arbitrarily used to 
11 
represent words. 
12 
(e) Compounding is the preparation, mixing, assembling, packaging, or 
13 
labeling of a drug (i) as the result of a prescription or drug order by a 
14 
physician, dentist, optometrist, or veterinarian, based on the said 
15 
practilioner-patient-pharmacist 
relationship 
in 
the 
course 
of 
16 
professional practice, or (ii) for the purpose of, or in relation to, 
17 
research, teaching, or chemical analysis and not for sale or dispensing. 
18 
(f) Cosl1letics are (i) products intended to be applied, poured, sprinkled, or 
19 
sprayed on, introduced into, or otherwise applied to the human body, 
20 
or any part thereof for cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness 
21 
or improving the appearance, or (ii) ingredients or other substances 
22 
intended for use as a component of any such product. 
23 
(g) Counterfeit drug/medicine/pizannllceulical refers to medicinal products 
24 
with the correct ingredients but not in the amounts as provided, wrong 
25 
ingredient, without active ingredient/ s, with insufficient quantity of 
26 
active ingredient, which result in the reduction of the drug's safety, 
27 
efficacy, quality, strength or purity. It is a drug that is deliberately and 
28 
fraudulently mislabeled with respect to identity and/ or source or with 
29 
fake packaging, and can apply to both branded and generic products. 
30 
It shall also refer to: 
31 
32 
00 
OJ 
34 
35 
36 
37 
38 
39 
40 
41 
42 
(i) 
the drug itself or the container or labeling thereof or any part of 
such drug, container, or labeling bearing without authorization 
the trademark, trade name or other identification mark or 
imprint or any likeness to that which is owned or registered in 
the Bureau of Patent, Trademark and Technology Transfer 
(131'TTT) in the name of another natural or juridical person; 
(ii) 
a drug product refilled in containers by unauthorized persons if 
the legitimate labels or marks are used; 
(iii) 
an imported drug product not registered with the Food and 
Drug Administration (FDA), except drugs brought in the 
country for personal use as confirmed and justified by 
accompanying medical records; and 
3 


2 
3 
4 
5 
(iv) 
a drug which contains no amount of a different active 
ingredient or less than eighty percent (80%) of the active 
ingredient it purports to possess as distinguished from an 
adulterated drug including reduction or loss or efficacy due to 
expiration. 
6 
(h) Dangerous drugs include those listed in the Schedules annexed to the 
7 
1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs as amended by the 197 
8 
Protocol, and in the Schedules annexed to the 1971 Single Convention 
9 
on Psychotropic Substances as enumerated in the attached annex m 
10 
Republic Act No. 9165, which is an integral part of the Act. 
11 
(i) Deuiccs refers to any instrument, apparatus, implement, machine, 
12 
implant, in vitro reagent or calibrator, software, material or other 
13 
similar or rela ted article: 
14 
(a) intended by the manufacturer to be used, along or in combination, 
IS 
for human beings for one or more of the specific purpose(s) of: 
16 
(i) diagnosis, prevention, monitoring, treatment, alleviation of diseases 
17 
of diseases, 
18 
'Oil diagnosis, monitoring, treatment, alleviation of or compensation for 
19 
an 
injury 
20 
21 
(iii) investigation, replacement or modification or support of the 
anatomy of a physiological process, 
22 
(iv) supporting or sustaining life, 
23 
(v) control of conception, 
24 
(vi) disinfection of medical devices, 
25 
(vii) providing information for medical or diagnostic purposes by 
26 
means of an in vitro examination of specimen derived from the 
27 
human body; and 
28 
(b) which does not achieve its primary intended action in or on the 
29 
human body by pharmacological, immunological or metabolic means, 
30 
but which may be assisted in their intended function by such means. 
31 
U) Dispensing is a process whereby a pharmacist receives and checks a 
32 
valid prescriber's medication order or prescription, and makes 
33 
available drugs and medicines, with advice on their proper use and 
34 
other relevant information. 
35 
(k) Drugs and Medicines refer to chemical compounds or biological 
36 
substances, other than food, intended for use in the treatment, 
37 
prevention or diagnosis of disease in humans or animals, including but 
38 
not limited to: 
39 
40 
41 
( i) 
any 
article 
recognized 
in 
the 
official 
United 
States 
Pharmacopoeia,-National 
Formulary, 
official 
Homeopathic 
Pharmacopoeia of the United States, Philippine Pharmacopoeia, 
4 


• 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
1 1 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
Philippine National Drug Formulary, British Pharmacopoeia, 
European Pharmacopoeia, Japanese Pharmacopoeia, and any 
official compendium or any supplement to them; 
(ii) 
any article intended for use in diagnosis, cure, mitigation, 
treatment, or prevention of disease of man and animals; 
(iii) 
any article other than food intended to affect the structure or 
any function of the human body or animals; 
(iv) 
any article intended for use as a component of articles specified 
in clauses (i), (ii), and (iii) not including devices or their 
components, parts, accessories; and 
(v) 
herbal and/ or traditional drugs which are articles of plant or 
animal origin used in folk medicine which are: (a) recognized in 
the Philippine National Drug Formulary; (b) intended for use in 
the treatment, or cure or mitigation of disease symptoms, injury 
or body defects in humans; (c) other than food, intended to 
affect the structure or any function of the human body; (d) in 
finished or ready-to-use dosage form; and (e) intended for use 
as a component of any of the articles specified in clauses (a), (b), 
(c) or (d). 
20 
(I) Drug or Pharmllceutical Laboratory or PhaY11IIlceuliCilI Mllnujilcturing 
21 
Laboratory means an establishment where pharmaceutical products, 
22 
proprietary medicines, or pharmaceutical specialties are formulated, 
23 
prepared, compounded, and standardized. 
24 
(m)Orug Estllblishments means FDA-registered companies involved in the 
25 
manufacture, importation, repacking, and/ or distribution of drugs or 
26 
medicines. 
27 
(n) Drug Oullets refer to drugstores, pharmacies, and other business 
28 
establishments which are registered with the FDA and which legally 
29 
sell drugs and medicines. 
30 
(0) Drugs/ore or Pllllnnacy means a place or establishment licensed by FDA 
31 
, where drugs, chemicals, pharmaceutical products, specialties, and 
32 
devices are legally sold at retail or wholesale and where medical, 
33 
' dental, and veterinary prescriptions are compounded and dispensed. 
34 
(p) Expiration Dilte means the date after which the product is not expected 
35 
to possess its claimed potency, efficacy, quality, and safety; and after 
36 
which it is not legal to sell or distribute or use the said product. 
37 
(q) filling of a prescription refers to the act of dispensing or giving out of 
38 
medicines in accordance with the doctor's order. 
39 
(r) llouselwld 
Eel11edies 
shall refer 
to 
any preparation containing 
40 
pharmaceutical substances of common or ordinary use to relieve 
41 
common physical ailments which may be dispensed without a medical 
42 
prescription 
in 
original 
packages, 
bottles 
or containers, 
the 
43 
nomenclature of which has been duly approved by FDA in the process 
44 
of registration as defined in FDA AO No.llS s. 1991) 
5 


(s) Ceneric Name means the scientifically and internationally recognized 
2 
name of the active ingredient/ s as approved by the Food and Drug 
3 
Administration. 
4 
(l) Label means a display of written, printed or graphic information upon 
5 
the immediate container, or attached to or accompanying any 
6 
pharmaceutical products. 
7 
(u) Labeling means all labels and other written, printed, or graphic matter 
8 
(1) upon any item or any of its containers or wrappers or (2) 
9 
accompanying any such item. 
10 
(v) Ouer-the- counter drugs are drugs used for symptomatic relief of minor 
11 
ailments which may be dispensed without a prescription. 
12 
(w) Pllllrmaceuticrzl 
products 
or 
Pharmaceutical 
specialties 
are 
drugs, 
13 
preparations, or mixture of dl"Ugs under a brand or generic name and 
14 
,intended for the cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease in 
15 
. man or animals. 
16 
(x) l'hannacist-only over-the-counter drugs are 
FDA-classified over-the-
17 
counter drugs and/ or substances which should only be obtained from 
18 
the drugstore or pharmacy with mandatory pharmacist's advice on 
19 
their selection and proper use. 
20 
(y) Person includes an individual, partnership, corporation, or any 
21 
juridical entity. 
22 
(z) Pl1llr111aceu lical marketing means any actiVity undertaken, organized or 
23 
sponsored by a drug establishment which is directed at promoting the 
24 
prescription, recommendation, supply, administration or consumption 
25 
of its pharmaceutical product(s) through direct personal contact and 
26 
all media, including the internet. 
27 
(aa) Pharmacy AssistllJ1ts are those persons who assist pharmaCists in 
28 
dispensing medicines in community, hospital, industrial settings and 
29 
in other activities, such as, but not limited to medical missions, under 
30 
the supervision of the pharmacist and as described in Sections 17 and 
31 
42 of this Act. 
32 
(bb) Physician's samples refer to medicines given to a physician for free for 
33 
promotional purposes. 
34 
(ce) Prescription drugs are those drugs which can only be dispensed by a 
35 
pharmacist to a patient upon the presentation of a valid prescription 
36 
{rom a physician, dentist, optometrist or veterinarian and for which 
37 
pharmacist's advice on their proper use is necessary. 
38 
(dd) Refilling of a prescription refers to the act of dispensing or giving out 
39 
the remaining balance of medicines ordered in the prescription when 
40 
the whole quantity ordered is not yet completely filled. 
41 
(ee)Secret Keys means a characteristic style or symbols kept from the 
42 
knowledge of others or disclosed confidentially to a few individuals. 
6 


Sec. 5. - Enforcement. - The Professional Regulatory Board of Pharmacy and 
2 
the Professional Regulation Commission are the body responsible for the 
3 
implementation of the provisions of this Act. 
4 
ARTICLE II 
5 
THE PROFESSIONAL REGULATORY BOARD OF PHARMACY 
6 
Sec. 6. - The Board of Pharmacy and its Composition. - There is hereby 
7 
created a Professional Regulatory Board of Pharmacy, hereinafter called the 
8 
Board, under the administration, control, and supervision of the Professional 
9 
Regulation Commission therein after called the Commission, composed of a 
10 
Chairman and four (4) members, each of which represent the areas of practice 
11 
of community, hospital, manufacturing, academe, and government service, 
12 
who shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines from the 
13 
recommendees ranked by the Commission from the list of nominees 
14 
submitted 
by 
the 
Accredited Integrated 
National Organization for 
15 
Pharmacists. 
16 
Sec. 7. - Qualifications of Board Members. - To be appointed as member of 
17 
the Board of Pharmacy, a person shall be: 
18 
(a) A citizen of the Philippines and a resident for at least five (5) years; 
19 
(b) A duly registered pharmacist preferably a holder of a Master of 
20 
Science in Pharmacy, or its equivalent degree and has been in the 
21 
practice of pharmacy for at least ten years; 
22 
(c) Of good moral character with a valid certificate of registration, valid 
23 
professional 
identification card and 
preferably with 
teaching 
24 
experience; and preferably representing each field of practice; 
25 
(d) At the time of appointment, not a member of the faculty or 
26 
administrative office of any school, COllege or university offering 
27 
,degree programs in pharmacy nor connected in a review school or 
28 
center; nor has any direct or indirect pecuniary interests in any school, 
29 
college, or any institution offering pharmacy; and 
30 
(e) A member of good standing for at least five (5) years of the accredited 
31 
integrated national pharmacy association but, at the time of 
32 
nomination, not an officer or trustee thereof. 
33 
Sec. 8. - Term of Of/ice of Board Members. - The chairman and the members 
34 
of the Board shall hold office for three (3) years after appointment or until 
35 
their successors shall have been appointed and duly qualified; Provided, the 
36 
incumbent Board members shall finish their terms to complete the 
37 
membership of the Board. PrOl'ided, further, that the chairman or any member 
38 
may be re-appointed for another term but in no case shall he/ she serve for 
39 
more than six years. 
40 
Sec. 9. - Compensation of the Board of Pharmacy. - As provided for in RA. 
41 
No. 8981, known as the "PRC Modernization Act of 2000", the members of the 
42 
Board shall receive allowances and benefits equivalent to at least two salary 
43 
grades lower than the salary grade of the Commissioner, while the chairman 
44 
of the Board shall receive a monthly compensation equivalent to two steps 
7 


higher than the members of the Board. The chairman and members shall be 
2 
entitled to other allowances and benefits provided under existing laws. 
3 
Sec. 10. - Powers, Functions and Duties of the Board. - The Board shall 
4 
exercise these specific powers, functions, and duties: 
5 
(a) Conduct licensure examination for pharmacists; 
6 
(b) Approve the registration of pharmacists and the certification of drug 
7 
handlers as covered by Sec. 42 of this Act; 
8 
(c) Prepare, adopt, and issue the Table of Specifications for the subjects in 
9 
the board licensure examination for pharmacists in consultation with 
10 
:the academe; determine and prepare the questions therefor; score and 
II 
rate the examination papers with the name and signature of the Board 
12 
member concerned appearing thereon and submit the results in all 
13 
subjects duly signed by the members of the Board to the Commission 
14 
no later than three (3) days from the last day of examination unless 
15 
extended by the Commission for justifiable cause/ s; 
16 
(d) Heview and/ or amend the scope of licensure examination; 
17 
(e) Add, delete, modify the scope, definition and standards of practice of 
18 
pharmacy; 
19 
(f) Reprimand any pharmacist, suspend, or revoke his/her certificate of 
20 
registration on the grounds as provided for in Sec. 46 hereof, after a 
21 
formal administrative investigation; 
22 
(g) Promulgate from time to time the necessary rules and regulations for 
23 
the effective enforcement of this Act; 
24 
(h) Monitor the conditions affecting the practice of pharmacy in the 
25 
Philippines and adopt measures that may be deemed proper for the 
26 
enhancement of the profession and/ or the maintenance of high 
27 
profeSSional, academic, ethical and technical standards; 
28 
(i) Verify or confirm the qualifications and conditions of pharmacists 
29 
employed in drugstores, hospital pharmacies, drug or pharmaceutical 
30 
laboratories, drug traders, importers, cosmetics and medical device 
31 
establishments for which the Board may designate inspectors from the 
32 
Food and Drug Administration and other related institutions for such 
33 
purpose; 
34 
0) Investigate cases ansll1g from violations of this Act, the rules and 
35 
regulations promulgated thereunder and the Pharmacist's Code of 
36 
Ethics, technical standards, and other Board issuances and for this 
37 
purpose, may issue summons, subpoena duces lid teslijicrmdunl and 
38 
subpoena duces tecum to the respondents and/ or witnesses to compel 
39 
their attendance in such investigations or hearings: Provided that, the 
40 
.decision of the Board shall, unless appealed to the Commission, 
41 
becomes final and executory after fifteen (15) days from receipt of 
42 
notice of judgment or decision; 
8 


(k) Cite a person in contempt for failure or refusal to obey the lawful order 
2 
of the Board in accordance with the Revised Rule of Court; 
3 
(I) Delegate the hearing or investigation of administrative cases filed 
4 
before them whereat the hearing shall be presided over by at least one 
5 
(1) member of the Board concerned assisted by a Legal or I-Iearing 
6 
Officer of the Commission, provided that if the charge is not related to 
7 
the technical practice of the profession, the hearing may be conducted 
8 
without a member of the Board; 
9 
(m) Conduct, through the Legal Officers of the Commission, summary 
10 
proceedings on minor violations of the respective regulatory laws, as 
11 
determined by the Board. Violations of the rules and regulations 
12 
issued by the Board to implement this Act, including violations of the 
13 
general instructions to examinees committed by examinees, and 
14 
render summary judgment thereon which shall, unless appealed to 
IS 
the Commission, become final and executory after fifteen (15) days 
16 
from receipt of notice of judgment or decision; 
17 
(n) Subject to the final approval by the Commission, recommend 
18 
registration without examination and the issuance of corresponding 
19 
certificate of registration and professional identification card to foreign 
20 
pharmacists duly licensed in countries with agreement of reciprocity 
21 
with the Philippine government; 
22 
(0) Prepare an annual report of accomplishments on programs, projects, 
23 
. and activities of the Board during the year for submission to the 
24 
, Commission after the close of each calendar year including appropriate 
25 
recommendations on issues or problems affecting the practice of 
26 
pharmacy; 
27 
28 
29 
(p) Issue 
and 
promulgate 
development 
education 
professio.nal organization; 
guidelines 
on 
continuing 
professional 
in 
coordination 
with 
the 
accredited 
30 
(q) Recommend to the CHED for the closure of the program or course of 
31 
pharmacy offered by a school/ college pursuant to the latter's policy 
32 
thereon; and 
. 
33 
(r) Perform any implied, incidental, necessary power for the effective 
34 
implementation of this Act. 
35 
Sec. 11. - Grounds for Suspension or Termination of Term of Office of the 
36 
Chairman or Member of the Board from his/her Office. - The President of the 
37 
Philippines, upon the recommendation of the Commission, after giving the 
38 
Chairman or the member of the Board an opportunity to defend 
39 
himself/ herself in an administrative investigation conducted by the 
40 
Commission, may remove or suspend him/her on any of the following 
41 
grounds: 
42 
(a) 
Cross neglect, incompetence or dishonesty 111 the discharge of 
43 
his/her duty; 
9 


(b) 
Violation of any of the causes/ grounds/ and the prohibited acts 
2 
provided in this Act and the offenses in the Revised Penal Code, the 
3 
Anti-Graft and Corruption Practices and other laws; 
4 
(c) 
Involvement in the manipulation, tampering or rigging of the 
5 
licensure examination, its questions and/or its results and the 
6 
, disclosure of classified and confidential information pertaining to the 
7 
licensure examination. 
8 
(d) 
Conviction of an offense involving moral turpitude by a court of 
9 
jurisdiction. 
10 
. The Commission, in the conduct of investigation shall be guided by 
11 
Section 7, and Section 15 of R.A. No. 8981 and the rules on administrative 
12 
investigation thereof, and the applicable provisions of the New Rules of 
13 
Court. 
14 
ARTICLE III 
15 
EXAMINATION, REGISTRATION, CERTIFICATION, AND LICENSURE 
16 
Sec. 12. - Passing of Licensure Examination Requirement. -
Except as 
17 
otherwise specifically allowed under this Act, applicants for registration for 
18 
the practice of pharmacy shall be required to pass a licensure examination as 
19 
provided for in this Act ami in accordance with Sec. 7 (d) of RA. No. 8981. 
20 
Sec. 13. - Qualifications of Applicants. - An applicant for the licensure 
21 
examination for pharmacy shall satisfactorily show that he/ she possesses the 
22 
following qualifications: 
23 
(a) Citizen of the Philippines or a foreign citizen whose country/state has 
24 
reciprocity with the Philippines in the practice of pharmacy; 
25 
(b) Of good moral character and reputation; 
26 
(c) A holder of a Bachelor's degree in pharmacy duly recognized or 
27 
accredited by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and 
28 
conferred by a school! college/university duiy authorized by the 
29 
government or its equivalent degree obtained by either a Filipino or 
30 
foreign citizen [rom an institution of learning in a 
foreign 
31 
country / stale, provided it is duly recognized and/ or accredited by 
32 
CIIED; 
33 
(d) Not convicted of an offense involving moral turpitude by a court of 
34 
competent jurisdiction; and 
35 
(e) I-Ie must have completed an Internship Program which shall consist of 
36 
at leasl nine hundred sixty hours (960 hours), six hundred hours (600 
37 
hours) of which shall be spent equally distributed in a community 
38 
pharmacy, 
hospital 
pharmacy, 
or 
pharmaceutical 
industry 
39 
manufacturing, regulatory, marketing, or research - and other related 
40 
fields, while three hundred sixty hours (360 hours) of internship shall 
41 
be spent in any of the accredited pharmacy establishments or entity 
42 
chosen by the candidate. 
10 


For 
this 
purpose, 
the 
abovementioned 
community 
pharmacy, 
2 
pharmaceutical company, and hospital pharmacy shall keep a separate 
3 
record of pharmacy students who underwent said internship program 
4 
directly under their control and as a result thereof, shall issue the proper 
5 
certificate of said hours of internship. It shall also be the duty of said 
6 
establishments to submit semi-annually a complete report of the names of 
7 
those who have undergone training under their supervision and the 
8 
corresponding number of hours of internship credit of each of the 
9 
pharmacy students to their respective colleges or schools and to the Board. 
10 
Sec. 14. - Scope of Examination. - The licensure examination for pharmacists 
11 
shall be divided into two major divisions: Pharmacy as Science and Pharmacy 
12 
as Practice. Pharmacy as Science shall consist of subjects in Group I (Public 
13 
Health, Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Parasitology), Group II (Drug 
14 
Delivery Systems, Physical Pharmacy, Manufacturing Pharmacy, Quality 
15 
Control I, Quality Control II), Group III (Pharmaceutical Biochemistry, 
16 
Pharmacognosy, Plant Chemistry, and Philippine Medicinal Plants, Pharmacy 
17 
and Chemistry of Medicinals I and Pharmacy and Chemistry of Medicinals II. 
18 
Pharmacy as Practice shall be made up of the following subjects: Group IV 
19 
(Pharmaceutical 
Calculations, Hospital Pharmacy, Clinical 
Pharmacy, 
20 
Dispensing and Medication Counseling), Group V (Biopharmaceutics and 
21 
Pharl1l'acokinetics, Pharmacology I, Pharmacology II, Clinical Toxicology), 
22 
and Group VI (Pharmaceutical Jurisprudence and Ethics, Pharmaceutical 
23 
Marketing and Entrepreneurship and Pharmaceutical Administration and 
24 
Management). 
25 
The subjects shall be weighed as follows: Group I, 10%; Croup II, 20%; Group 
26 
Ill, 20%; Group IV, 20%; Group V, 20%; and Group VI, 10 %. 
27 
The Board subject to the approval by the Commission may introduce relevant 
28 
changes, as the need arises, to the content of the examination and the relative 
29 
weight attributed to each subject in the examination may be made after 
30 
consultation with the duly recognized association of schools or colleges of 
31 
pharmacy and the CI-TED. 
32 
Sec. 15. - Holding of Examination. - Examination for registration to practice 
33 
pharmacy in the Philippines shall be given twice a year in such places and 
34 
dates as the Commission may designate in the Resolution thereof on the 
35 
Master Schedules for all licensure examinations in accordance with Sec. 7 (d) 
36 
of R.A No. 8981. The said places and dates may be subject to change under 
37 
valid circumstances and reasons. 
38 
Sec. 16. - Ratings in the Licensure Examination. - In order to be registered 
39 
and licensed as a pharmacist, a candidate must obtain a general weighted 
40 
average of seventy-five per cent (75%) or over with no ratings of fifty percent 
41 
(50%) in more than two (2) subjects. 
42 
Sec. 17. RegistraUon and Licensure of Pharmacy Assistant. - A general 
43 
weighted average below 75% but not lower than 70%, with no ratings of fifty 
44 
percent (50%) in more than two subjects, shall qualify an examinee to be 
45 
registered and licensed by the Professional Regulation Commission to 
46 
practice as a pharmacy assistant who shall work under the supervision of a 
47 
registered pharmacist. To be licensed as a pharmacist, a pharmacy assistant 
II 


must pass succeeding board licensure examination for pharmacists with a 
2 
general average rating as provided in Section 16. 
3 
Sec, 18. - Report of Rating. -The Board shall submit to the Commission the 
4 
ratings obtained by each candidate within ten (10) calendar days after the 
5 
examination, unless extended for just cause. Upon the release of the results of 
6 
the examination, the Commission shall send by mail the rating received by 
7 
each examinee at his/her given address using the mailing envelope submitted 
8 
during the examination. 
9 
Sec. 19. - Oath of Profession. - All successful candidates in the licensure 
10 
examination shall take their oath of profession before the Chairman or any 
11 
member of the Board or any authorized officer of the Commission to 
12 
administer oa ths, prior to entering the practice of pharmacy. 
13 
Sec. 20. -
Issuance of Certificate of Registration and Professional 
14 
IdentificaNon Card. - A certificate of registration shall be issued to those who 
15 
are registered upon payment of fees prescribed by the Commission. It shall 
16 
bear the signatures of the Chairperson and the Commissioners of the 
17 
Commission and the Chairman and Members of the Board, stamped with the 
18 
official seal of the Commission and of the Board, certifying the person named 
19 
therein is entitled to the practice of the profession with all the privileges 
20 
appurtenant thereto. Until revoked or suspended in accordance with this Act, 
21 
it shall remain in full force and effect. 
22 
A professional identification card bearing the registration number and date, 
23 
its validity and expiry duly signed by the Chairperson of the Commission 
24 
shall likewise be issued to every registrant who has paid the prescribed fee. It 
25 
shall be reissued upon compliance with the continuing professional 
26 
development education requirement as specified in Article IV, Sec. 27 (d) of 
27 
this Act and upon payment of the prescribed three-year registration fees 
28 
therefor. 
29 
Sec. 21. - Affixing RPh after a Registered Pharmacist's Name. - Only 
30 
pharmacists who are duly registered and licensed by the Board and the 
31 
Commission has the right to affix this title, "Registered Pharmacist" or 
32 
"R.Ph." after his/her name. 
33 
Sec. 22. - Grounds for Non-registration. - The Board shall not register any 
34 
successful examinee for registration who has been: 
35 
(a) Convicted of an offense involving moral turpitude by a court of 
36 
competent jurisdiction, 
37 
(b) Found guilty of immoral or dishonorable conduct by the Board, 
38 
(c) Summarily adjudged guilty for violation of the General Instructions to 
39 
Examinees by the Board, 
40 
(d) Declared of unsound mind by the court of competent jurisdiction, and 
41 
(e) Found addicted to dangerous drugs. 
42 
In refusing such registration, the Board shall give the applicant a written 
43 
statement setting forth the reasons therefor and shall file a copy in its records. 
12 


Sec. 23. - Reissuance of Revoked Certificate of Registration, Replacement of 
2 
Lost or Damaged Certificate of Registration, Professional Identification 
3 
Card or Temporary/Special Permit. - The Board may upon petition, reinstate 
4 
or reissue a revoked certificate of registration after two (2) years from the date 
5 
of the revocation of the certificate of registration or the surrender of the 
6 
revoked certificate and/ or the professional identification card if still valid, to 
7 
the Board and/ or the Commission. The Board mayor may not require the 
8 
pharmacist whose certificate had been revoked to take another licensure 
9 
examination. The petitioner shall prove to the Board that he/ she has valid 
10 
reason/s to be reinstated to the practice of pharmacy. For the grant of his/her 
11 
petition, the Board shall issue a Board Resolution subject to the approval of 
12 
the Commission. 
13 
Duplicate copy of lost or damaged certificate of registration, professional 
14 
identification card or temporary/special permit may be reissued 
In 
15 
accordance with rules thereon and upon payment of the prescribed fee 
16 
therefor. 
, 
17 
Sec. 24. - Non-payment of the PRC Registration Fees. -
The Board shall 
18 
suspend a registered pharmacist from the practice of his/her profession for 
19 
non-payment of the PRC registration fees for more than three (3) consecutive 
20 
years from its last or previous year of payment. The resumption of his/her 
21 
practice shall take place only upon payment of delinquency fees plus 
22 
surcharges and interest and in accordance with the rules of the Commission. 
23 
The running of the three-year period may be interrupted upon written notice 
24 
about the discontinuance of his/ her 
p~actice and surrender of his/her 
25 
certijicate of registration wilh professional identification card to the Board 
26 
and/ or the Commission. 
27 
Sec. 25. - Vesl"ed Rights: Automatic Registration. - All pharmacists registered 
28 
before the effectivity of this Act shall automatically be registered hereunder, 
29 
subject to the policy as to future requirements. 
30 
Certificates 
of registration and 
professional 
identification cards 
or 
31 
temporary / special permits held by such persons in good standing at such 
32 
effectivity shall have the same force and effect as though they were issued on 
33 
or after the said effectivity. 
34 
ARTICLE IV 
35 
RECUT AnON OF TI-IE PRACTICE OF PHARMACY 
36 
Sec. 26. - Scope of the Practice of Pharmacy. - A person deemed to be 
37 
practicing pharmacy within the meaning of this Article is one who shall, with 
38 
or without a fee, salary, percentage or other rewards, paid or given directly to 
39 
himself or indirec tl y through another -
40 
(a) Prepare, compound or manufacture, analyze, assay, preserve, store, 
41 
distribute, sell and/or dispense any medicine, drug, chemicals, 
42 
cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, devices or contrivances used in pursuance 
43 
thereof; or 
44 
(b) render services, such as but not limited to (i) regulatory services, (ii) 
45 
pharmaceutical marketing, (iii) drug information service and (iv) 
46 
medication management which covers the following: drug selection 
13 


and procurement, storage and distribution, dispensing, medication 
2 
counseling and medication therapy monitoring, whenever the 
3 
expertise and the technical knowledge of the pharmacist is required, in 
4 
any drug establishment/ outlet or healthcare institution or 
5 
(c) provide other services where phar'maceutical knowledge is required; 
6 
or 
7 
(d) engage in teaching scientific, technical or professional pharmacy 
8 
courses in a school or college of pharmacy; or 
9 
(e) conduct or undertake scientific research in all aspects involving drugs 
10 
and healthcare, or 
11 
(f) dispense drugs during medical missions and in other situations where 
12 
supervision of drugs is required. 
13 
All government and non-government agencies, establishments, institutions, 
14 
and regulatory body with functions that involve the practice of pharmacy 
15 
shall be headed and managed only by a qualified, duly registered and 
16 
licensed pharmacist. 
17 
All pharmacists are expected to abide by current standards such as the Good 
18 
Pharmacy Practice, Cood Laboratory Practice, Cood Distribution Practice, 
19 
Good Manufacturing Practice, and Good Clinical Practice, which are deemed 
20 
vital in the performance of one's roles and functions in different practice 
21 
areas. 
22 
The Board, subject to the approval by the Commission, may add to, delete, or 
23 
modify the above acts, services, or activities as the need arises. 
24 
Sec. 27. - Prerequisites for the Practice of Pharmacy. - A person can practice 
25 
pharmacy in the Philippines provided he/she: 
26 
(a) has satisfactorily passed the licensure examination for pharmacists 
27 
. given by the Board and the Commission, 
28 
(b) is duly registered with and licensed by the Board and the Commission, 
29 
(c) is an active member of the accredited integrated national professional 
30 
organization, 
31 
(d) has submitted continuing professional development education units as 
32 
required by the Continuing Professional Education Council for 
33 
pharmacists or pertinent laws and regulations for the renewal of 
34 
his/her professional identification card, and/ or 
35 
(e) a holder of a valid temporary/special permit issued by the Board and 
36 
the Commission to foreign licensed pharmacists pursuant to this Act. 
37 
Sec. 28. - Foreign Reciprocity. - No foreigner shall be allowed to take the 
38 
licensure examination for pharmacists, register, receive his/her certificate of 
39 
registration and professional identification card, and practice pharmacy in the 
40 
Philippines unless the requirements for the licensure examination and 
41 
registration and practice of pharmacy imposed under the laws and the 
14 


• 
regulations in his/her foreign country or state are substantially the same as 
2 
those required and contemplated by the Philippine laws and regulations, and 
3 
unless the said foreign laws and regulations allow Filipino citizens to practice 
4 
pharmacy within the territory of the said foreign country/state On the same 
5 
basis and grant the same privileges as those enjoyed by the citizens, subjects 
6 
or nationals thereof. 
7 
Sec. 29. - Practice through Temporary/Special Permil-. - A temporary/special 
8 
permit may be issued by the Board subject to the approval of the Commission 
9 
and payment of applicable fees to the following: 
10 
(a) licensed pharmacists from foreign countries whose services whether 
I I 
tor free or a fee 
12 
(1) if they are internationally renowned pharmacists or experts in 
13 
any field or specialty of pharmacy, 
14 
(2) if their services are deemed necessary for lack of specialists or 
15 
ex perts in a particular field, 
16 
(b) licensed pharmacists from foreign countries or states whose services 
17 
shall be for free and limited to indigent patients as benefiCiaries; or 
18 
(c) licensed pharmacists from foreign countries or states employed as 
19 
visiting faculty in a field or speCialty of pharmacy. 
20 
The permit shall, among other things, contain these limitations and conditions 
21 
for a period of no more than one year, subject to renewal, the field or specialty 
22 
of pharmacy, and the specific place of practice including clinics, hospitals, and 
23 
schools of pharmacy. The Board subject to the approval by the Commission 
24 
shall promulgate rules and regulations on the implementation of this 
25 
particular Section. 
26 
Sec. 30. - Indication of Numbers: Certificate of Registration, Professional Tax 
27 
Receipt and 
Accredited 
Integrated 
National 
Organization 
(AINO) 
28 
Membership. - The pharmacist shall be required to indicate on any document 
29 
he/she signs, uses or issues in connection with the practice of pharmacy the 
30 
following information: 
31 
(a) his/her registration number and date of issuance, 
32 
(b) the expiration date of his/her professional identification card, 
33 
(c) the Professional Tax Receipt (FIR) Number and date of issuance, and 
34 
(d) the certificate of AINO membership (annual/lifetime), number and the 
35 
official receipt of payment, number and date. 
36 
Sec. 31. - Registry of Pharmacists. - The Board shall prepare and maintain a 
37 
registry of the names, residences and/or office addresses of all registered 
38 
pharmacists which shall be updated annually in cooperation with the 
39 
Accredited Integrated National Organization (AINO), indicating therein the 
40 
status of the certificate of registration, professional identification card and 
41 
Accredited Integrated National Organization (AINO) membership, whether 
42 
valid or inactive due to death, or other reasons, delinquent, suspended or 
15 


• 
with revoked certificate of registration. The said regish'y of pharmacists shall 
2 
be conspicuously posted within the premises of the Commission and the 
3 
information therein made available to the public upon inquiry or request. 
4 
Sec. 32. - Display of Certificate of I{egistration. - It shall be the duty of every 
5 
pharmacist engaged in the practice of pharmacy either on his/her own 
6 
account or under the employ of another to display his/her original certificate 
7 
of registration in a prominent and conspicuous place in a retail drug outlet or 
8 
drug establishment which he operates or in which he/ she is employed in 
9 
his/her professional capacity as pharmacist. No pharmacist shall, with 
10 
his/her knowledge, allow his/ her certificate of registration to be displayed in 
11 
such establishment when he/ she is not actually employed Or operating 
12 
therein in his/ her professional capacity. 
13 
Sec. 33. -
Compounding and Dispensing. - No drug or pharmaceutical 
14 
product of whatever nature and kind shall be compounded, dispensed, sold 
1.'5 
or resold, or otherwise be made available to the consuming public except 
16 
through a FDA-licensed retail drug outlet or other business establishments 
17 
which are duly established in accordance with the provisions of applicable 
18 
laws. 
19 
Prescription drugs and pharmacist-only over-the-counter drugs shall be 
20 
dispensed only by registered pharmacists. 
21 
Prescription drugs shall be dispensed only upon presentation of a valid 
22 
prescription, 
23 
Comp~:lUnding and dispensing by duly registered and licensed pharmacists 
24 
shall be in accordance with current good manufacturing practice, good 
25 
laboratory practice, and good pharmacy practice, with the safety and 
26 
pro'tection of individual patients as ultimate objective. 
27 
Licensed pharmaceutical manufacturers, importers and wholesalers are 
28 
authorized to sell their products only to duly licensed drug outlets, 
29 
wholesalers and other drug establishments, 
30 
A registered and licensed pharmacist may refuse to compound, dispense or 
31 
sell drugs and pharmaceutical products, if not in accordance with this Act. 
32 
Sec. 34. -
Pharmacist ReqUirement and Compensation. -
Every drug 
33 
establishment/outlet selling prescription and pharmacist only over-the-
34 
counter drugs whether owned by the government or a private person or firm 
35 
shall at all times when open for business be under the direct control, 
36 
supervision, and responsibility of a registered and licensed pharmacist. For 
37 
retails outlets selling only over-the-counter drugs, they shall be under the 
38 
supervision of a registered and licensed pharmaCist. 
39 
Processes involving the preparation, quality control, or repacking of 
40 
pharmaceutical products in quantities greatly in excess of single therapeutic 
41 
doses shall for each respective operation be under the direct and immediate 
42 
supervision of a registered and licensed pharmacist, In the sale of 
43 
pharmaceutical products, medicines and drugs, at wholesale, such business 
44 
shall be conducted under the immediate supervision of a registered and 
45 
licensed pharmaciSt. 
16 


• 
All government and non-government agencies and units which handle the 
2 
procurement and distribution of drugs should have a supervising pharmacist. 
3 
All rural health units dispensing medicines should be supervised by a 
4 
pharmacist or a pharmacy assistant as defined in this Act. 
5 
Pharmacists in government service shall receive a starting salary equivalent to 
6 
Salary, Grade 15 as provided in R.A. 6758 (Compensation and Position 
7 
Classification Act of 1989) and its amendments. Those pharmacists in the 
8 
pri\iate sector shall receive an entry-level salary in peso equivalent of Salary 
9 
Grade 15 being received by government pharmacists. 
10 
Sec. 35. - Responsibility for Quality of Drugs, Cosmetics and Medical 
11 
Devices. -
It shall be the duty of the registered pharmacist of drug 
12 
outlet/establishment to ensure that all drug products, cosmetics and medical 
\3 
devices conform to standards of safety, quality and efficacy and strictly 
14 
adhere to the guidelines as provided for in this Act and other pertinent rules 
15 
and regulations and issuances. Owners, managers, and/ or pharmacists in 
16 
charge of the operation of drug outlets and drug establishments shall be held 
17 
responsible. 
18 
It shall be unlawful for any person to manufacture, prepare, sell or dispense 
19 
any prescription drug, pharmaceutical, medical devices, or cosmetics under 
20 
any fraudulent name, direction or pretense or to adulterate any drug, 
21 
pharmaceutical, medical devices, or cosmetics offered for sale. Any drug, 
22 
pharmaceutical product, medical device/ s or cosmetics shall be held to be 
23 
adulterated or deteriorated within the meaning of this section if it differs from 
24 
the 
standard 
or 
quality 
or 
purity 
given 
in 
the 
United 
States 
25 
Pharmacopeia/National Formulary and Philippine Pharmacopeia, in its latest 
26 
edition, or any standard reference for drugs and medicines given official 
27 
recognition, and those which fall within the meaning as provided for in the 
28 
Food Drug, Cosmetic and Devices Act, R.A. No. 3720, as amended by 
29 
pertinent laws and the Food and Drug Administration Act, R.A. 0711. 
30 
In cases of drug products sold in their original packings, the seal of which has 
31 
not been broken or tampered with, the liability that may arise because of their 
32 
quality and purity, rests upon the manufacturer or importer, the distributor, 
33 
representative, or dealer who is responsible for their distribution or sale. 
34 
Sec. 36. - Filling and Partial Filling of Prescription. - All prescriptions shall 
35 
be filled or compounded only by a registered and licensed pharmacist 
36 
following the standards of purity, safety and quality. Completely filled 
37 
prescriptions should be surrendered to the pharmacist for recording. 
38 
Partia1 filling of prescription is dispensing units less than the total quantity 
39 
indic?ted in the prescription. The prescription should contain information as 
40 
to how many units were served and shall be returned to the buyer after being 
41 
recorded in the appropriate book or equivalent system. The drugstore, which 
42 
completes the filling of the prescription, shall keep the prescription on file for 
43 
a prescribed period of time. 
44 
Sec. 37. - l'hysician's sample. -
Drugs, biologic products, devices or 
45 
proprietary medicines, given or intended to be given free to the physician and 
46 
other qualified person by any manufacturer or distributor ·or its medical 
17 


representative/ delailman as part of its program or promotion, should not be 
2 
sold. 
3 
The statement "Sample, not for sale" shall appear conspicuously on the 
4 
container, package, or carton of the drug or device to be given. It shall be 
5 
unlawful to remove, erase, deface already marked original labels of samples. 
6 
Sec. 38. - Prohibition against use of cipher or unusual terms in prescriptions 
7 
and prescription switching - Pharmacists should not compound or dispense 
8 
prescriptions, recipes or formulas which are written in ciphers, codes or secret 
9 
keys or prescri ptions of drugs using unusual names which differ from those 
lOin standard phannacopeias or formularies. 
11 
The pharmacist dispensing or compounding prescriptions should nol 
12 
substitute the drug or drugs called for in the prescription with any other drug 
13 
or substance or ingredient without prior consultation with, and a written 
14 
consent of the person prescribing, except in accordance with RA 6675, known 
IS 
as the Generics Act of 1988, and other pertinent laws and regulations. 
16 
Sec. 39. - Label of Dispensed Medicines. - Upon every box, bottle or package 
17 
containing medicine compounded or dispensed by a registered and licensed 
18 
pharmacist based on prescription, there shall be pasted, affixed or imprinted a 
19 
seal OJ' label bearing, among others, name of patient, generic name of drug; 
20 
branq name, if any, strength, expiry date, directions for use, and name and 
21 
adc!ress of drugstore and other requirements prescribed by the Cheaper 
22 
Medicines Act (RA 9502) and its implementing rules and regulations. 
23 
Every prescription which in its preparation contains any quantity of a drug, 
24 
which is habit-forming, or a derivative of such drug, shall have an auxiliary 
25 
label or a notation, "Warning - May be habit forming". Such prescriptions 
26 
should comply with the requirements of the R. J\. 9165, the Comprehensive 
27 
Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, and any future amendments thereto. 
28 
Filled prescription for external use shall bear the auxiliary label, "For External 
29 
Use". 
30 
Sec. 40. - I{ecord Books for Prescription. - All prescriptions dispensed in the 
31 
drugstore shall be recorded in the book or an equivalent recording system 
32 
approved by FDA for this purpose indicating therein, among others, the 
33 
prescription number, name of prescriber, generic name and brand, dosage 
34 
strength, quantity of drug, name of the patient and address, and initials of 
35 
pharmacist. It shall be open to inspection by the proper authorities at any time 
36 
of the day when the pharmacy is open to the public and must be preserved 
37 
for a period of not less than two (2) years after the last entry in it has been 
38 
made. 
39 
All prescriptions shall be attached to the prescription book or compiled (for 
40 
equivall'nt recording system) and numbered consecutively and shall be 
41 
preserved for the same period of time as required. 
42 
All required information on dangerous drugs dispensed by a pharmacy shall 
43 
be recorded in the Dangerous Drugs book or an equivalent recording system 
44 
as required by RJ\. 9165. 
18 


• 
Sec. 41. - Requirements jor the Opening and Operation oj Retail Drug Outlet 
2 
or Establishment. - The minimum requirements necessary for the opening of 
3 
retail drug outlet or establishment shall be in accordance with the rules and 
4 
regulations prescribed by the Food and Drug Administration in accordance 
5 
with the provisions of this Act. 
6 
The application for the opening of a retail drug outlet or other business 
7 
establishments should not be approved unless applied for by a Filipino 
8 
registered pharmacist either as owner or as pharmacist-in-charge pursuant to 
9 
the provisions of this Act. 
10 
Sec. 42. - Handling of Drugs by Persons Other than a Pharmacist. - For the 
11 
purpose of this section, persons handling drugs other than the pharmacist are: 
12 
professional 
medical 
representatives, 
pharmacy 
assistants, 
pharmacy 
13 
aides/ clerks, and other persons who assist pharmacists in dispensing 
14 
medicines or any other person performing functions involving the handling 
15 
of drugs and drug products. It is preferred that these positions are occupied 
16 
by those who finished pharmacy degree, not necessarily licensed as 
17 
pharmacists and who has undergone the prescribed training from a 
18 
Commission-accredited provider. 
19 
The professional medical representative or detail man is one who represents 
20 
any duly authorized manufacturer, distributor, trader and wholesaler of 
21 
drugs, pharmaceuticals, biologic products and devices, whose primary duty is 
22 
to introduce said products to legitimate prescribers and which forms part of 
23 
their program for promotion by describing its use, composition, action, 
24 
dosage, administration, contraindication, advantages and other relevant 
25 
information about the drugs being promoted. 
26 
The pharmacy assistant is one who helps the pharmacist in compounding, 
27 
dispensing of medicines and giving of information on proper use of 
28 
medicines while the pharmacy aide/clerk is involved in other aspects of 
29 
operation assigned by the pharmacist. 
30 
Any person who shall be employed or engaged as professional medical 
31 
representative or pharmacy aide/ clerk shall undergo comprehensive 
32 
standardized training programs approved by the Board with providers 
33 
approved and/ or accredited by the Board in accordance with criteria 
34 
establi'shed therefor. 
35 
ARTICLE V 
36 
ACCREDITED INTEGRATED NATIONAL OECANIZATION FOR 
37 
PIIAEM/\CISTS 
38 
39 
Sec. 43. - The Accredited Integrated National Professional Organization 
40 
(AINO) o/Pharmacists - The pharmacists are integrated under one national 
41 
accredited professional organization that is duly registered with the Securities 
42 
and Exchange Commission (SEC). The Board subject to the a'pproval by the 
43 
Commission shall accredit the said organization as the only integrated 
44 
national organization for registered pharmacists (and pharmacy assistants). 
45 
All pharmacists (and pharmacy assistants) whose names appear in the 
46 
registry shall ipso jilclo or automatically become members thereof and shall 
47 
receive all the benefits and privileges accorded to its members upon payment 
19 


• 
• 
of the required fees and dues. Membership to the foregoing shall not be a bar 
2 
to membership in any other association of pharmacists. 
3 
Sec. 44. - Membership to the Accredited Integrated National Professional 
4 
Organization. - J\1l registered pharmacists (and pharmacy assistants) must be 
5 
members of the AI NO and must maintain membership throughout the 
6 
duration of the practice of the profession. Professional identification card shall 
7 
not be renewed if the requirements for membership with AINO are not met 
8 
including credit units for attendance to duly accredited continuing 
9 
professional development (CPD) education activities. 
10 
Sec. 45. -
Specialty Boards in Various Areas of Pharmacy Practice. -
I J 
Specialty Boards created within the affiliate organizations and societies for 
12 
recognition of the AINO (1) for the Board, subject to the approval of the 
13 
Commissioner shall accredit specialties in various areas of practice, (2) setting 
14 
standards of practice within different specialties, and (3) establishing 
15 
qualifications and requirements for certification of practitioners under each 
16 
special'ty. 
17 
ARTICLE VI 
18 
VIOLATIONS, ADMINISTRATIVE SANCTIONS, AND PROCEDURES 
J 9 
Sec. 46. - Revocation or Suspension of the Certificate of Registration and 
20 
Cancellation of Temporary or Special Permit. - The Board shall have the 
21 
power, upon notice and hearing to revoke or suspend the certificate of 
22 
registration of a registered pharmacist or to cancel a temporary or special 
23 
permit granted to a foreign pharmacist on the basis of the following: 
24 
25 
26 
27 
28 
29 
30 
31 
32 
33 
34 
35 
36 
37 
38 
39 
40 
41 
42 
43 
44 
(a) 
(b) 
(c) 
(d) 
(e) 
(f) 
(g) 
Violation of this Act on unauthorized practice of pharmacy, 
violation of any provision of this Act, the Rules and Regulations 
(RR) thereof, the Code of Ethics for Pharmacists, Code of Good 
Covernance, Code of Technical Standards for the practice of 
pharmacy, policy, and measure of the Board and/or the 
Commission; 
Malpractice or gross incompetence; negligence, or imprudence 
resulting to death or injury of the patient; 
Dishonorable conduct and/ or conviction by a competent court of 
any criminal offense involving moral turpitude; 
Fraud or deceit in the acquisition of the certificate of registration, 
professional identification card or temporary/special permit or 
renewal of license; 
Display of certificate of registration of a pharmacist who is not 
actually employed in such an establishment as required by law. 
Addiction to alcoholic beverages or to any habit-forming drug 
rendering him incompetent to practice his/her profession; 
Aiding or abetting the illegal practice of a non-registered and 
licensed person by allowing him/her the use of his/her certificate 
of registration and/ or professional identification card or his/her 
special/ temporary pennit; 
20 


• 
• 
(h) 
Acting as a dummy of an alien or a person who is not qualified to 
2 
establish and operate a retail drugstore; 
3 
(i) 
Insanity or any mental disorder that would render the person 
4 
incompetent to practice his/her profession; 
5 
OJ 
False, extravagant or unethical advertisements and product 
6 
endorsements 
where 
the 
pharmacist's 
name, 
professional 
7 
organization he/ she represents, and similar information are used; 
8 
(k) 
Manufacture, sale, offering for sale of counterfeit drugs and 
9 
committing other acts in violation of Sec. 4 of the Special Law on 
10 
Counterfeit Drugs, RA. No. 8203; 
11 
(I) 
Illegal manufacturing, sale, possession, dispensing of dangerous 
12 
drugs and other pertinent acts in violation of Dangerous Drugs Act, 
13 
H..A. No. 9165; 
14 
(m) 
Committing acts in violation of Sec. 6 of P.o. No. 881 on Hazardous 
15 
Substances; and 
16 
(n) 
Practicing pharmacy while under suspension. 
17 
(0) 
Practicing with an expired professional identification card. 
18 
Section 47. - Non-renewal of license. - The following are the grounds for the 
19 
non-renewal of professional identification card: 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
(a) 
(b) 
(c) 
Refusal to join or to remain a member of good standing of the 
AINO; 
Non-payment of annual registration fees for three (3) continuous 
years; 
Non-compliance with the continuing professional development 
requirement, for the renewal of his/her professional identification 
card; and 
27 
The Board shall periodically evaluate the aforementioned grounds and revise 
28 
as the need arises subject to the approval of the Commission. 
29 
Any person, entity or organization may file charges according to the 
30 
provision of this section against any registrant, or the Board may investigate 
31 
violation of any of the abovementioned ca·uses. Affidavit of ccimplaint under 
32 
oath shall be filed together with the affidavits of witnesses and other 
33 
documentary evidence with the Board through the Legal and Investigation 
34 
Office. The move to conduct an investigation shall be embodied in a formal 
35 
charge to be signed by at least a majority of the members of the Board. The 
36 
rules on administratiye investigation issued by the Commission shall govern 
37 
the hearing or investigation subject to applicable provisions of this Act, RA. 
38 
No. 8981 and its rules and regulations thereof, and Rules of Court. 
39 
Sec. 
48. 
-
Administrative Investigation/Sanctions. 
Administrative 
40 
investigations shall be conducted by the Board assisted by the Legal or 
21 


I-Iearing Officer of the Commission. The existing rules of evidence shall also 
2 
be observed and applied during administrative investigations. 
3 
If the Board, by a majority vote of the members, shall find that the charges are 
4 
sustained by evidence adduced, it may, at its discretion reprimand the 
5 
respondent or revoke or suspend his certificate of registration. 
6 
Sec. 49. - Procedure and Rules. - The Board upon receipt of a formal 
7 
complaint under oath against any pharmacist shall furnish the latter a copy of 
8 
the complaint, which shall be answered in writing within ten (10) days from 
9 
receipt thereof. If the Board, after careful study of the records, finds that there 
, 
lOis a valid ground to the charge, it shall conduct a formal investigation and set 
11 
the dates of the hearing thereof. 
For this purpose, a subpoena and/ or 
12 
subpoena duces tecum may be issued by the chairman of the Board or by the 
13 
Chief, Legal and Investigation Division. The investigation proceedings shall at 
14 
all times be recorded. 
The investigation shall have been terminated and 
15 
resolved within ninety (90) days from the time the first date of hearing shall 
16 
be set and heard. 
17 
Sec. 50. - Rights of Respondent. - The respondent pharmacist is entitled to be 
18 
heard or be represented by counsel; to have speedy public hearing, to 
19 
confront, and to cross-examine the witness or witnesses against him; to 
20 
summon and present witness or witnesses in his behalf; or to avail 
21 
himself/herself of any other process for the protection of his/her 
22 
constitutional rights 
23 
Sec. 51. - Motion for Reconsideration. - A motion for reconsideration within 
24 
the prescribed period may be made based on any of the following grounds: 
25 
(a) Crave abuse of discretion by the Board, 
26 
(b) Findings not supported by substantial evidence, and Irregularity in the 
27 
conduct of investigation. 
28 
Sec. 52. - Appeal/Finality of Decision, - The decision of the Board shall 
29 
automatically become final and executory fifteen (15) days from the 
30 
appropriate service of the decision to the respondent, unless the latter within 
31 
the same period, has appealed the decision to the Commission; provided that 
32 
said decision of the Board and/ or the Commission may be appealed to the 
33 
Court of Appeals. 
34 
ARTICLE VII 
35 
PENAL PROVISIONS 
36 
Sec. 53. - Penal l'yovisions. - Any person who shall violate any of the 
37 
prov isions of the practice of pharmacy as defined in the following provisions 
38 
of Article IV: 
39 
RegislrnlioYl cerlifiClile (Section 32) 
40 
(a) Allowing the display of his/her registration certificate in an outlet or 
41 
establishment by a pharmacist where he/ she is not employed 
22 


• 
• 
(b) Display of a pharmacist's registration certificate by an outlet or 
2 
establishment when the pharmacist is not employed 
3 
Dispensing lind compounding (Sections 27,33,38,42) 
4 
(c) Dispensing done in, or offering for sale of prescription drugs in a place 
5 
not licensed by FDA as drug outlet 
6 
(d) Dispensing of prescription of and pharmacist-only over-the-counter 
7 
drugs by a person other than a registered pharmacist 
8 
(e) Dispensing of prescription drugs without presentation of a valid 
9 
prescription 
10 
(f) Compounding of prescription drugs and pharmacist-only over-the-
11 
counter drugs done by a person other than a pharmacist 
12 
(g) Selling of prescription and pharmacist-only over-the-counter drugs by 
13 
manufacturers, importers, and wholesalers to unlicensed drug outlets 
14 
and other drug establishments 
IS 
(h) Substitution of prescription drugs which are not generically equivalent 
16 
to what was on the prescription without the consent of the prescriber 
17 
(i) Compounding 
not 
in 
accordance 
with 
the 
current 
Cood 
18 
Manufacturing Practices and Cood Pharmacy Practice 
19 
U) l'orcing, coercing or intimidating a registered pharmacist to compound 
20 
,or dispense drugs not in accordance with this Act 
21 
(k) Preparation and compounding of pharmaceutical products in 
22 
quantities greatly in excess of single therapeutic doses without a 
23 
registered pharmacist 
24 
(I) Non-compliance with the labeling requirement for 
dispensed 
25 
medicines by a drug outlet 
26 
(m) Allowing pharmacy assistants to dispense without the s~pervision of a 
27 
pharmacist 
28 
Requirement oj Phrmnllcist (Sections 33,34, 36) 
29 
(n) Establishment/ outlet selling prescription and pharmacist-only over-
30 
the-counter drugs which opens for business without a licensed 
J 1 
pharmacist 
32 
(0) Compounding by a non-registered pharmacist or pharmacist with 
33 
expired/ revoked/ suspended license 
34 
(p) Filling of prescription by a non-pharmacist or by a non-registered 
35 
pharmacist or pharmacist with expired/ revoked/ suspended license 
36 
(q) Wholesale of pharmaceutical products without the direct and 
37 
immediate supervision of a registered pharmacist 
23 


• 
, 
(r) EUl'al Health Units dispensing prescription drugs and pharmacist-only 
2 
over-the-counter drugs without the supervision of a registered 
3 
pharmacist Manufacturing and selling of pizarmaceutical products under 
4 
fmudulenl name and address (Section 35) Adultemlion and misbranding of 
5 
drugs (Section 35) Manufacturing and selling of unsafe lind substandard 
6 
drugs (Section 35) shall upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to a fine 
7 
'of not less than Two Hundred Pifty Thousand (Php250,OOO.OO) Pesos 
8 
: but not exceeding Five Hundred Thousand (Php500,000.OO) Pesos 
9 
and/ or to an imprisonment of not less than one year and one day but 
10 
not more than six years, or both fine and penalty, at the discretion of 
11 
the court. 
12 
Sec, 54, - Other Penalties, - Any person who shall violate any of the following 
13 
provisions of this Act: 
14 
(a) Affixing of the title, R.I'h. by a person who is not a pharmacist and a 
15 
graduate of pharmacy degree who is not registered with PRe (Section 
16 
21) 
17 
(b) Practice of pharmacy in the Philippines by a foreigner without special 
18 
permit (Section 28) 
19 
(c) Non-indication by a pharmacist of his/her registration number and 
20 
Professional Tax Receipt number in official documents requiring such 
21 
information (Section 30) 
22 
(d) Non-display of certificate of registration of a pharmacist in drug 
23 
establishment requiring such (Section 32) 
24 
(e) Non-display of certificate of registration of a pharmacist by an 
25 
establishment/ outlet (Section 32) 
26 
(f) Non-compliance with this Act's provision on the required salary for a 
27 
registered pharmacist (Section 34) 
28 
(g) Non-compliance by a pharmacist with the requirement on the filling of 
29 
prescri ption (Section 36) 
30 
(h) Non-compliance by a registered pharmacist on the requirement for 
J I 
partially filled prescription (Section 36) 
32 
(i) Selling of physician's samples (Section 37) 
33 
0) The removal, erasure and alteration of mark or label of physician's 
34 
'sample (Section 37) 
35 
(k) Non-compliance with the filling up of Record Books by a drug outlet 
36 
(Section 40) 
37 
(I) Employment of persons in a pharmacy without the provision of the 
38 
required training (Section 42) 
39 
(m) Rendering dispensing-related services by non-pharmacists in a drug 
40 
outlet without undergoing the required training (Section 42) shall 
41 
upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to a fine of not Jess than One 
24 


Hundred Thousand (Php100,000.00) Pesos but not exceeding Two 
2 
Hundred Thousand (Php200,000.00) Pesos or to an imprisonment of 
3 
not less than Thirty (30) days but not more than One (1) year, or both 
4 
fine and penalty at the discretion of the court. 
5 
Any person other than the citizens of the Philippines having 
G 
been found guilty of any violation as provided for in this and the 
7 
preceding section shall, after having paid the fine or having served 
8 
his sentence or both when so adjudged, be also subject to immediate 
9 
deportation. 
10 
For any violation of the provisions of this Act penalized under 
11 
this and the preceding section, which also constitutes or considered 
12 
as punishable offense or described as a violation of other laws, the 
\3 
applicable penalty shaH be that of the law providing for a higher fine 
14 
and/ or imprisonment. 
IS 
For any violation of the rules and regulations implementing the 
1 G 
provisions of this Act, appropriate penalty shall be imposed. 
17 
ARTICLE VIII 
18 
FINAL PROVISIONS 
19 
Sec. 55. - Enforcement - The Commission shall be the enforcement agency of 
20 
this. Act. 
As such, the Commission shall implement the appropriate 
21 
provisions of this Act, enforce its implementing rules and regulations as 
22 
adopted by the Board, assist the Board in the investigation of complaints 
23 
against violators of this Act, its rules and regulations, Code of Ethics for 
24 
pharmacists, professional standards, and other policies of the Board and the 
25 
Commission. 
26 
The Commission and/ or the Board shall Call upon or request any deparlment, 
27 
instrumentality, office, bureau, institution or agency of the government, 
28 
including local government units to render such assistance as it may require, 
29 
or to coordinall' or cooperate in order to carry out, enforce or implement the 
30 
provisions of this Act. 
31 
Sec. 56. - Appropriations. - The Chairperson of the PRC shall immediately 
32 
include in ils programs on the implementation of this Act, the funding of 
33 
which shall be charged against their current years' appropriations and 
34 
thereafter, in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
35 
Sec. 57. - Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within one hundred and 
36 
twenty (120) days after the approval of this Act, the Board subject to the 
37 
approval by the Commission, in consultation with the AINO, shall issue and 
38 
formulate the rules and regulations, the Code of Ethics and professional 
39 
standards for pharmacists, to effectively implement this Act. 
40 
Sec. 58. - Separability Clause. - If any clause, provisions, paragraph or part 
41 
hereof shall be declared unconstitutional or invalid, such judgment shall not 
42 
affect, invalidate, impair any other part thereof, but such judgment shall be 
43 
merely confined to the clause, provision, paragraph or part directly involved 
44 
in the controversy in which such judgment has been rendered. 
25 


• 
Sec. 59. - I{epealing clause. - IU\. No. 5921, known as the Pharmacy Law, as 
2 
amend~d by EO. No. 174, and I'D No. 1363, and all other laws are hereby 
3 
repealed, Presidential decrees, executive orders, and other administrative 
4 
issuances and parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this 
5 
Act are hereby modified, amended, superseded or repealed accordingly. 
6 
Sec. 60. - Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days 
7 
following the full and complete publication thereof in the Official Gazette or 
8 
in any major daily newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines. 
9 
Approved, 
26