SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENA:-!436 
S.NO. __ 
"14 ocr 20 P6 :15 
Prepared by the Committees on Civil Service and Government Reorganization and 
Finance with Senators Escudero and Trillanes IV as authors 
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AN ACT 
TO REGULATE AND MODERNIZE THE PRACTICE OF PHARMACY IN THE 
PHILIPPINES, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines, in 
Congress assembled: 
1 
ARTICLE I 
2 
GENERAL PROVISIONS 
3 
Section 1. - Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Philippine Pharmacy Act of 
4 
2014". 
5 
Section 2. -
Statement of Policy. 
The State recognizes the vital role of 
6 
pharmacists in the delivery of quality health care services through the provision of 
7 
safe, effective, and quality pharmaceutical products, pharmaceutical care, drug 
8 
information, patient medication counseling, and health promotion. The pharmacists' 
9 
professional services shall, therefore, be promoted as an indispensable component 
10 
of the total healthcare system to ensure the physical well-being of Filipinos. 
11 
Hence, the State shall develop and nurture competent, productive, morally upright, 
12 
and well-rounded pharmacists whose standards of professional practice and service 
13 
shall be excellent and globally competitive through regulatory measures, programs, 
14 
and activities that promote and sustain their continuing professional development. 
15 
Section 3. - Objectives. - This Act provides for and shall govern the: 
16 
1) standardization and regulation of pharmacy education; 
17 
2) administration of licensure examination, 
registration 
and 
licensing of 
18 
pharmacists; 
19 
3) supervision, control, and regulation of the practice of pharmacy in the 
20 
Philippines; 
1 
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1 
4) development and enhancement of professional competence of pharmacists, 
2 
through continuing professional development, research, and other related 
3 
activities; and 
4 
5) integration of the pharmacy profession. 
s 
Section 4. - Scope of the Practice of Pharmacy. - A person is deemed to be 
6 
practicing pharmacy, within the meaning of this Act, when he/she undertakes any of 
7 
the following acts, with or without a fee, salary, percentage or other rewards, paid or 
8 
given directly or indirectly, shall: 
9 
1) Prepare, compound or manufacture, analyze, assay, preserve, store, 
10 
distribute, procure, sell and/or dispense any pharmaceutical product or its 
11 
raw materials; or 
12 
2) render services, such as, but not limited to, clinical pharmacy services, 
13 
drug information service, administration of adult vaccines, regulatory 
14 
services, pharmaceutical marketing, medication management, chemical 
15 
and microbiological analyses and assays of food, drugs, cosmetics and/or 
16 
other pharmaceutical products, or whenever the expertise and the 
17 
techniGal knowledge of the pharmacist is required; or 
18 
3) engage in teaching scientific, technical or professional pharmacy courses 
19 
in a school or college of pharmacy; or 
20 
4) conduct or undertake scientific research in 
all 
aspects, involving 
21 
pharmaceutical products and health care; or 
22 
5) dispense drugs during medical missions and in other situations where 
23 
supervision of dispensing of pharmaceutical products is required; or 
24 
6) provide other services where pharmaceutical knowledge is required. 
25 
All pharmaCists are expected to abide by current standards such as the Philippine 
26 
Pharmacy Practice Standards, Good Laboratory Practice, Good Distribution 
27 
Practice, Good Manufacturing Practice and Good Clinical Practice, which are 
28 
deemed vital in the performance of one's roles and functions in different practice 
29 
areas. 
30 
The Board, subject to the approval of the Professional Regulation Commission 
31 
(PRC), hereinafter called the Commission, as provided for by Republic Act 8981 
32 
otherwise known as PRC Modernization Act of 2000 and in consultation with the 
33 
Accredited Integrated Professional Organization, may add to, delete, or modify the 
34 
above-enumerated acts, services, or activities, as the need arises, in order to 
2 
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.. _-_._------


1 
conform to the latest trends and developments in the practice of the pharmacy 
2 
profession. 
3 
Section 5. - Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the term: 
4 
1) "Accredited and Integrated Professional Organization" (AI PO) refers to the 
5 
duly integrated and accredited professional organization of registered and 
6 
licensed pharmacists, of which there shall be only one, as prescribed under 
7 
Section 41 Article V of this Act. 
8 
2) "Adulterated/Deteriorated Pharmaceutical Products" refer to pharmaceutical 
9 
products, the standards of quality or purity of which, are as those stated in the 
10 
United 
States 
Pharmacopeia/National 
Formulary 
and 
Philippine 
11 
Pharmacopeia in its latest edition or any standard reference for drugs and 
12 
medicines which are given official recognition as well as those provided for in 
13 
RA No. 3720, otherwise known as the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, as 
14 
amended, and R.A. No. 9711, otherwise known as the Food and Drug 
15 
Administration Act of 2009. 
16 
3) "Biopharmaceuticals" refer to pharmaceutical products that are used for 
17 
therapeutic or for in vivo diagnostic purposes, such as vaccines, sera and 
18 
drugs derived from life forms using biotechnology. These include proteins, 
19 
nucleic acids or living microorganisms where the virulence is reduced. 
20 
4) "Brand Name" refers to the proprietary or trade name given by the 
21 
manufacturer to distinguish its product, and which is duly approved by the 
22 
Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 
23 . 
5) "Cipher", "Code" or "Secret Keys" refers to a method of secret writing or use of 
24 
characteristic style or symbol by substituting other letter/s or character/s for 
25 
the letterls intended, for the purpose of misleading the consumer. 
26 
6) "Compounding" refers to the sum of processes performed by a pharmacist in 
27 
drug preparation including the calculations, mixing, assembling, packaging, or 
28 
labeling of a drug: (i) as the result of a prescription or drug order by a 
29 
physician, dentist or veterinarian, or (ii) for the purpose of, or in relation to, 
30 
research, teaching, or chemical analysis. 
31 
7) "Continuing Professional Development" (CPO) refers to the inculcation of 
32 
advanced knowledge, skills and ethical values in a post-licensure specialized 
33 
or in an inter-
or multi-disciplinary field of study for assimilation into 
34 
professional practice, self-directed research, and/or lifelong learning. 
3 


1 
8) "Cosmetics" refer to pharmaceutical products intended to be placed in contact 
2 
with the various external parts of the human body or with the teeth and the 
3 
mucous membranes of the oral cavity, with a view exclusively or mainly to 
4 
cleaning them, perfuming them, changing their appearance and/or correcting 
5 
body odor, and/or protecting the body or keeping them in good condition, as 
6 
defined under R. A. No. 9711. 
7 
9) "Counterfeit, Spurious, Substandard, Falsified Pharmaceutical Products" refer 
8 
to pharmaceutical products which do not contain the amounts as claimed; with 
9 
wrong ingredient/s; without active ingredient/s; or, with insufficient quantity of 
10 
active ingredient/s, which result in the reduction of the product's safety, 
11 
efficacy, quality, strength or purity. 
These also refer to products that are 
12 
deliberately and fraudulently mislabeled with respect to identity andfor source 
13 
or with fake packaging, and can apply to both branded and generic products, 
14 
including but not limited to the following: 
15 
a) the pharmaceutical product itself or the container or labeling thereof 
16 
or any part of such product, container, or labeling, without 
17 
authorization; the trademark, trade name or other identification 
18 
markfs or imprintfs or any likeness to that which is owned or 
19 
registered in the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) in the name of 
20 
another natural or juridical person without the proper authorization; 
21 
b) a pharmaceutical product refilled in containers bearing legitimate' 
22 
labels or marks, without authority; 
23 
c) an imported pharmaceutical product not registered with the FDA, 
24 
except for pharmaceutical productfs brought into the country for 
25 
personal use, as evidenced by supporting medical records; and 
26 
d) a pharmaceutical product which contains no amount of the active 
27 
ingredient; or contains a different active ingredient or contains less 
28 
than eighty percent (80%) of the active ingredient it purports to 
29 
possess due to reduction or loss of efficacy resulting from 
30 
expiration. 
31 
10)"Dangerous Drugs" refer to those listed in the (1) Schedules annexed to the 
32 
1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, as amended by the 1972 
33 
Protocol; (2) Schedules annexed to the 1971 
Single Convention on 
34 
Psychotropic Substances; (3) Annex of R. A. No. 9165, otherwise known as 
35 
the 
Comprehensive 
Dangerous 
Drugs Act of 2002, 
and 
its latest 
36 
amendments. 
4 


1 
11) "Dispensing" refers to the sum of processes performed by a pharmacist from 
2 
reading, validating and interpreting prescriptions, preparing, packaging, 
3 
labeling, record keeping, dose calculations, counseling, or giving information, 
4 
in relation to the sale or transfer of pharmaceutical products, with or without a 
5 
prescription or medication order. 
6 
12)"Drugs" refer to pharmaceutical products that pertain to chemical compounds 
7 
or biological substances, other than food, intended for use in the treatment, 
8 
prevention or diagnosis of disease in humans or animals, including but not 
9 
limited to: 
10 
a) any article recognized in the official United States Pharmacopoeia -
11 
National Formulary, Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United States 
12 
of America, Philippine Pharmacopoeia, Philippine National Drug 
13 
Formulary, 
British 
Pharmacopoeia, 
European 
Pharmacopoeia, 
14 
Japanese Pharmacopoeia, and any official compendium or any 
15 
supplement to them; 
16 
b) any article intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, 
17 
treatment, or prevention of disease of man or animals; 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
c) any article, other than food, intended 'to affect the structure or any 
function of the human body or animals; 
d) any article intended for use, as a component of articles, specified in 
clauses (a), (b), and (c), not including devices or their components, 
parts, accessories; and 
e) "herbal and/or traditional drugs" as defined in R. A. No. 9711 and in 
Article 1 Section 5 (16) of this Act; 
25 
13)"Expiration Date" refers to the date until which the manufacturer can 
26 
guarantee a product to possess its claimed potency, efficacy, quality, and 
27 
safety; and after which its sale or distribution is prohibited. 
28 
14)"Emergency cases" refer to life-threatening situations where a patient needs 
29 
immediate medical attention and treatment, including the occurrence of 
30 
epidemic or natural calamities. 
31 
15)"Filling" refers to the act of dispensing or the provision of medicines in 
32 
accordance with a prescription or medication order. 
33 
16)"Food/Dietary/Health Supplements" refer to processed food products intended 
34 
to supplement the diet and which contain one or more of the following dietary 
5 


1 
ingredients: vitamins, minerals, herbs, or other botanicals, amino acids, and 
2 
dietary substances to increase the total daily intake in amounts conforming to 
3 
the 
latest 
Philippine-recommended 
energy 
and 
nutrient 
intakes 
or 
4 
internationally agreed minimum daily requirements. It may be in the form of 
5 
capsules, tablets, liquids, gels, powders or pills and not represented for use 
6 
as a conventional food or as the sole item of a meal or diet or replacement of 
7 
drugs and medicines, as defined under R. A. No. 9711. 
8 
17) "Generic Name" refers to the scientifically and internationally recognized 
9 
name of the active ingredient/s, as approved by the FDA pursuant to R. A. No. 
10 
6675, otherwise known as the Generics Act of 1988. 
11 
18)"Household Remedies" refer to any preparation containing pharmaceutical 
12 
substances of common or ordinary use to relieve common physical ailments 
13 
and which may be dispensed without a medical prescription in original 
14 
packages, bottles or containers, of which the nomenclature has been duly 
15 
approved by the FDA. 
16 
19)"1nstitutional pharmacies" refer to pharmacies of Institutions, Organizations, 
17 
and/or Corporations that provide a range of pharmaceutical services, given 
18 
exclusively to the employees and/or their qualified dependents. 
19 
20) "Internship Program" refers to a supervised practical experience that is 
20 
required to be completed for licensure as a Registered Pharmacist 
21 
21 )"Labef' refers to a display of written, printed, or graphic matter on the 
22 
immediate container of any article. 
23 
22) "Labeling materials" refer to all labels and other written, printed, or graphic 
24 
matter: (1) upon any item or any of its containers or wrappers, or; (2) 
25 
accompanying any such item. 
26 
23)"Medical device" refers to any instrument, apparatus, implement, machine, 
27 
appliance, implant, in vitro reagent or calibrator, software, material or other 
28 
similar or related article intended by the manufacturer to be used by human 
29 
beings, either alone or in combination, for. one or more of the specific 
30 
purpose(s) of: diagnosis, prevention, monitoring, treatment, alleviation of, 
31 
disease; diagnosis, monitoring, treatment, alleviation of or compensation for 
32 
an injury; investigation, replacement or modification or support of the anatomy 
33 
of a physiological process; supporting or sustaining life; control of conception; 
34 
disinfection of medical devices; providing information for medical or diagnostic 
35 
purposes by means of an in vitro examination of specimen derived from the 
36 
human body. These devices do not achieve its primary intended action in or 
37 
on the human body by pharmacological, immunological or metabolic means, 
6 


1 
but which may be assisted in their intended function by such means, as 
2 
defined under R. A. No. 9711. 
3 
24)"Medicines" refer to drugs in their appropriate dosage forms, with assured 
4 
quality, safety and efficacy for humans and/or animals. 
5 
25)"Medical Representative or Professional Service Representative" refers to one 
6 
who represents any duly authorized manufacturer, distributor, trader and/or 
7 
wholesaler of pharmaceutical products and whose primary duty is to promote 
8 
their products to duly-licensed health professionals. 
9 
26)"Non-traditional outlets" refer to entities licensed by appropriate government 
10 
agency/ies to dispense over-the-counter medicines based on an approved list. 
11 
27)"Online pharmacy services" refer to pharmaceutical services of a duly 
12 
licensed pharmaceutical outlet done over the internet. 
13 
28)"Over-the-counter (OTC) medicines" refer to medicines used for symptomatic 
14 
relief of minor ailments, and which may be dispensed without a prescription. 
15 
29)"Pharmaceutical Establishments" refer to entities licensed by appropriate 
16 
government agency/ies, and which are involved in the manufacture, 
17 
importation, exportation, repacking, and/or distribution of pharmaceutical 
18 
products to pharmaceutical outlets. 
19 
30)"Pharmaceutical Manufacturers" refer to establishments engaged in any or all 
20 
operations involved in the production of pharmaceutical products including the 
21 
preparation, 
processing, 
compounding, 
formulating, 
filling, 
packaging, 
22 
repackaging, altering, ornamenting, finishing and labeling, preparatory to their 
23 
storage, sale or distribution, except the compounding and filling of 
24 
prescriptions in pharmaceutical outlets. 
25 
31 ) "Pharmaceutical Marketing" refers to any activity undertaken, organized or 
26 
sponsored by a pharmaceutical establishment and/or outlet which is directed 
27 
at promoting their product. 
28 
32)"Pharmaceutical Outlets" refer to entities licensed by appropriate government 
29 
agency/ies, and which are involved in compounding and/or dispensing and 
30 
selling of pharmaceutical products directly to patients or end-users. 
31 
33)"Pharmaceutical 
Products" 
refer 
to 
drugs, 
medicines, 
biologicals, 
32 
pharmaceutical 
and 
biopharmaceutical 
products/specialties, 
33 
food/dietary/health supplements, veterinary products, veterinary biologics and 
7 
---_ ... _._--_._._----------------------------


1 
veterinary medicinal products, cosmetics and medical devices used in aid of 
2 
administration of the above-mentioned products. 
3 
34 )"Pharmacist" refers to a health professional who has been registered and 
4 
issued a valid Certificate of Registration and Professional Identification Card 
5 
by the Professional Regulation Commission and the Professional Regulatory 
6 
Board of Pharmacy. 
7 
35)"Pharmacist-only OTC medicines" refer to over-the-counter medicines 
8 
classified by appropriate government agency/ies to be obtained only from a 
9 
licensed pharmacist, with mandatory pharmacist's advice on their selection 
10 
and proper use. 
11 
36)"Pharmacy Aides" refer to persons who assist the pharmacists in the different 
12 
aspects of pharmacy operation based on established standard operating 
13 
procedures and processes, with very minimal degree of independence or 
14 
decision making and without direct interaction with patients. 
15 
37) "Pharmacy Assistants" refer to persons who assist the pharmacists in different 
16 
aspects of pharmacy' operation based on established standard operating 
17 
procedures and processes, with a minimum degree of independence or 
18 
decision making and who may have supervised interaction with patients. 
19 
38)"Pharmacy Technicians" refer to persons who assist in compounding and 
20 
dispensing of medicines in community, hospital, institutional and industrial 
21 
settings or engaged in other activities under the supervision of the pharmacist 
22 
as described in Section 40 Article IV of this Act. 
23 
39)"Philippine Pharmacy Practice Standards" refers to the established national 
24 
framework for quality standards and guidelines of the practice of pharmacy 
25 
that responds to the needs of the people who require the pharmacists' 
26 
services to provide optimal, evidence-based care as issued by the Board, in . 
27 . 
consultation with the Accredited Integrated Professional Organization of 
28 
Pharmacists and approved by the Professional Regulatory Board of 
29 
Pharmacy. 
30 
40)"Physician's samples" refer to medicines given to health professionals for 
31 
promotional purposes only. 
32 
41 )"Prescription/Ethical medicines" refer to medicines which can only be 
33 
dispensed by a pharmacist to a patient, upon the presentation of a valid 
34 
prescription from a physician, dentist, optometrist or veterinarian and for 
35 
which a pharmacist's advice is necessary. 
8 


1 
42) "Refilling" of a prescription refers to the act of dispensing the remaining 
2 
balance of medicines ordered in the prescription. 
3 
43) "Referral" refers 
to 
the 
process wherein 
the 
pharmacists provides 
4 
consultative services and conducts preliminary assessment of symptoms and 
5 
refers the patient to a physician or other healthcare professional. 
6 
44)"Referra/ Registry" refers to the record book maintained by pharmacists listing 
7 
the patients referred to different health facilities for further diagnosis. 
8 
45) "Refresher Program" refers to a prescribed study program in an accredited 
9 
school of pharmacy 
10 
46)"Te/epharmacy services" refer to pharmaceutical services of a duly licensed 
11 
pharmaceutical outlet done through the use of telephone, teleconferencing or 
12 
facsimile. 
13 
ARTICLE II 
14 
THE PROFESSIONAL REGULATORY BOARD OF PHARMACY 
15 
Section 6. - The Board of Pharmacy and its Composition. - There is hereby 
16 
created a Professional Regulatory Board of Pharmacy, hereinafter called the Board, 
17 
under the administrative supervision of the Professional Regulation Commission, 
18 
hereinafter called the Commission, composed of a chairman and two (2) members, 
19 
who shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines from a list of three (3) 
20 
recommendees for each position ranked by the Commission from a list of five (5) 
21 
.nominees submitted for each position by the Accredited Integrated Professional· 
22 
Organization (AI PO) of Pharmacists. 
23 
Section 7. - Qualifications of Board Members. - The members of the Board shall, 
24 
at the time of nomination, possess the following qualifications: 
25 
1) A citizen of the Philippines and a resident thereof for at least five (5) years; 
26 
27 
2) A duly registered and licensed pharmacist in the Philippines preferably a 
28 
holder of a Masteral degree in Pharmacy, or its equivalent; 
29 
3) Has been in the active practice of pharmacy for the past ten (10) years; 
30 
31 
4) Has not been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude; and 
32 
33 
5) A member in good standing of the AIPO for at least five (5) years, but not an 
34 
incumbent officer or trustee thereof. 
9 
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..... 


1 
At the time of appointment, he/she must neither be a member of the faculty or an 
2 
administrative officer of any school, college or university offering degree programs in 
3 
pharmacy nor has any direct or indirect pecuniary interest or connection in any 
4 
review center or similar institution. 
5 
Section 8. - Powers, Functions and Responsibilities of the Board. - The Board 
6 
shall exercise the following powers, functions, and responsibilities: 
7 
1) Administer and implement the provisions of this Act; 
8 
9 
2) Promulgate rules and regulations, administrative orders and issuances 
10 
necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act; 
11 
3) Cause the preparation of licensure examination questions, the scoring and 
12 
rating of the examinations and the submission of the results thereof to the 
13 
Commission. The Board shall prepare, adopt, issue or amend the syllabi or 
14 
tables of specifications of the subjects in the licensure examination, in 
15 
consultation with the academe and the Commission on Higher Education 
16 
(CHEO); 
17 
4) Recommend the issuance, suspension, revocation or reinstatement of the 
18 
Certificates of Registration (COR), Professional Identification Cards (PIC) or 
19 
Special Temporary Permits (STP) for the practice of pharmacy; 
20 
5) Administer oaths in accordance with the provisions of this Act; 
21 
6) Regulate and monitor the practice of pharmacy in the Philippines, including 
22 
the practice of sub-professional services such as, but not limited to, pharmacy' 
23 . 
technicians, pharmacy assistants, aides and other medicine handlers, as 
24 
described in this Act; adopt measures that may be deemed proper for the 
25 
enhancement of the profession and/or the maintenance of high professional, 
26 
academic, ethical and technical standards; 
Pursuant to this mandate, the 
27 
Board may conduct ocular inspection of pharmaceutical establishments and 
28 
higher educational institutions, in coordination with concerned government 
29 
agencies; 
30 
7) Promulgate and prescribe the Pharmacists' Code of Ethics, Code of Technical 
31 
Standards and Guidelines for the Professional Practice of the Pharmacy 
32 
Profession, in consultation with the AIPO for Pharmacists; 
33 
8) Represent the pharmacy profession in all fora involving concerns and issues 
34 
related to pharmaceutical products and the practice of pharmacy; 
10 


1 
9) Investigate cases arising from violations of this Act, the rules and regulations 
2 
promulgated pursuant thereto, the Pharmacist's Code of Ethics, Code of 
3 
Technical Standards and Guidelines for the Professional Practice of the 
4 
Pharmacy Profession, and other Board issuances; and for this purpose, the 
5 
Board may issue summons, subpoena ad testificandum and subpoena duces 
6 
tecum to secure the attendance of witness/es and/or production of 
7 
documentis and other evidence necessary for such investigation or hearing; 
8 
10)Delegate the hearing or investigation of administrative cases filed before 
9 
them, except where the issue or question involves the practice of the 
10 
profession, in which case, the hearing shall be presided over by at least one 
11 
(1) member of the Board, to be assisted by a Legal or Hearing Officer of the 
12 
Commission; 
13 
11 )Conduct, through the Legal or Hearing Officers of the Commission, summary 
14 
proceedings on minor violations of this Act, the General Instruction to the 
15 
Examinees, including the implementing rules and regulations issued by the 
16 
Board, and to render summary judgment thereon which shall, unless 
17 
appealed to the Commission, become final and executory after fifteen (15) 
18 
days from receipt of notice of judgment or decision; 
19 
12)lssue and promulgate guidelines on Continuing Professional Development 
20 
(CPO), in consultation with the AIPO for Pharmacists; 
21 
13)Recommend the accreditation of the standardized training programs for and· 
22 
certifications 
of 
medical 
representatives 
or 
professional 
service 
23 
representatives, pharmacy technicians, pharmacy assistants, pharmacy aides 
24 
and other medicine handlers covered in Section 40 Article IV of this Act. The 
25 
Board shall promulgate the criteria and guidelines in the accreditation of 
26 
training programs and certifications as described above, in consultation with 
27 
the AIPO for Pharmacists and with other concerned government agencylies; 
28 
14)Accredit Specialty Boards of Pharmacy based on the criteria that it shall 
29 
establish and prescribe; and 
30 
15)perform and discharge such other functions and responsibilities, as may be 
31 
deemed implied, incidental and/or necessary, to preserve the integrity of the 
32 
pharmacy licensure examination and to enhance and upgrade the practice of 
33 
the pharmacy profession in the country. 
34 
Section 9. - Term of Office - The chairman and members of the Board shall hold 
35 
office for a term of three (3) years from date of appointment or until their successors 
36 
shall have been appOinted and duly qualified; Provided, that any chairman or, 
37 
member may be re-appointed for another term but in no case for more than six (6) 
38' 
years. Provided further, That the first Board under this Act shall hold these terms of 
11 
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1 
office: the Chairperson for three (3) years, the first Member for two (2) years, and the 
2 
second Member for one (1) year: Provided furthermore, That an appointee to any 
3 
vacancy with an unexpired term shall only serve such period. The Chairperson and 
4 
the Members shall take their oaths of office before discharging the functions of their 
5 
office. 
6 
Section 10. - Compensation of the Board of Pharmacy. - The members of the 
7 
Board shall receive compensation and allowances comparable to the compensation 
8 
and allowances received by the members of the other existing professional 
9 
regulatory boards under the Commission, as provided for in the General 
10 
Appropriations Act. 
11 
Section 11. - Grounds for Suspension or Removal from Office of the Chairman 
12 
or Member of the Board. -
The President of the Philippines may, upon 
13 
recommendation of the Commission and after due process, suspend or remove the 
14 
chairman or any member of the Board, on any of the following grounds: 
15 
1) Gross neglect, incompetence or dishonesty in the discharge of duty; 
16 
17 
2) Involvement in the manipulation, tampering or rigging of the licensure 
18 
examination, its questions and/or its results, and in the disclosure of 
19 
classified 
and 
confidential 
information 
pertaining to 
the 
licensure 
20 
examination; 
21 
22 . 
3) Conviction of an offense involving moral turpitude by a court of competent 
23 
jurisdiction; and 
24 
25 
4) Unprofessional, unethical, immoral or dishonorable conduct. 
26 
The Commission, in the conduct of investigation, shall be guided by Sections 7 and 
27 
15 of Republic Act No. 8981, the existing rules on administrative investigation, and, 
28 
by way of supplement, the Rules of Court. 
29 
Section 12. Custodian of its Records, Secretariat and Support Services. - All 
30 
records of the Board, pertaining to the applications for examinations, administrative 
31 
and other investigative hearings conducted by the Board, shall be under the custody 
32 
of the Commission. The Commission shall designate a Secretary which shall provide 
33 
the Board with secretariat and other support services to implement the provisions of 
34 
this Act. 
35 
ARTICLE III 
36 
EXAMINATION, REGISTRATION, AND LICENSURE 
12 


1 
Section 13. - Licensure Examination Requirement. - Unless exempted therefrom, 
2 
all applicants for registration for the practice of pharmacy shall be required to pass a 
3 
licensure examination, as provided for in this Act and Section 7 (d) of R. A. No. 8981. 
4 
Section 14. - Qualifications for the Licensure Examination. - An applicant for the 
5 
Pharmacists Licensure Examination Shall, at the time of application, possess the 
6 
following qualifications: 
7 
(a) A citizen of the Philippines or of a foreign country which has a law or policy on 
8 
reciprocity for the practice of the pharmacy profession; 
9 
10 
(b) Of good moral character and reputation; 
11 
12 
(c) A holder of a degree in an approved program/course in Bachelor of Science in 
13 
Pharmacy or its equivalent degree conferred by a Higher Education Institution 
14 
(HEI) in the Philippines or an institution of learning in a foreign country duly 
15 
authorized or recognized by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED); 
16 
and 
17 
18 
(d) Has completed an Internship Program approved by. the Board, pursuant to 
19 
such guidelines as may hereinafter be promulgated, in consultation with the 
20 
duly recognized associations of pharmacy schools and the CHED. 
21 
Section 15. - Scope of Examination. - The Pharmacists' Licensure Examination 
22 
shall cover the following subjects on Pharmacy Science and Practice: Inorganic 
23 
Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Organic Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Qualitative and 
24 
Quantitative Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Pharmacognosy and Plant Chemistry, 
25 
Pharmaceutical Biochemistry, Microbiology and Parasitology, Physical Pharmacy, 
26 
Biopharmaceutics, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Manufacturing, Quality Assurance 
27 
and Instrumentation, Pharmaceutical Calculations, Drug Delivery Systems, Hospital 
28 
Pharmacy, 
Clinical 
Pharmacy, 
Dispensing 
and 
Medication 
Counseling, 
29 
Pharmaceutical Administration and Management, Public Health, Legal Pharmacy 
30 
and Ethics. 
31 
The Board, subject to the approval of the Commission, may introduce relevant 
32 
changes on the subject areas, format and content of the examination, as well as on 
33 
the relative weight attributed to each examination subject, as the need arises, in 
34 
consultation with the duly recognized associations of pharmacy schools and the 
35 
CHED. 
36 
Section 16. - Holding of Examination. - The Pharmacists' Licensure Examination 
37 
shall be given twice (2x) a year in such places and dates, as the Commission may 
38 
deSignate in the Resolution providing for the master schedule of all licensure 
39 
examinations pursuant to Section 7 (d) of R. A. No. 8981. 
13 


1 
Section 17. -
Ratings in the Licensure Examination. - In order to be registered 
2 
and licensed as a pharmacist, a candidate must obtain a general weighted average 
3 
of seventy-five percent (75%), with no rating lower than fifty percent (50%) in any of 
4 
the subjects. 
5 
An applicant who failed in the licensure examination for the third (3rd) time shall not 
6 
be allowed to take the next succeeding examination, without having undertaken a 
7 
refresher program in a duly accredited institution. The Board shall issue guidelines 
8 
on the refresher program requirement. 
9 
Section 18. -
Report of Rating. -The Board shall submit to the Commission the 
10 
ratings obtained by each candidate within three (3) working days after the last day of 
11 
the examination, unless extended for just cause. Upon the release of the results of 
12 
the examination, the Commission shall send by mail the rating obtained by each 
13 
examinee at his/her given address using the mailing envelope submitted during the 
14 
examination. 
15 
Section 19. -
Oath of Profession. - All successful candidates in the licensure 
16 
examination shall take their oath of profession before any member of the Board, 
17 
officer of the Commission or any person authorized by law to administer oaths, prior 
18 
to entering the practice of the pharmacy profession. 
19 
Section 20. -
Issuance of Certificate of Registration and Professional 
20 
Identification Card. - A Certificate of Registration (COR) as a pharmacist shall be 
21 
issued to those who passed the licensure examination, subject to compliance with 
22 
the registration requirements and payment of the prescribed fees. The COR shall 
23 
bear the registration number, date of its issuance and the signatures of the 
24 
chairperson of the Commission and the members of the Board, stamped with the 
25 
official seals of the Commission and of the Board, certifying that the person named 
26 
therein is entitled to the practice of the profession, with all the privileges appurtenant 
27 
thereto. This COR shall remain in full force and effect until suspended or revoked in 
28 
accordance with this Act. 
29 
A Professional Identification Card (PIC) bearing the registration number and dates of 
30 
its issuance and expiry, duly signed by the chairperson of the Commission, shall 
31 
likewise be issued to every registrant, upon payment of the prescribed fees. The' 
32 
PIC shall be renewed every three (3) years, upon presentation of the Certificate of 
33 
Good Standing (COGS) from the AIPO of Pharmacists and proof of completion of the 
34 
CPO requirements. 
35 
Duplicate copy of the COR for display in Category B establishments may be issued. 
36 
Replacement of lost or damaged COR, PIC or STP may be issued in accordance 
37 
with the pertinent rules that shall be issued thereon. 
38 
Section 21. -
Foreign Reciprocity. A foreign citizen may be allowed to take the 
39 
Pharmacists' Licensure Examination, and be given a COR and PIC to practice 
14 


1 
pharmacy in the Philippines if he/she can prove that the country/state of which 
2 
he/she is a citizen/subject allows Filipino pharmacists to practice the profession 
3 
within its territorial limits on the same basis as the citizens/subjects of such foreign 
4 
country/state. 
5 
Section 22. - Practice through Special Temporary Permit (STP). - The practice 
6 
of pharmacy in the Philippines shall be limited to natural persons only and shall be 
7 
governed by the provisions of R. A. No. 8981 and other issuances pertinent thereto; 
8 
Provided, that any foreign citizen who has gained entry in the Philippines to perform 
9 
professional services within th'e scope of the practice of pharmacy, including but not 
10 
limited to: (1) being a consultant in foreign-funded or assisted projects of the 
11 
government; 
(2) being 
engaged or employed 
by a Filipino employer or 
12 
establishment; (3) providing of free services in humanitarian missions; and (4) being 
13 
a visiting faculty member in any field or specialty in pharmacy shall, before assuming 
14 
such duties, functions and responsibilities, secure a Special Temporary Permit (STP) 
15 
from the Board, and the Commission, under the following conditions: 
16 
1) He/she is an internationally renowned pharmacist or expert in a field or 
17 
specialty of pharmacy; 
18 
2) He/she is engaged in the provIsion of a professional service which is 
19 
determined to be necessary due to lack of Filipino specialist or expert; and 
'20 
3) He/she is required to work with a Filipino counterpart, a natural person who is 
21 
a registered and licensed pharmacist. 
22 
Section 23. -
Grounds for Non-registration. - The Board shall not register any 
23 
successful examinee who has been: 
24 
1) Convicted of an offense involving moral turpitude by a court of competent 
25 
jurisdiction; 
26 
2) Adjudged by the Board as guilty for misrepresentation or falsification of· 
27 
documents in connection with the application for examination or for 
28 
violation of the General Instructions to Examinees; 
29 
3) Found guilty of immoral or dishonorable conduct by the Board; and 
30 
4) Proven addiction to drug or alcohol impairing one's ability to practice the 
31 
profession or declaration of unsound mind by a court of competent 
32 
jurisdiction. In case of drug or alcohol addiction, a finding to this effect of a 
33 
medical or drug testing facility accredited by the Government shall be 
34 
sufficient. 
15 


1 
In refusing such registration, the Board shall give a written statement setting forth the 
2 
reasons therefor and shall file a copy of the same in its records. Should the ground 
3 
(4) be proven to be no longer existent, the Board shall issue a Resolution allowing 
4 
the issuance of such COR. 
5 
Section 24. - Reissuance of Revoked Certificate of Registration, Replacement 
6 
of Lost or Damaged Certificate of Registration, Professional Identification Card 
7 
or Special Temporary Permit. - The Board may, upon petition, reinstate or reissue 
8 
a revoked COR after the expiration of two (2) years from date of its revocation. The 
9 
Board may, in its discretion, require the applicant to take another licensure 
10 
examination. The petitioner shall prove to the Board that there is a valid reason for 
11 
such reinstatement. For the grant of the petition, the Board shall issue a Board 
12 
Resolution, to be approved by the Commission. 
13 
ARTICLE IV 
14 
REGULATION OF THE PRACTICE OF PHARMACY 
15 
Section 25. - Vested Rights; Automatic Registration. - All pharmacists registered 
16 
before the effectivity of this Act shall automatically be registered hereunder, subject 
17 
to compliance as to future requirements. 
18 
The CORs, PICs or STPs held by such persons in good standing shall have the 
19 
same force and effect, as though they were issued on or after the effectivity of this 
20 
Act. 
21 
Section 26. - Affixing RPh after a Registered Pharmacist's Name. - Only duly 
22 
registered and licensed pharmacists shall have the right to affix to his/her name, the 
23 
title "Registered Pharmacist" or "RPh". 
24 
Section 27. - Indication of Information. - A pharmacist shall be required to indicate 
25 
'the serial numbers, date of expiry of his/her PIC and AIPO Certificate of Membership 
26 
on all pertinent documents signed by him/her. 
27 
Section 28. -
Registry of Pharmacists. - The Board and the Commission shall 
28 
prepare and maintain a registry of the names, residences and/or office addresses, 
29 
status of registration and area of practice of all registered pharmacists, which shall 
30 
be updated annually, in coordination with the AIPO for Pharmacists. This registry 
31 
shall be made available to the public upon inquiry or request, subject to such 
32 
guidelines that shall be established therefor. 
33 
Section 29. - Display of Certificate of Registration. - It shall be the duty of every 
34 
pharmacist engaged in the practice, either on his own account or under the employ 
35 
of another, to display his original copy of COR in a prominent and conspicuous place 
36 
in the drug establishment or office in which he/she is employed in his/her 
37 
professional capacity as pharmacist. When employed in establishments under 
16 
--_._-


1 
Category B, as defined under this Act, the duplicate copy of the pharmacist's COR 
2 
shall also be displayed therein. 
3 
No pharmacist shall knowingly allow his/her COR to be displayed in an 
4 
establishment where he/she is not actually employed as a professional pharmacist. 
5 
Section 30. - Dispensing/Sale of Pharmaceutical Products. - No pharmaceutical 
6 
product, of whatever nature and kind, shall be compounded, dispensed, sold or 
7 
resold, or otherwise be made available to the consuming public, except through a 
8 
retail drug outlet duly licensed by the FDA. 
9 
Prescription drugs and Pharmacist-only OTC medicines shall be dispensed only by a 
10 
duly registered and licensed pharmacist, except in emergency cases, where the 
11 
services of a registered and licensed pharmacist are not available; Provided, That a 
12 
report shall be made to the supervising pharmacist within twenty-four (24) hours after 
13 
the occurrence of the emergency so that product recording in the prescription books 
14 
can be done. 
15 
Compounding and dispensing shall be done only by duly registered and licensed 
16 
pharmacists, in accordance with current Good Pharmacy Practice, Good Dispensing 
17 
Guidelines, Good Laboratory Practice, Good Clinical Pharmacy Practice Standards 
18 
and Philippine Pharmacy Practice Standards. A registered and licensed pharmacist 
19 
may refuse to compound, dispense or sell drugs and pharmaceutical products, if not 
20 
in accordance with this Act and the abovementioned Standards and Guidelines. 
21 
Licensed manufacturers, importers, distributors and wholesalers of pharmaceutical 
22 
products are authorized to sell their products only to duly licensed pharmaceutical 
23 
outlets. 
24 
Section 31. -
Pharmacist Requirement. 
-
Establishments/Outlets which are 
25 
required to employ and/or retain and maintain the professional services of duly 
26 
registered and licensed pharmacists shall be classified as follows: 
27 
Category A. 
Pharmaceutical Establishments/Outlets where the direct and 
28 
immediate control and supervision of a duly registered and licensed pharmacist is 
29 
required, whenever open for business, whether in-store or online, including: 
30 
I. 
Pharmaceutical establishments/outlets selling or otherwise making available 
31 
to the consuming public prescription/ethical medicines, Pharmacist-only OTC 
32 
medicine, whether owned by the government or by a private person or firm, 
33 
whether sold at wholesale or retail; 
34 
II. 
Departments/divisions/units of pharmaceutical laboratories, pharmaceutical 
35 
manufacturing laboratories or other establishments with processes involving 
36 
the preparation, manufacture, assay, regulation, product research and 
37 
development, quality control, repacking, importation, exportation, distribution, 
17 


1 
2 
sale or transfer of pharmaceutical products in quantities greatly in excess of 
single therapeutic doses; and 
3 
III. 
Government units, including local government, city and municipal health units, 
4 
non-government 
organizations 
and/or 
associations 
involved 
in 
the 
5 
procurement, distribution, dispensing and storage of pharmaceutical products. 
6 
Category B. Pharmaceutical Establishments/Outlets where the supervision and 
7 
oversight of a duly registered and licensed pharmacist is required under pertinent 
8 
prOVisions of law, including: 
9 
I. 
10 
11 
II. 
12 
13 
14 
III. 
15 
16 
17 
IV. 
18 
V. 
19 I 
20 
Retail outlets selling household remedies and over-the-counter drugs as 
differentiated from the pharmacist-only OTC medicines; 
Establishments involved 
in 
the 
manufacture, 
importation, 
exportation, 
distribution and sale of medical devices used in aid of administration of 
pharmaceutical products; 
Satellite institutional pharmacies providing medicines solely to employees of 
their respective company and/or the employee's qualified dependents; 
Institutions providing telepharmacy services; and 
Non-traditional outlets of pharmaceutical produc:ts; 
Provided, 
that no. 
prescription_ medicines and pharmacist-only medicines are sold. 
21 
The Board, with the approval of the Commission, may add to, delete, reclassify or 
22 
modify the above list of establishments, as the need arises, in order to keep pace 
23 
with developments in the pharmacy practice. 
24 
A pharmacist working in a Category A Establishment may be allowed to 
25 
simultaneously work or render pharmacy services in Category B Establishments, the 
26 
maximum number of hours of which shall be determined in accordance to such 
27 
guidelines as may be established therefor by the Board, in consultation with the 
28 
FDA, and other agencies, establishments, institutions, and regulatory bodies. 
29 
Procurement, storage, distribution and/or dispensing of any pharmaceutical product 
30 
in the national government and local government units shall be made only under the 
31 
supervision of a duly registered and licensed pharmacist. 
32 
All units of establishments, institutions and/or regulatory bodies, whether government 
33 
or private, with functions that directly involve the practice of pharmacy shall be 
34 
headed and managed by a qualified, duly registered and licensed pharmacist. 
18 


1 
Section 32. - Pharmacist Compensation. 
2 
Pharmacists in government service shall receive a starting salary equivalent to 
3 
Salary Grade (S. G. 15) under RA No. 6758, otherwise known as the 
4 
Compensation and Position Classification Act of 1989, as amended. Pharmacists in 
5 
the private sector shall receive an entry-level salary equivalent to at least thirty-five 
6 
percent (35%) above the prevailing minimum wage in the National Capital Region 
7 
(NCR). 
8 
Section 33. - Responsibility for Quality of Pharmaceutical Products. - It shall 
9 
be the duty of a duly licensed and registered pharmacist of a pharmaceutical 
10 
establishment/outlet to ensure that all pharmaceutical products conform to standards 
11 
of safety, quality and efficacy, as provided for in this Act and other pertinent rules 
12 
and regUlations and issuances. Owners, managers, and/or pharmacists in charge of 
13 
the operation of pharmaceutical outlets and establishments shall be held jointly 
14 
responsible for non-conformance with these standards. 
15 
It shall be unlawful for any person to manufacture, prepare, sell or dispense any 
16 
pharmaceutical product under a fraudulent name, or pretense or to adulterate any 
17 
pharmaceutical product offered for sale. 
18 
In cases of pharmaceutical products sold in their original package, the seal of which 
19 
has not been broken or tampered with, the liability that may arise because of their 
20 
quality and purity rests upon the manufacturer or importer, the distributor, 
21 
representative, or dealer who is responsible for their distribution or sale. 
22 
Section 34. - Filling and Partial Filling of Prescription. All prescriptions and 
23 
pharmacist-only OTC medicines shall be filled, compounded and dispensed only by 
24 
a registered and licensed pharmacist, in accordance with the Philippine Pharmacy 
25 
Practice Standards, Good Dispensing Guidelines and other standards pertaining to 
26 
purity, safety and quality. Completely filled prescriptions should be surrendered to 
27 
the pharmacist for recording. 
28 
Partial filling of prescription less than the total quantity indicated in the prescription 
29 
shall be allowed, subject to abovementioned dispensing guidelines. 
It is the 
30 
responsibility of the pharmacist dispensing the last quantity completing the 
31 
prescription to keep the prescription according to proper prescription recording 
32 
guidelines. 
33 
Prescription medicines may be dispensed only by a duly registered and licensed 
34 
pharmacist and only with a valid prescription of a physician, .dentist or veterinarian. 
35 
Section 35. - Physician's sample. - Pharmaceutical products given or intended to 
36 
be given free to any health professional by a manufacturer or distributor or its 
37 
professional service representative as part of its program or promotion shall not be 
38 
sold to any pharmaceutical outlet or the consuming public. 
19 


1 
The statement "Sample, Not for Sale", or its equivalent, shall appear conspicuously 
2 
on the primary and secondary packaging of the drug or device to be given. It shall be 
3 
unlawful to remove, erase, deface or mark the original labels of samples. 
4 
Pharmaceutical products classified as antimicrobials, including anti-TB medicines 
5 
and other classifications of medicines, as may be prescribed, shall not be given or 
6 
distributed as physician's samples. 
7 
Section 36. -
Prohibition against use of cipher, codes or unusual terms in 
8 
prescriptions and prescription substitution- Pharmacists shall not compound or 
9 
dispense prescriptions, recipes or formulas which are written in ciphers, codes or 
10 
secret keys or prescriptions of pharmaceutical products with unusual names which 
11 
differ from those in standard pharmacopeias or formularies. 
12 
The pharmacist dispensing or compounding prescriptions should not substitute the 
13 
medicine called for in the prescription with any other drug, substance or ingredient, 
14 
without prior consultation with, and written consent of the person prescribing, except 
15 
in accordance with R. A. No. 6675, (Generics Act of 1988), as amended, and other 
16 
pertinent laws and regulations. 
17 
Section 37 .• Label of Dispensed Medicines. - Upon every box, bottle or package 
18 
of medicines compounded or dispensed by a registered and licensed pharmacist 
19 
based on prescription, there shall be pasted, affixed or imprinted a seal or label 
20 
bearing, among others, the name of patient, generic name of drug; brand name, if 
21 
any, strength, expiry date, directions for use; and name and address of pharmacy, 
22' name of the doctor, the dispensing pharmacist and other requirements prescribed in 
23 
the Philippine Pharmacy Practice Standards and Dispensing Guidelines, R. A. No. 
24 
9502, otherwise known as the Universally Accessible Cheaper and Quality 
25 
Medicines Act of 2008, its implementing rules and regulations and such other 
26 
guidelines that may be promulgated by the Board. 
27 
Auxiliary labels containing special pharmacists' instructions for the patient shall be 
28 
required as prescribed for Dangerous Drugs, external-use-only drugs, drugs with 
29 
special storage and administration instructions and such other drugs as may be 
30 
required by law. 
31 
Section 38. - Recording of Patient Medication Profile. -
All prescriptions 
32 
dispensed in the pharmacy shall be recorded in an appropriate recording system 
33 
indicating therein, among other things, the name and address of the patient, name of. 
34 
prescriber, generic name and brand, dosage strength, quantity of drug and initials of 
35 
pharmacist. It shall be open for inspection by the representatives of the Board and/or 
36 
the FDA at any time of the day, when the pharmacy is open, and must be kept for a 
37 
period of not less than two (2) years after the last entry. 
20 


1 
All required information on dangerous drugs dispensed by a pharmacy shall be 
2 
recorded in the Dangerous Drugs Book or an equivalent recording system as 
3 
required by R. A. No. 9165 and other applicable laws and issuances. 
4 
All referrals, such as but not limited to tuberculosis patients, undertaken by the 
5 
pharmaceutical outlets shall be recorded in the Referral Registry and shall be open 
6 
for inspection by the Board, representative of the Department of Health and the Food 
7 
and Drug Administration (FDA) at any time of the day, when the pharmacy is open, 
8 
and must be kept for a period of not less than two (2) years after the last entry. 
9 
Section 39. -
Requirements for the Opening and Operation of Retail Drug 
10 
Outlet or Establishment. - The opening of a retail drug outlet or establishment shall 
11 
be subject to requirements provided for in this Act and the rules and regulations 
12 
prescribed by the FDA. 
13 
The application for the opening and operation of a retail drug outlet or other similar 
14 
business establishments shall not be approved, unless applied for by a Filipino 
15 
registered and licensed pharmacist, either as owner or as pharmacist-in-charge, 
16 
pursuant to the provisions of this Act. 
17 
Section 40. - Handling of Pharmaceutical Products by Persons Other than a 
18 
Pharmacist. -
For the purpose of this Section, persons handling pharmaceutical 
19 
products, other than the pharmacist, which shall include but not limited to, pharmacy 
20 
owners who are non-pharmacists, medical representatives or professional service 
21 
representatives, 
and 
pharmacy 
support 
personnel, 
particularly: 
pharmacy 
22 
"technicians, pharmacy assistants, pharmacy aides, persons who assist pharmacists 
23 
in any part of pharmacy operation or in performing functions involved in the handling 
24 
of pharmaceutical products, shall be certified by the Board after undergoing an 
25 
accredited training program pursuant to such guidelines as may hereinafter be 
26 
promulgated by the Board. 
27 
No person, except pharmacy graduates, shall be allowed to render such services 
28 
without undergoing a comprehensive standardized training program accredited by 
29 
the Board. A reasonable fee, as determined by the Board and the Commission, shall 
30 
be assessed for this program accreditation and personnel certification. 
31 
ARTICLE V 
32 
ACCREDITED INTEGRATED PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION 
33 
Section 41. -
The Accredited Integrated Professional Organization (AIPO) of 
34 
Pharmacists - All pharmacists shall be integrated under one national accredited 
35 
professional organization that is duly registered with the Securities and Exchange 
36 
Commission (SEC). The Board shall, through a Resolution, initiate the integration of 
37 
all registered and licensed pharmacists under one (1) professional organization, 
21 


1 
which shall be accredited as the only integrated national organization for all 
2 
registered pharmacists, with the approval of the Commission. 
3 
Section 42. -
Membership in 
the 
Accredited 
Integrated 
Professional 
4 
Organization (AI PO) - All registered pharmacists must be members of the AIPO for 
5 
Pharmacists and must maintain membership throughout the duration of the practice 
6 
of the profession. The professional identification card shall not be renewed if the 
7 
requirements for membership with the AIPO and the credit units for attendance to 
8 
duly accredited Continuing Professional Development are not met. 
9 
All pharmacy support personnel must be registered as affiliate members of the AIPO 
10 
for Pharmacists and must likewise maintain membership throughout the duration of 
11 
employment in pharmaceutical establishments/outlets. 
12 
Section 43. -
Specialty Boards in Various Areas of Pharmacy Practice. -
13 
Specialty Boards in various areas of pharmacy practice shall be created, subject to 
14 
accreditation by the Board and the Commission. The Board shall issue guidelines in 
15 
the accreditation of specialty boards in various areas of practice, which shall include 
16 
the standards of practice within different specialties, qualifications and requirements 
17 
for the certification of practitioners under each specialty, among others. 
18 
ARTICLE VI 
19 
VIOLATIONS, ADMINISTRATIVE SANCTIONS, AND PROCEDURES 
20 
Section 44. - Revocation or Suspension of the Certificate of Registration and 
21 
Cancellation of Temporary or Special Permit. - The Board shall have the power, 
22 
upon notice and hearing, to revoke or suspend the COR of a registered pharmacist 
23 
or to cancel an STP of a foreign pharmacist on any of the following grounds: 
24 
1) Violation of any provision of this Act, its Rules and Regulations, the 
25 
Pharmacists' Code of Ethics, Code of Technical Standards for the 
26 
Professional Practice of the Pharmacy Profession, Code of Good' 
27 . 
Governance and all other guidelines, policies and regulatory measures 
28 
of the Board and/or the Commission relating to the practice of the 
29 
pharmacy profeSSion; 
30 
2) Conviction of an offense involving moral turpitude by a court of 
31 
competent jurisdiction; 
32 
33 
34 
35 
3) Unprofessionalism, 
immorality, 
malpractice, 
incompetence, 
gross 
negligence, or imprudence in the practice of the profession; 
4) Fraud or deceit in the acquisition of the COR, PIC or STP or renewal 
thereof; 
22 
---_ 
.. _------------_._------


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
5) Allowing the certificate of registration to be used or displayed in 
establishments where the pharmacist is not actually employed and 
practicing; 
6) Addiction to alcoholic beverages or to any habit-forming drug or 
insanity or any mental disorder that would render the person 
incompetent to practice his/her profession as provided for in Section 
23; 
7) Aiding or abetting the illegal practice of a non-registered and licensed 
person; 
8) False, extravagant or unethical advertisements and endorsement of 
pharmaceutical products, pharmaceutical outlets and establishments 
where the pharmacist's name and/or the professional organization 
he/she represents, and similar information, are used; 
9) Manufacture, 
sale, 
offering 
for 
sale 
of counterfeit, 
spurious, 
substandard, falsified pharmaceutical products and committing other 
acts in violation of R. A. No. 9165 and R. A. No. 8203, otherwise known 
as the Special Law on Counterfeit Drugs; 
10)llIegal manufacturing, sale, possessiqn, dispensing of dangerous drugs 
and other acts in violation of Republic Act No. 9165, and other 
applicable laws and issuances; 
11 )Committing acts in violation of Section 6 of Presidential Decree No 
881, entitled, "Empowering the Secretary of Health to Regulate the 
Labeling, Sale and Distribution of Hazardous Substances"; 
12)practicing pharmacy with a suspended, cancelled or revoked COR or 
expired PIC; 
13)Unauthorized 
dispensing 
of 
pharmaceutical 
products 
through 
unregistered online services or direct selling businesses; and 
28 
14)Being found guilty of immoral, unprofessional or dishonorable conduct 
29 
by the Board. 
30 
Section 45. -
Grounds for Non-renewal of License. -
The following are the 
31 
grounds for the non-renewal of professional certificate of registration: 
32 
1) Refusal to join or to remain a member of good standing of the AIPO for 
33 
Pharmacists; 
23 


1 
2) Nonpayment of annual registration fees for three (3) consecutive years; 
2 
and 
3 
3) Noncompliance 
with 
the 
continuing 
professional 
development 
4 
requirement for the renewal of one's professional identification card. 
5 
The Professional Regulatory Board of Pharmacy in consultation with the AIPO for 
6 
Pharmacists shall periodically evaluate the aforementioned grounds and may revise 
7 
the same as the need arises, subject to the approval of the Commission and 
8 
publication and/or due notice to its members. 
9 
ARTICLE VII 
10 
PENAL PROVISIONS 
11 
Section 46. - Penal Provisions. - Any person who shall commit any of the foregoing 
12 
acts, shall upon conviction, be sentenced to a fine of not less than Two Hundred Fifty 
13 
Thousand (Php250,000.00) Pesos, but not exceeding Five Hundred Thousand 
14 
(Php500,000.00) Pesos and/or to imprisonment of not less than one (1) year and 
15 
one day but not more than six (6) years, or both, at the discretion of the court: 
16 
1) Commission of any act in violation of Section 19 and 30 of this Act; 
17 
2) Allowing the display of the Certificate of Registration in a pharmaceutical 
18 
establishment where the pharmacist is not employed and practicing; 
19 
3) Displaying of the pharmacist's Certificate of Registration by pharmacy 
20 
owners/operators in a pharmaceutical establishment where the pharmacist is 
21 . 
not employed and practicing; 
22 
4) Dispensing or allowing the dispensing or offering for sale of prescription drugs 
23 
or pharmaceutical products in a place not licensed by FDA as a 
24 
pharmaceutical outlet; 
25 
5) Dispensing of prescription and pharmacist-only OTC pharmaceutical products 
26 
by a person other than those under the direct and immediate supervision of a 
27 
duly registered and licensed pharmacist; 
28 
6) Allowing the dispensing of prescription and pharmacist-only over-the-counter 
29 
pharmaceutical products, without the direct and immediate supervision of a 
30 
duly registered and licensed pharmacist; 
31 
7) Compounding and dispensing not in accordance with current Good 
32 
Manufacturing Practice, Good Laboratory Practice and Philippine Pharmacy 
24 
~--.~---


1 
2 
Practice Standards, and such other standards and guidelines issued by the 
Board; 
3 
8) Selling of prescription and Pharmacist-only OTC drugs by manufacturers, 
4 
importers, and wholesalers to unlicensed pharmaceutical outlets and other 
5 
establishments; 
6 
9) Substitution of prescription drugs which are not generically equivalent to what 
7 
was on the prescription, without the consent of the prescriber or not in 
8 
accordance with R. A. No. 6675; 
9 
10)Forcing, coercing or intimidating a duly registered and licensed pharmacist to 
10 
compound or dispense medical and pharmaceutical products in violation of 
11 
the provisions of this Act; 
12 
11 )Preparation and compounding of pharmaceutical products in quantities greatly 
13 
in excess of singi'e therapeutic doses, without the presence and supervision of 
14 
a duly registered and licensed pharmacist; 
15 
12)Non-compliance with the labeling requirements for dispensed medicines by a 
16 
pharmaceutical outlet; 
17 
13)Manufacturing and selling of pharmaceutical products under a fraudulent 
18 
name and address; 
19 
14) Adulteration and misbranding of pharmaceutical products; 
20 
15)Manufacturing 
and 
selling 
of 
unsafe, 
substandard 
and 
counterfeit 
21 
pharmaceutical products; 
22 
16)Operating an unlicensed pharmaceutical outlet such as, but not limited to, 
23 
online pharmacy service or direct selling not authorized by the FDA; 
24 
17)Operating a Category A establishment which opens for business without a 
25 
duly registered and licensed pharmacist; 
26 
18)Operating a Category B establishment, without the supervision and oversight 
27 
of a duly registered and licensed pharmacist; 
28 
19)Practicing pharmacy with an expired, suspended or revoked license; 
29 
20)Filling and refilling of prescription and pharmacist-only over-the-counter 
30 
pharmaceutical products by person other than a duly registered and licensed' 
31 
pharmacist without his direct and immediate supervision; 
25 
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1 
21)Rural Health Units dispensing prescription drugs and pharmacists-only aTe 
2 
drugs without the supervision of a duly registered and licensed pharmacists; 
:3 
and 
4 
22)AII other acts/omissions analogous to the foregoing. 
5 
Section 47. - Other Penalties. - Any person who shall commit any of the following 
6 
acts shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to a fine of not less than One Hundred 
7 
Thousand (Php100,000.00) Pesos, but not exceeding Two Hundred Thousand 
8 
(Php200,000.00) Pesos or to imprisonment of not less than thirty (30) days but not 
9 
more than one (1) year, or both, at the discretion of the court: 
10 
1) Affixing of the title "Pharmacist" or "RPh" to one's name by a person who is 
11 
not a duly registered and licensed pharmacist; 
12 
2) Practicing the pharmacy profession in the Philippines without a valid COR, 
13 
PIC or STP; 
14 
3) Non-indication by a pharmacist of his/her certificate of registration and 
15 
professional tax receipt numbers in official documents requiring such 
16 
information; 
17 
4) Refusal to display the certificate of registration of the pharmacist in a 
18 
prominent and conspicuous place in the establishmenUoutlet where he/she is 
19 
employed and practicing; 
20 
5) Refusal by an establishment to comply with compensation requirement as 
21 
provided in Section 32 of this Act; 
22 
6) Non-compliance by a duly registered and licensed pharmacist with the 
23 
requirements on the filling of prescription; 
24 
7) Non-compliance by a duly registered and licensed pharmacist on the 
25 
requirements for partially-filled prescription; 
26 
8) Selling of physician's samples; 
27 
9) Distribution of 
antimicrobials, including anti-TB drugs and other product 
28 
classification as may be prohibited by law as physician's samples; 
29 
10)Removal, erasure and alteration of mark or label of physician's sample; 
30 
11) Use of cipher, codes or secret keys or unusual names or terms in 
31 
prescriptions; 
26 


1 
12) Filling of Prescriptions where cipher, codes, secret keys or unusual names 
2 
and terms are used; 
3 
13)Non-compliance with labeling requirements for dispensed medicines; 
4 
14)Non-compliance with the requirements on the keeping of Record Books by a 
5 
pharmaceutical outlet; 
6 
15)Employment of personnel in a pharmacy or pharmaceutical operation without 
7 
the required training and certification; 
8 
16) Refusal of a non-pharmacist owner/operator of a pharmaceutical outlet to 
9 
undergo training and certification; 
10 
17)Refusal by the owner/operator to allow and require duly registered and 
11 
licensed pharmacists and pharmacy support personnel to undergo 
12 
continuing professional development, training and certification; 
13 
14 
15 
18) Rendering 
dispensing-related 
pharmaceutical outlet without 
certification; 
services 
by 
non-pharmacists 
in 
a 
undergoing the required training and 
16 
19)Dispensing pharmaceutical products in medical missions and relief operations 
17 
without the supervision of a duly registered and licensed pharmacist; 
18 
20) Non-compliance with the required training and certification of professional 
19 
service or medical representatives or professional service representatives, 
20 
pharmacy technicians, pharmacy assistants, pharmacy aides, pharmacy 
21 
clerks, and other medicine handlers of pharmaceutical products. Both the 
22 
medical representatives or professional service representatives, pharmacy 
23 
techniCians, pharmacy assistants, pharmacy aides, pharmacy clerks, or 
24 
medicine handlers and the pharmaceutical establishmenUoutlet employing 
25 
any such individual shall be held jOintly liable. 
26 
Any person, other than the citizens of the Philippines, having been found guilty of 
27 
any violation as provided for in this and the preceding Section shall, after having paid 
28 
the fine or having served the sentence imposed, or both, when so adjudged, shall 
29 
also be subject to immediate deportation. 
30 
The penalties and liabilities herein provided shall be without prejudice to other 
31 
sanction/s that may be imposed for violation of other applicable laws, policies, rules 
32 
and regulations. 
27 


1 
The owner/operator of the pharmaceutical establishments/outlets and the duly 
2 
registered and licensed pharmacists and/or pharmacy support personnel are jointly 
3 
liable for willful violation of any provisions of this Act. 
4 
ARTICLE VIII 
5 
FINAL PROVISIONS 
6 
Section 48. - Enforcement. - It shall be the primary duty of the Board and the 
7 
Commission to effectively enforce the provisions of this Act. All duly constituted law 
8 
enforcement agencies and officers of the national, provincial, city or municipal 
9 
governrnent or of any political subdivision thereof shall ensure the effective 
10 
enforcement and implementation of the provisions of this Act. 
11 
Section 49. - Appropriations. -
The Chairperson of the Commission shall 
12 
immediately include in its programs the implementation of this Act, the funding of 
13 
which shall be 'charged against their current year's appropriations and, thereafter, in 
14' the annual General Appropriations Act (GM). 
15 
Section 50. - Transitory Provisions- The incumbent chairman and members of the 
16 
Board shall, in an interim capacity, continue to function as such until the chairman 
17 
and members of the new Board created under this Act shall have been constituted 
18 
and/or organized pursuant thereto. 
19 
Section 51. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within one hundred and 
20 
twenty (120) days after the approval of this Act, the Board and the Commission, 
21. 
subject to the approval by the Commission, and in conSUltation with the AIPO for 
22 
Pharmacists, shall formulate and issue the rules and regulations to implement the 
23 
provisions of this Act. 
24 
Section 52. - Separability Clause. - If any clause, provIsion, paragraph or part 
25 
hereof shall be declared not constitutional or invalid, such declaration shall not affect, 
26 
invalidate, or impair the other provisions hereof, which are otherwise valid and 
27 
effective. 
28 
Section 53. - Repealing clause. - Republic Act No. 5921, as amended, and all 
29 
other laws, presidential decrees, executive orders and other administrative 
30 
issuances or parts thereof which are contrary to and/or inconsistent with the 
31 
provisions of this Act are hereby modified, amended or repealed accordingly. 
32 
33 
Sec. 54. - Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following its 
34 
full and complete publication in the Official Gazette or in any major daily newspaper 
35 
of general circulation in the Philippines. 
36 
Approved. 
28 
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