o( fl!f !«• r-'Ptnr'
NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
)
S. No.
SENATE
2678
24 MAY 15 P3-.15
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid
AN ACT
AMENDING CERTAIN SECTIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 2382,
AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "MEDICAL ACT OF 1959", AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Republic Act No. 2382 or "The Medical Act of 1959" as amended by Republic 
Act Nos. 4224 and 5946 has served as the legal basis and foundation of the medical 
profession in the country for the longest time. However, the 21st century has changed 
drastically the content, context and delivery of medical education and the practice of 
the medical profession in view of the changing demands of the healthcare system, the 
development of cutting-edge technologies, the entry of WTO-GATS and other relevant 
international agreements as well as the internationalization of education and practice 
of the profession. Thus, the need to bring the Medical Act of 1959 into the 21st century 
through the necessary and appropriate amendments that would quickly make medical 
education and practice respond to the current circumstances and fast-paced changes 
in the new world order brought about by globalization.
Proposals to amend certain sections in the present law include Sections 6,7, 8, 
9 and 12. Additional provisions has been included to address the apparent gaps 
brought about by international trends and developments and the impacts of 
globalization in the movement or mobility of medical students and professionals.


Firstly, with the proposed amendment of Sections 6, the Philippine medical 
curriculum or the Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree is brought at par with international 
trends and developments where most countries have adopted an integrated, 
compressed, and enhanced medical curriculum straight from K-12. There are only four 
countries in the world today that is still requiring a full bachelor's degree as a pre­
requisite to the Doctor of Medicine degree and one of them is the Philippines. Under 
the old setup, the completion of the regular MD degree will take around nine years 
including the compulsory one-year Internship. With the proposed amendments, the 
duration will be at least six years including the one-year internship.
Second, the proposed amendments in Sections 7 shall enhance the admission 
requirements to the new MD curriculum/degree without prejudice to the establishment 
of a national eligibility examinations for medicine for admission to the MD degree for 
both Filipinos and foreign students.
Thirdly, the proposed amendments in Sections 9 shall do away with the 
requirement of reciprocity which is no longer the prevailing trend in international 
relations but instead resort to the guiding principles and pillars of the WTO-GATS, 
other relevant international agreements, and mutual recognition arrangements being 
practiced globally.
This amendment will greatly enhance the country's positioning as a hub in 
medical education and training in the Asia-Pacific considering the presence of 
thousands of foreign medical students in various Philippine medical schools of various 
nationalities which numbers to at least 20,000 medical students in Philippine medical 
schools nationwide.
To meet the challenges of improving the quality of health care of our citizenry 
through quality medical education and relevant medical practice as well as address 
the imperatives of globalization of medical education and the practice of profession, 
there is a clear need to pass this measure.


In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
MANUEL "LITO" M. LAPID
Senator
Jr


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
)
S. No.
SENATE
2678
24 MAY 15 P3 '15
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid
AN ACT
AMENDING CERTAIN SECTIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 2382,
AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "MEDICAL ACT OF 1959", AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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SECTION 1. Sections 6 ,7, 8 and 9 of Republic Act No. 2382 otherwise known as
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the "Medical Act of 1959" are hereby amended by replacement to read as follows:
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SEC. 6. The Doctor of Medicine Degree. - The Doctor of
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Medicine degree shall be undertaken for a duration of six (6)
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years, inclusive of a one (1) year or 12 months Internship (post-
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graduate internship), provided, however, that the CHED-
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recognized medical schools are allowed reasonable leeway to
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adopt a curriculum that is consistent with its academic freedom,
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vision-mission and following sound teaching methodologies and
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delivery systems for both Filipinos and international students.
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• The CHED, in consultation with the Board of Medicine and
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the Technical Panel for Medical Education, shall develop, design
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and implement the policies and standards for the new medical
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degree and an appropriate curriculum that shall incorporate new
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technologies and methodologies in delivering a high-quality and
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enhanced medical education and training consistent with local
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needs and international practices, provided, however, that said


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curriculum shall be composed of core curricular and clinical 
subjects, the completion of which leads to the conferment of the 
degree of Doctor of Medicine and grants the holder the eligibility 
to take the Physician Licensure Examination.
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XXX
SEC. 7. Admission Requirements. - The medical college may 
admit any student to the Doctor of Medicine program, both 
Filipinos and international students, subject to reasonable 
admission requirements which shall include the submission of (a) 
a certificate showing completion of the Senior High School or K- 
12 program; (b) a certificate of eligibility for admission to the 
medical degree program; (c) a certificate of good moral 
character; and in the case of international students, the 
requirement of Certificate of Eligibility and/or Acceptance, Visa 
and other similar documents; (d) favorable results of the NMAT 
or its equivalent in the case of international students; and other 
reasonable requirements as may be determined by the CHED and 
the medical schools in the exercise of academic freedom.
The CHED, in coordination with the Board of Medical 
Education, may implement a screening examination or system 
of assessment to determine the eligibility of prospective medical 
students for admission to the Doctor of Medicine program 
provided, however, that the present NMAT may be considered as 
an equivalent, and provided further that, in the case of 
international students who have passed similar examinations or 
assessments determinative of the eligibility and fitness to enter 
the medical course in other jurisdictions, the same be may be 
considered as equivalent.
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XXX


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SEC. 8. Prerequisite to the Practice of Medicine. - No person 
shall engage in the practice of medicine in the Philippines unless 
the person:
a) 
Holds a valid certificate of registration and a valid 
professional identification card issued by the PRC; and
b) 
Holds a valid permanent/special/temporary/provisional 
permit issued by the Board of Medicine, or unless exempted by 
this Act or other related laws from holding any of the foregoing 
certificates of registration.
• XXX
SEC. 9. Examination Required and Qualifications of 
Applicants for the Physicians' Licensure Examination. - All 
applicants for registration prior to the issuance of certificate of 
registration and a professional identification card as a physician, 
shall be required to pass the licensure examination for physicians 
as provided for in this Act, and shall be subject to the payment 
of the fees prescribed by the PRC.
All applicants for the physicians' licensure examination 
must possess all qualifications and none of the disqualifications 
hereunder set forth as follows:
a) 
A citizen of the Philippines or of a foreign country or 
State who is a holder of the degree of Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) 
or its equivalent conferred by a duly CHED-recognized College of 
Medicine in the Philippines;
b) 
A citizen of the Philippines or of a foreign country or 
State who acquired a Doctor of Medicine degree or equivalent at


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a foreign medical institution the degree/diploma of which is
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recognized in the Philippines;
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c) Is mentally, emotionally, and physically sound with a
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certificate of good moral character signed by the proper
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authorities of the school where the applicant is a graduate;
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d) Has not been convicted by final judgment by a court of
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any criminal offense; and
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e) Has completed a one (l)-year post-graduate medical
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internship.
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The list of foreign countries, whose diplomas of higher
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medical institutions are recognized in the Philippines, shall be
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determined by the Commission on Higher Education in
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consultation with the Board of Medical Education and other
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concerned agencies."
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SEC. 2. Special, Temporary, Provisional, Or Conditional Permit or Registration
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to Practice Medicine in the Philippines. - A foreign citizen who is enrolled in his country
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as a medical practitioner in accordance with the laws regulating the registration of
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medical practitioners in that country may be permitted SPECIAL, TEMPORARY,
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PROVISIONAL, OR CONDITIONAL PERMIT OR REGISTRATION in the Philippines, as
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the case may be, for such period and in such manner as may be specified by the
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regulations of the PRC and Board of Medicine.
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SEC. 4. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of
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this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act in the respective
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agencies concerned.
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SEC. 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days after
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the approval of this Act, the CHED, PRC, and the Board of Medical Education in
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consultation with appropriate government agencies and other stakeholders, shall


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promulgate the necessary implementing rules and regulations for the effective
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implementation of this Act.
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SEC. 6. Separability Clause. If any provision of this Act shall be declared
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unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions not otherwise affected shall remain in
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full force and effect.
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SEC. 7. Repealing Clause. - All other laws, decrees, executive orders and
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issuances, proclamations, rules and regulations, and other issuances or parts thereof
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that are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or amended,
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accordingly.
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SEC. 8. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
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publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,