SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
S. B.No. 698 
Introduced by Senator FRANCIS G. ESCUDERO 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
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" J JUL 10 /\ 9 :1 4 
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 practice 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 G. ESCUDERO 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE; 
S. B. No. 698 
Introduced by Senator FRANCIS G. ESCUDERO 
AN ACT 
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'13 
JUL lOA 9 :14 
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: 
1 
ARTICLE I 
2 
GENERAL PROVISIONS 
3 
Section 1. - Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Philippine Pharmacy Act". 
4 
Sec. 2. - Statement of Policy. The state recognizes the vital role of pharmacists in 
5 
quality healthcare delivery through their services in providing safe, effective, and 
6 
quality drugs or medicines; drug information, patient medication counseling, and 
7 
health promotion. The pharmacists' professional service shall, therefore, be promoted 
8 
as a component of the total healthcare system, which shall ensure the physical well-
9 
being of the Filipinos. 
10 
Hence, the state shall develop and nurture competent, productive, morally upright, and 
11 
well-rounded pharmacists ~hose standards of professional practice and service shall be 
12 
excellent, qualitative, world-class and· internationally recognized, globally competitive 
13 
through regulatory measures, programs, and activities that foster their continuing· 
14 
professional development. 
15 
Sec. 3. - Objectives. - This Act provides for, and shall govern: 
16 
(a) the standardization and regulation of pharmacy education, 
17 
(b) the examination for registration of graduates of schools and colleges of 
18 
pharmacy, 
19 
(c) the supervision,· control, and regulation of the practice of pharmacy in the 
20 
Philippines 
21 
(d) the enhancement of professional competence through continuing professional 
22 
development, research, and other related activities and 
23 
(e) the integration of the pharmacy profession. 
24 
Sec. 4. - Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the term: 
1 


I 
(a) Biologic Products are microorganisms, sera, toxins and similar products used for 
2 
the prevention or cure of human diseases. 
3 
(b) Brand Name means the proprietary or trade name given by the manufacturer to 
4 
distinguish its product from those of the competitors. 
5 
(c) Cipher means a method of secret writing that substitutes other letters or 
6 
characters for the letter intended or transpose the letter after arranging them in 
7 
blocks or squares. 
8 
(d) Code means a system of words or other symbols arbitrarily used to represent 
9 
words. 
10 
(e) Compounding is the preparation, mixing, assembling, packaging, or labeling of a 
11 
drug (i) as the result of a prescription or drug order by a physician, dentist, 
12 
optometrist, or veterinarian, based on the said practitioner-patient-pharmacist 
13 
relationship in the course of professional practice, or (ii) for the purpose of, or in 
14 
relation to, research, teaching, or chemical analysis and not for sale or 
15 
dispensing. 
16 
(f) Cosmetics are (i) products intended to be applied, poured, sprinkled, or sprayed 
17 
on, introduced into, or otherwise applied to the human body, or any part thereof 
18 
for cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness or improving the 
19 
appearance, or (ii) ingredients or other substances intended for use as a 
20 
component of any such product. 
21 
(g) Counterfeit drug/medicine/pharmaceutical refers to medicinal products with the 
22 
correct ingredients but not in the amounts as provided, wrong ingredient, 
23 
without active ingredient! s, with insufficient quantity of active ingredient, 
24 
which result in the reduction of the drug's safety, efficacy, quality, strength or 
25 
purity. It is a drug that is deliberately and fraudulently mislabeled with respect 
26 
to identity and/ or source or with fake packaging, and can apply to both branded 
27 
and generic product~. It shall also refer to: 
28 
29 
30 
31 
32 
33 
34 
35 
36 
37 
38 
39 
40 
41 
42 
(i) 
(ii) 
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 
TechnologyTransfer (BPTTT) in the name of another natural or juridical 
person; 
a drug product refilled in containers by unauthorized persons if the 
legitimate hibels 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 
(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 tb expiration. 
2 


1 
(h) Dangerous drugs include those listed in the Schedules annexed to the 1961 Single 
2 
Convention on Narcotic Drugs as amended by the 197 Protocol, and in the 
3 
Schedules annexed to the 1971 Single Convention on Psychotropic Substances as 
4 
enumerated in the attached annex in Republic Act No. 9165, which is an integral 
5 
part of the Act. 
6 
(i) Devices refers to any instrument, apparatus, implement, machine, implant, in 
7 
vitro reagent or calibrator, software, material or other similar or related article: 
8 
(a) intended by the manufacturer to be used, along or in combination, for 
9 
human beings for one or more ofthe specific purpose(s) of: 
10 
(i) diagnosis, prevention, monitoring, treatment, alleviation of diseases 
11 
of diseases, 
12 
(ii) diagnosis, monitoring, treatment, alleviation of or compensation for an 
13 
injury 
14 
(iii) investigation, replacement or modification or support of the anatomy of a 
15 
phYSiological process, 
16 
(iv) supporting or sustaining life, 
17 
(v) control of conception, 
18 
(vi) disinfection of medical devices, 
19 
(vii) providing inf<;>rmation for medical or diagnostic purposes by means of an in 
20 
vitro examination of specimen derived from the human body; and 
I 
21 
(b) which does not achieve its primary intended action in or on the human body 
22 
by pharmacological, immunological or metabolic means, but which may be 
23 
assisted in their intended function by such means. 
24 
G) Dispensing is a: process whereby a pharmacist receives and checks a valid 
25 
prescriber's medication order or prescription, and makes available drugs and 
26 
medicines, with advice on their proper use and other relevant information. 
27 
(k) Drugs and Medicines refer to chemical compounds or biological substances, other 
28 
than food, intended for use in the treatment, prevention or diagnosis of disease 
29 
in humans or animals, including but not limited to: 
30 
31 
32 
33 
34 
35 
(i) 
any article, recognized in the official United States Pharmacopoeia,-
National Formulary, official Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United 
States, Philippine Pharmacopoeia, Philippine National Drug Formulary, 
British 
Pharmacopoeia, 
European 
Pharmacopoeia, 
Japanese 
Pharmacopoeia, and any official compendium or any supplement to 
them; 
36 
37 
38 
39 
(ii) 
any article intended for use in diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or 
prevention of disease of man.and animall'; 
(iii) 
any article other than food intended to affect the structure or any function 
of the human body or animals; 
3 


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
(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). 
12 
(1) Drug or Pharmaceutical Laboratory or Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Laboratory 
13 
means an establishment where pharmaceutical products, proprietary medicines, 
14 
or pharmaceutical 'specialties are forrilUlated, prepared, compounded, and 
15 
standardized. 
16 
(m)Drug Establishments means FDA-registered companies involved in the 
17 
manufacture, importation, repacking, and/ or distribution of drugs or medicines. 
18 
(n) Drug Outlets refer to drugstores, pharmacies, and other business establishments 
19 
which are registered with the FDA and which legally sell drugs and medicines. 
20 
(0) Drugstore or Pharmacy means a place or establishment licensed by FDA where 
21 
drugs, chemicals, pharmaceutical products, specialties, and devices are legally 
22 
sold at retail or wholesale and where medical, dental, and veterinary 
23 
prescriptions are compounded and dispensed. 
24 
(p) Expiration Date means the date after which the product is not expected to possess 
25 
its claimed potency, efficacy, quality, and safety; and after which it is not legal to 
26 
sell or distribute or use the said product. 
27 
(q) Filling of a prescription refers to the act of dispensing or giving out of medicines 
28 
in accordance with the doctor's order. 
29 
(r) Household Remedies shall refer to any preparation containing pharmaceutical 
30 
substances of common or ordinary use to relieve common physical ailments 
31 
which may be dispensed without a medical prescription in original packages, 
32 
bottles or containers, the nomenclature of which has been duly approved by 
33 
FDA in the process of registration as defined in FDA AO No.115 s. 1991) 
34 
(s) Generic Name means. the scientifically and internationally recognized name of the 
35 
active ingredient/ s as approved by the Food and Drug Administration. 
36 
(t) Label means a display of written, printed or graphic information upon the 
37 
immediate container, or attached to or accompanying any pharmaceutic~l 
38 
products. 
39 
(u) Labeling means all labels and other written, printed, or graphic matter (1) upon 
40 
any item or any of its containers or wrappers or (2) accompanying any such item. 
41 
(v) Over-the- counter drugs are drugs used for symptomatic relief of minor ailments 
42 
which may be dispensed without a prescription. 
4 


I 
(w) Pharmaceutical products or Pharmaceutical specialties are drugs, preparations, or 
2 
mixture of drugs uhder a brand or generic name and intended for the cure, 
3 
mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease in man or animals. 
4 
(x) Pharmacist-only over-the-counter drugs are FDA-classified over-the-counter drugs 
5 
and! or substances which should only be obtained from the drugstore or 
6 
pharmacy with .mandatory pharmacist's advice on their selection and proper 
7 
use. 
8 
(y) Person includes an individual, partnership, corporation, or any juridical entity. 
9 
(z) Pharmaceutical marketing means any activity undertaken, organized or sponsored 
10 
by a drug establishment which is directed at promoting the prescription, 
11 
recommendation, supply, administration or consumption of its pharmaceutical 
12 
product(s) through· direct personal contact and all media, including the internet. 
13 
(aa) Pharmacy Assistants are those persons who assist pharmacists in dispensing 
14 
medicines in community, hospital, industrial settings and in other activities, 
15 
such as, but not limited to medical missions, under the supervision of the 
16 
pharmacist and as described in Sections 17 and 42 of this Act. 
17 
(bb) Physician's samples refer to medicines given to a physician for free for 
18 
promotional purposes. 
19 
(cc)Prescription drugs are those drugs which can only be dispensed by a pharmaci!>t 
20 
to a patient upon the presentation of a valid prescription from a physician, . 
21 
dentist, optometrist or veterinarian and for which pharmacist's advice on their 
22 
proper use is necessary. 
23 
(dd) Refilling of a pres<;ription refers to the act of dispensing or giving out the 
24 
remaining balance of medicines ordered in the prescription when the whole 
25 
quantity ordered is not yet completely filled. 
26 
(ee)Secret Keys means a characteristic style or symbols kept from the knowledge of 
27 
others or disclosed confidentially to a few individuals. 
28 
Sec. 5. - Enforcement. -
The Professional Regulatory Board of Pharmacy and the 
29 
Professional Regulation Commission are the body responsible for the implementation 
30 
of the proviSions of this Act. 
31 
ARTICLE II 
32 
THE PROFESSIONAL REGULATORY BOARD OF PHARMACY 
33 
Sec. 6. - The Board of Pharmacy and its Composition. - There is hereby created a 
34 
Professional Regulatory Board of Pharmacy, hereinafter called the Board, under the 
35 
administration, control, and supervision of the Professional Regulation Commission 
36 
therein after called the Commission, composed of a Chairman and four (4) members, 
37 
each of which represent the areas of practice of community, hospital, manufacturing, 
38 
academe, and government service, who shall be appointed by the President of the 
. 39 
Philippines from the recommendees ranked by the Commission from the list of 
40 
nominees submitted by· the Accredited Integrated National Organization for 
41 
Pharmacists. 
5 


1 
Sec. 7. - Qualifications of Board Members. - To be appointed as member of the Board 
2 
of Pharmacy, a person shall be: 
3 
(a) A citizen of the Philippines and a resident for at least five (5) years; 
4 
(b) A duly registered pharmacist, preferably a holder of a Master of Science in 
5 
Pharmacy, or its equivalent degree and has been in the practice of pharmacy for 
6 
at least ten years; 
7 
(c) Of good moral charader with a valid certificate of registration, valid professional 
8 
identification card and preferably with teaching experience; and preferably 
9 
representing each field of practice; 
10 
(d) At the time of appointment, not a member of the faculty or administrative office 
11 
of any school, college or university offering degree programs in pharmacy nor 
12 
connected in a review school or center; nor has any direct or indirect pecuniary 
13 
interests in any school, college, or any institution offering pharmacy; and 
14 
(e) A member of good standing for at least five (5) years of the accredited integrated 
15 
national pharmacy' association but, at the time of nomination, not an officer or 
16 
trustee thereof. 
17 
Sec. 8. - Term of Office' of Board Members. - The chairman and the members of the 
18 
Board shall hold office for three (3) years after appointment or until their successors 
19 
shall have been appOinted and duly qualified; Provided, the incumbent Board members 
20 
shall finish their terms to complete the membership of the Board. Provided, further, that 
21 
the chairman or any member may be re-appointed for another term but in no case shall 
22 
hel she serve for more than six years. 
23 
Sec. 9. - Compensation of the Board of Pharmacy. - As prOVided for in RA. No. 8981, 
24 
known as the "PRC Mo'derruzation Act of 2000", the members of the Board shall receive 
25 
allowances and benefits equivalent to at least two salary grades lower than the salary 
26 
grade of the Comrnissi(mer, while the chairman of the Board shall receive a monthly 
27 
compensation equivalent to two steps higher than the members of the Board. The 
28 
chairman and .members shall be entitled to other allowances and benefits provided 
29 
under existing laws. 
30 
Sec. 10. - Powers, Functions and Duties of the Board. - The Board shall exercise these 
31 
specific powers, functions, and duties: 
32 
(a) Conduct licensureexarnination for pharmacists; 
33 
(b) Approve the registration of pharmacists and the certification of drug handlers as 
34 
covered by Sec. 42 of this Act; 
35 
(c) Prepare, adopt, ahd issue the Table of Specifications for the subjects in the board 
36 
licensure examination for pharmacists in consultation with the academe; 
;'7 
determine and prepare the questions therefor; score and rate the examination 
38 
papers with the naiJ;1.e and signature of the Board member concerned appearing 
39 
thereon and submit the results in all subjects duly signed by the members of the 
40 
Board to the COpurlission no later than three (3) days from the last day of 
41 
examination unless 'extended by the Commission for justifiable cause/ s; 
42 
(d) Review and/ or amend the scope of licensure examination; 
6 


1 
(e) Add, delete, modify the scope, definition and standards of practice of pharmacy; 
2 
(f) Reprimand any pharmacist, suspend, or revoke his/her certificate of registration 
3 
on the grounds as provided for in Sec. 46 hereof, after a formal administrative 
4 
investigation; 
5 
(g) Promulgate from time to time the necessary rules and regulations for the 
6 
effective enforcement of this Act; 
7 
(h) Monitor the conditions affecting the practice of pharmacy in the Philippines and 
8 
adopt measures that may be deemed proper for the enhancement of the 
9 
profession and/ or the maintenance of high professional, academic, ethical and 
10 
technical standards; 
11 
(i) Verify or confirm the qualifications and conditions of pharmacists employed in 
12 
drugstores, hospital pharmacies, drug or pharmaceutical laqoratories, drug 
13 
traders, importers, cosmetics and medical device establishments for which the 
14 
Board may designate inspectors from the Food and Drug Administration and 
15 
other related institutions for such purpose; 
16 
0) Investigate cases arising from violations of this Act, the rules and regulations 
17 
promulgated thereunder and the Pharmacist's Code of Ethics, technical 
18 
standards, and other Board issuances and for this purpose, may issue summons, 
19 
subpoena duces ad testificandum and subpoena duces tecum to the respondents 
20 
and/ or witnesses to compel their attendance in such investigations or hearings: 
21 
Provided that, the decision of the Board shall, unless appealed to the Commission, 
22 
becomes final and executory after fifteen (15) days from receipt of notice of 
23 
judgment or decision; 
24 
(k) Cite a person in contempt for failure or refusal to obey the lawful order of the 
25 
Board in accordance with the Revised Rule of Court; 
26 
(1) Delegate the hearing or investigation of administrative cases filed before them 
27 
whereat the hearing shall be presided over by at least one (1) member of the 
28 
Board concerned assisted by a Legal or Hearing Officer of the Commission, 
29 
provided that if the charge is not related to the technical practice of the 
30 
profession, the ho:;aring may be conducted without a member of the Board; 
31 
(m) Conduct, through the Legal Officers of the Commission, summary proceedings 
32 
on minor violati9ns of the respective regulatory laws, !is determined by the 
33 
Board. Violations of the rules and regulations issued by the Board to 
34 
implement this Act, including violations of the general instructions to 
35 
examinees committed by examinees, and render summary judgment thereon 
36 
which shall, unless appealed to the Commission, become final and executory 
37 
after fifteen (15) days from receipt of notice of judgment or decision; 
38 
(n) Subject to the final approval by the Commission, recommend registration 
39 
without examination and the issuance of corresponding certificate of registration 
40 
and professional identification card to foreign pharmacists duly licensed in 
41 
countries with agreement of reciprocity with the Philippine government; 
42 
(0) Prepare an annual report of accomplishments on programs, projects, and 
43 
activities of the Board during the year for submission to the Commission after 
7 


1 
the close of each ~alendar year including appropriate recommendations on issues 
2 
or problems affecting the practice of pharmacy; 
3 
(p) Issue and promulgate guidelines on continuing professional development 
4 
education in coordination with the accred,ited professional organization; 
5 
(q) Recommend to the CHED for the closure of the program or course of pharmacy 
6 
offered by a school! college pursuant to the latter's policy thereon; and 
7 
(r) Perform any implied, incidental, 
necessary 
power for 
the effective 
8 
implementation of this Act. 
9 
Sec. 11. - Grounds for Suspension or Tennination of Tenn of Office of the Chainnan or 
10 
Member of the Board from his/her Office. - The President of the Philippines, upon the 
11 
recommendation of the Commission, after giving the Chairman or the member of the 
12 
Board an opportunity to defend himself/herself in an administrative investigation 
,13 
conducted by the Commission, may remove or suspend him/her on any of the 
14 
following grounds: 
15 
(a) 
Gross neglect, incompetence or dishonesty in the discharge of his/her duty; 
16 
(b) 
Violation of ariy of the causes/grounds/ and the prohibited acts provided in 
17 
this Act and the offenses in the Revised Penal Code, the Anti-Graft and 
18 
Corruption Practices and other laws; 
19 
(c) 
Involvement in the manipulation, tampering or rigging of the licensure 
20 
examination, its questions and/ or its results and the disclosure of classified and 
21 
confidential information pertaining to the licensure examination. 
22 
(d) Conviction of an offense involving moral turpitude by a court of jurisdiction. 
23 
The Commission, in the conduct of investigation shall be guided by Section 7, and 
24 
Section 15 of R.A. No. 8981 and the rules on administrative investigation thereof, 
25 
and the applicable proviSions of the New Rules of Court. 
26 
ARTICLE III 
27 
EXAMINATION, REGISTRATION, CERTIFICATION, AND LICENSURE 
28 
Sec. 12. - Passing of Licensure Examination Requirement. - Except as otherwise 
29 
specifically allowed under ,this Act, applicants for registration for' the practice of 
30 
pharmacy shall be requ~red to pass a licensure examination as provided for in this Act 
31 
and in accordance with Sec. 7 (d) of RA. No. 8981. 
32 
Sec. 13. - Qualifications of Applicants. - An applicant for the licensure examination for 
33 
pharmacy shall satisfactorily show that he/ she possesses the following qualifications: 
34 
(a) Citizen of the Philippines or a foreign citizen whose country/state has 
35 
reciprocity with the Philippines in the practice of pharmacy; 
36 
(b) Of good moral character and reputation; 
37 
(c) A holder of a Bachelor's degree in pharmacy duly recognized or accredited by 
38 
the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and conferred by a school! 
39 
college/university ditly authorized by the government or its equivalent degree 
8 


1 
obtained by either a Filipino or foreign citizen from an institution of learning in a 
2 
foreign country/state, provided it is duly recognized and/ or accredited by 
3 
CHED; 
4 
(d) Not convicted of an offense involving moral turpitude by a court of competent 
5 
jurisdiction; and 
6 
(e) He must have completed an Internship Program which shall consist of at least 
7 
nine hundred sixty hours (960 hours), six hundred hours (600 hours) of which 
8 
shall be spent equally distributed in a community pharmacy, hospital pharmacy, 
9 
or pharmaceutical industry - manufacturing, regulatory, marketing, or research 
10 
- and other related" fields, while three hundred sixty hours (360 hours) of 
11 
internship shall be spent in any of the accredited pharmacy establishments or 
12 
entity chosen by the candidate, 
13 
For this purpose, the abovementioned community pharmacy, pharmaceutical 
14 
company, and hospital pharmacy shall keep a separate record of pharmacy students 
15 
who underwent said internship program directly under their control and as a result 
16 
thereof, shall issue the proper certificate of said hours of internship, It shall also be 
17 
the duty of said establi~hments to submit semi-annually a complete report of the 
18 
names of those who h'ave undergone training under their supervision and the 
19 
corresponding number of hours of internship credit of each of the pharmacy 
20 
students to their respective colleges or schools and to the Board. 
21 
Sec. 14. - Scope of Examination. - The licensure examination for pharmacists shall be 
22 
divided into two major divisions: Pharmacy as Science and Pharmacy as Practice. 
23 
Pharmacy as Science shall consist of subjects in Group I (Public Health, Pharmaceutical 
24 
Microbiology and Parasitology), Group II (Drug Delivery Systems, Physical Pharmacy, 
25 
Manufacturing Pharmacy, Quality Control I, Quality Control II), Group III 
26 
(Pharmaceutical Biochemistry, Pharmacognosy, Plant Chemistry, and Philippine 
27 
Medicinal Plants, Pharmacy and Chemistry of Medicinals I and Pharmacy and 
28 
Chemistry of Medicinals II. ' 
29 
Pharmacy as Practice' shall be made up of the following subjects: Group IV 
30 
(Pharmaceutical Calculations, Hospital Pharmacy, Clinical Pharmacy, Dispensing and 
31 
Medication Counseling), Group V 
(Biopharmaceutics 
and Pharmacokinetics, 
32 
Pharmacology I, Pharmacology II, Clinical Toxicology), and Group VI (Pharmaceutical 
33 
Jurisprudence and Ethics,' Pharmaceutical Marketing and Entrepreneurship and 
34 
Pharmaceutical Administration and Management). 
35 
The subjects shall be weighed as follows: Group I, 10%; Group II, 20%; Group III, 20%; 
36 
Group IV, 20%; Group V, 20%; and Group VI, 10 %. 
37 
The Board subject to the ap,proval by the Commission may introduce relevant changes, 
38 
as the need arises, to the content of the examination and the relative weight attributed 
39 
to each subject in the examination may be made after consultation with the duly 
40 
recognized association of schools or colleges of pharmacy and the CHED. 
41 
Sec. 15. - Holding of Examination. - Examination for registration to practice pharmacy 
42 
in the Philippines shall be given twice a year in such places and dates as the 
43 
Commission may deSignate in the Resolution thereof on the Master Schedules for all 
44 
licensure examinations in, accordance with Sec. 7 (d) of R.A. No. 8981. The said places 
45 
and dates may be subject to change under valid circumstances and reasons. 
9 


1 
Sec. 16. - Ratings in the Licensure Examination. - In order to be registered and licensed 
2 
as a pharmacist, a candidGlte must obtain a general weighted average of seventy-five per 
3 
cent (75%) or over with no riltings of fifty percent (50%) in more than two (2) subjects. 
4 
Sec. 17. Registration and Licensure of Pharmacy Assistant. - A general weighted 
5 
average below 75% but not lower than 70%, with no ratings of fifty percent (50%) in 
6 
more than two subjects, shall qualify an examinee to be registered and licensed by the 
7 
Professional Regulation Commission to practice as a pharmacy assistant who shall work 
8 
under the supervision of a registered pharmacist. To be licensed as a pharmacist, a 
9 
pharmacy assistant must pass succeeding board licensure examination for pharmacists 
10 
with a general average rating as provided in Section 16. 
11 
Sec. 18. - Report of Rqting. -The Board shall submit to the Commission the ratings 
12 
obtained by each candidate within ten (10) calendar days after the examination, unless 
13 
extended for just cause. Upon the release of the results of the examination, the 
14 
Commission shall send by mail the rating received by each examinee at his/her given 
15 
address using the mailing envelope submitted during the examination. 
16 
Sec. 19. - Oath of Profession. - All successful candidates in the licensure examination 
17 
shall take their oath of profession before the Chairman or any member of the Board or 
18 
any authorized officer of. the Commission to administer oaths, prior to entering the 
19 
practice of pharmacy. 
20 
Sec. 20. - Issuance of Certificate of Registration and Professional Identification Card. -
21 
A certificate of registration ~hall be issued to those who are registered upon payment of 
22 
fees prescribed by the Conlmission. It shall bear the signatures of the Chairperson and 
23 
the Commissioners of the Commission and the Chairman and Members of the Board, 
24 
stamped with the official seal of the Commission and of the Board, certifying the person 
25 
named therein is entitled to the practice of the profession with all the privileges 
26 
appurtenant thereto. Until revoked or suspended in accordance with this Act, it sha'll 
27 
remain in full force and ,eff~{:t. 
28 
A professional identification card bearing the registration number and date, its validity 
29 
and expiry duly signed by the Chairperson of the Commission shall likewise be issued 
30 
to every registrant who has paid the prescribed fee. It shall be reissued upon 
31 
compliance with the continuing professional development education requirement as 
32 
specified in Article IV, Sec. 27 (d) of this Act and upon payment of the prescribed three-
33 
year registrCltion fees thE7refor. 
34 
Sec. 21. - Affixing RPh after a Registered Pharmacist's Name. - Only pharmacists who 
35 
are duly registered and licensed by the Board and the Commission has the right to affix 
36 
this title, "Registered Pharmacist" or "RPh." after his/her name. 
37 
Sec. 22. - Grounds for NOt/-registration. - The Board shall not register any successful 
38 
examinee for registration who has been: 
39 
(a) Convicted of an offense involving moral turpitude by a court of competent 
40 
jurisdiction, 
41 
(b) Found guilty of immoral or dishonorable conduct by the Board, 
42 
(c) Summarily. adjudged guilty for violation of the General Instructions to 
43 
Examinees by the Board, 
10 


1 
(d) Declared of unsound mind by the court of competent jurisdiction, and 
2 
(e) Found addicted to dangerous drugs. 
3 
In refusing such registration, the Board shall give the applicant a written statement 
4 
setting forth the reasons therefor and shall file a copy in its records. 
5 
Sec. 23. - Reissuance of Revoked Certificate of Registration, Replacement of Lost or 
6 
Damaged 
Certificate 
of Registration, 
Professional 
Identification 
Card 
qr 
7 
Temporary/Special Permit. - The Board may upon petition,. reinstate or reissue a 
8 
revoked certificate of registration after two (2) years from the date of the revocation of 
9 
the certificate of registration or the surrender of the revoked certificate and/ or the 
10 
professional identificatipn card if still valid, to the Board and/ or the Commission. The 
11 
Board mayor may not require the pharmacist whose certificate had been revoked to 
12 
take another licensure exarrlination. The petitioner shall prove to the Board that he/ she 
13 
has valid reason/ s to be reinstated to the practice of pharmacy. For the grant of his/her 
14 
petition, the Board shaH issue a BOard Resolution subject to the approval of the 
15 
Commission. 
16 
Duplicate copy of lost or damaged certificate of registration, professional identification 
17 
card or temporary/special permit may be reissued in accordance with rules thereon and 
18 
upon payment of the prescribed fee therefor. 
19 
Sec. 24. - Non-payment of the PRC Registration Fees. - The Board shall suspend a 
20 
registered pharmacist from the practice of his/her profession for non-payment of the 
21 
PRC registration fees for more than three (3) consecutive years from its last or previous 
22 
year of payment. The resumption of his/her practice shall take place only upon 
23 
payment of delinquency fees plus surcharges and interest and in accordance with the 
24 
rules of the Commission. The running of the three-year period maybe interrupted upon 
25 
written notice about the discontinuance of his/her practice and surrender of his/her 
26 
certificate of registration with professional identification card to the Board and/ or the 
27 
Commission. 
. 
28 
Sec. 25. - Vested Rights: Automatic Registration. - All pharmacists registered before 
29 
the effectivity of this Act shall automatically be registered hereunder, subject to the 
30 
policy as to future requirements. 
31 
Certificates of registration. and professional identification cards or temporary/special 
32 
permits held by such persons in good standing at such effectivity shall have the same 
33 
force and effect as though they were issued on or after the said effectivity. 
34 
ARTICLE IV 
35 
REGULATION OF THE PRACTICE OF PHARMACY 
36 
Sec. 26. - Scope of the Pra'ctice of Pharmacy. - A person deemed to be practicing 
37 
pharmacy within the meaning of this Article is one who shall, with or without a fel'!' 
38 
salary, percentage or other rewards, paid or given directly to himself or indirectly 
39 
through another -
40 
(a) Prepare, compound:or manufacture, analyze, assay, preserve, store, distribute, 
41 
sell and/ or dispense any medicine, drug, chemicals, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, 
42 
devices or contrivances used in pursuance thereof; or 
11 


1 
(b) render services, such as but not limited to (i) regulatory services, (ii) 
2 
pharmaceutical marketing, (iii) drug information service and (iv) medication 
3 
management Which covers the following: drug selection and procurement, 
_ 4 
storage and distribution, dispensing, medication counseling and medication 
5 
therapy monitoring, whenever the expertise and the technical knowledge of the 
6 
pharmacist is required, in any drug establishment/ outlet or healthcare 
7 
institution or 
8 
(c) provide other services where pharmaceutical knowledge is required; or 
9 
(d) engage in teaching-scientific, technical or professional pharmacy courses in a 
10 
school or college 0,£ 1;'harmacy; or 
11 
(e) conduct or undertake scientific research in all aspects involving drugs and 
12 
healthcare, or 
13 
(f) dispense drugs during medical missions and in other situations where 
14 
supervision of drugs is reqUired. 
15 
All government and non-government agencies, establishments, institutions, and 
16 
regulatory body with f?ll,ctions that involve the practice of pharmacy shall be headed 
17 
and managed only by a qualified, duly registered and licensed pharmacist. 
18 
All pharmacists are expected to abide by current standards such as the Good Pharmacy 
19 
Practice, Good Laboratory' Practice, Good Distribution Practice, Good Manufacturing 
20 
Practice, and Good Clinical Practice, which are deemed vital in the performance of one's 
21 
roles and functions in different practice areas. 
-
22 
The Board, subject to the approval by the Commission, may add to, delete, or modify 
23 
the above acts, services, or activities as the need arises. 
24 
Sec. 27. - Prerequisites for the Practice of Pharmacy. - A person can practice pharmacy 
25 
in the Philippines provided he/ she: 
26 
(a) has satisfactorily passed the licensure examination for pharmacists given by the 
27 
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 reqUired 
32 
by the Continuing Professional Education Council for pharmacists or pertinent 
33 
laws and regulations for the renewal of his/her profeSSional identification card, 
34 
and/or 
35 
(e) a holder of a valid temporary/special permit issued by the Board and the 
36 
Commission to foreign licensed pharmacists pursuant to this Act. 
37 
Sec. 28. - Foreign Reciprocity. - No foreigner shall be allowed to take the licensure 
38 
examination for pharmacists, register, receive his/her certificate of registration and 
39 
professional identification card, and practice pharmacy in the Philippines unless the 
40 
requirements for the licensure examination and registration and practice of pharmacy 
12 


1 
imposed under the laws and the regulations in his/her foreign country or state are 
2 
substantially the same as those required and contemplated by the Philippine laws and 
3 
regulations, and unless the said foreign laws and regulations allow Filipino citizens tp 
4 
practice 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 or 
6 
nationals thereof. 
7 
Sec. 29. - Practice through Temporary/Special Permit. - A temporary/special permit 
8 
may be issued by the Board subject to the approval of the Commission and payment of 
9 
applicable fees to the following: 
10 
(a) licensed pharmacists from foreign countries whose services whether for free or a 
11 
fee 
12 
(1) if they are internationally renowned pharmacists or experts in any field or 
13 
specialty of pharmacy, 
. 
14 
(2) if their services are deemed necessary for lack of specialists or experts in a 
15 
particularfield, 
16 
(b) licensed pharmacists from foreign countries or states whose services shall be for 
17 
free and limited to indigent patients as beneficiaries; or 
18 
(c) licensed pharmacists from foreign countries or states employed as visiting 
19 
faculty in a field or specialty of pharmacy. 
20 
The permit shall, among other things, contain these limitations and conditions for a 
21 
period of no more than one year, subject to renewal, the field or specialty of pharmacy, 
22 
and the specific place of practice including clinics, hospitals, and schools of pharmacy. 
23 
The Board subject to the approval by the Commission shall promulgate rules and 
24 
regulations on the implementation of this particular Section. 
25 
Sec. 30. - Indication of Numbers: Certificate of Registration, Professional Tax Receipt 
26 
and Accredited Integrated National Organization (AINO) Membership. -
The 
27 
pharmacist shall be requited to indicate on any document he/ she signs, uses or issues 
28 
in connection with the pract;ice of pharmacy the following information: 
29 
(a) his/her registration number and date of issuance, 
30 
(b) the expiration date of his/her professional identification card, 
31 
(c) the Professional Tax Receipt (PTR) Number and date of issuance, and 
32 
(d) the certificate of AINO membership (annual/lifetime), number and the official 
33 
receipt of payment, number and date. 
34 
Sec. 31. - Registry of Pharmacists. - The Board shall prepare and maintain a registry of 
35 
the names, residences and/or office addresses of all registered pharmacists which shall 
'36 
be updated annually in cooperation with the Accredited Integrated National 
37 
Organization (AINO), indicating therein the status of the certificate of registration, 
38 
professional identification card and Accredited Integrated National Organization 
39 
(AINO) membership, whether valid or inactive due to death, or other reasons, 
40 
delinquent, suspended or with revoked certificate of registration. The said registry of 
13 


I 
pharmacists shall be conspicuously posted within the premises of the Commission and 
2 
the information therein made available to the public upon inquiry or request. 
3 
Sec. 32. - Display of Certificate of Registration. - It shall be the duty of every 
4 
pharmacist engaged in the practice of pharmacy either on his/her own account or 
5 
under the employ of another to display his/her original certificate of registration in a 
6 
prominent and conspicuou~ place in a retail drug outlet or drug establishment which he 
7 
operates or in which he/she is employed in his/her professional capacity as 
8 
pharmacist. No pharmacist shall, with his/her knowledge, allow his/her certificate of 
9 
registration to be displayed in such establishment when he/she is not actually 
10 . employed or operating therein in his/her professional capacity. 
11 
Sec. 33. - Compounding imd Dispensing. - No drug or pharmaceutical product of 
12 
whatever nature and kind shall be compounded, dispensed, sold or resold, or otherwise 
13 
be made available to the consuming public except through a FDA-licensed retail drug 
14 
outlet or other business establishments which are duly established in accordance with 
15 
the provisions of applicable'laws. 
16 
Prescription drugs and pharmacist-only over-the-counter drugs shall be dispensed only 
17 
by registered pharmacists. 
18 
Prescription drugs shall be dispensed only upon presentation of a valid prescription. 
19 
Compounding and dispensing by duly registered and licensed pharmacists shall be in 
20 
accordance with current good manufacturing practice, good laboratory practice, and 
21 
good pharmacy practice, with the safety and protection of individual patients as 
22 
ultimate objective. 
. . 
23 
Licensed pharmaceutical manufacturers, importers and wholesalers are authorized to 
24 
sell their products only to duly licensed drug. outlets, wholesalers and other drug 
25 
establishments. 
26 
A registered and licensed pharmacist may refuse to compound, dispense or sell drugs 
27 
and pharmaceutical products, if not in accordance with this Act. 
28 
Sec. 
34. 
Phannacist Requirement 
and 
Compensation. 
Every 
drug 
29 
establishment/ outlet selling prescription and pharmacist only over-the-counter drugs 
30 
whether owned by the government or a private person or firm shall at all times when 
31 
open for business be under the direct control, supervision, and responsibility of a 
32 
registered and licensed pharmacist. For retails outlets selling only over-the-counter 
33 
drugs, they shall be under the supervision of a registered and licensed pharmacist. 
34 
Processes involving the preparation, quality control, or repacking of pharmaceutical 
35 
products in quantities greatly in excess of Single therapeutic doses shall for each 
36 
respective operation be under the direct and immediate supervision of a registered and 
37 
licensed pharmacist. In the sale of pharmaceutical products, medicines and drugs, at 
38 
wholesale, such business shall be conducted under the immediate supervision of a 
39 
registered and licensed pharmacist. 
40 
All government and non-government agencies and units which handle the procurement 
41 
and distribution of drugs should have a supervising pharmacist. All rural health units 
42 
dispensing medicines should be supervised by a pharmacist or a pharmacy assistant as 
43 
defined in this Act. 
14 


1 
Pharmacists in government service shall receive a starting salary equivalent to Salary 
2 
Grade 15 as provided in RA. 6758 (Compensation and Position Classification Act of 
3 
1989) and its amendments. Those pharmacists in the private sector shall receive an 
4 
entry-level salary in peso equivalent of Salary Grade 15 being received by government 
5 
pharmacists. 
6 
Sec. 35. - Responsibility for Quality of Drugs, Cosmetics and Medical Devices. - It 
7 
shall be the duty of the registered pharmacist of drug outlet! establishment to ensure 
8 
that all drug products, cosmetics and medical devices conform to standards of safety, 
9 
quality and efficacy and strictly adhere to the guidelines as provided for in this Act and 
10 
other pertinent rules and regulations and issuances. Owners, managers, and/ or 
11 
pharmacists in charge of the operation of drug outlets and drug establishments shall be 
12 
held responsible. 
. 
13 
It shall be unlawful for any person to manufacture, prepare, sell or dispense any 
14 
prescription drug, pharmaceutical, medical devices, or cosmetics under any fraudulent 
15 
name, direction or pretense, or to adulterate any drug, pharmaceutical, medical devices, 
16 
or cosmetics offered for sale. Any drug, pharmaceutical product, medical device/s or 
17 
cosmetics shall be held h;> be adulterated or deteriorated within the meaning of this 
18 
section if it differs from the standard or quality or purity given in the United States 
19 
Pharmacopeia/National Formulary and Philippine Pharmacopeia, in its latest edition, 
20 
or any standard reference for drugs and medicines given official recognition, and those 
21 
which fall within the meaning as provided for in the Food Drug, Cosmetic and Devices 
22 
Act, RA. No. 3720, as amended by pertinent laws and the Food and Drug 
23 
Administration Act, RA. 0111. 
24 
In cases of drug products sold in their original packings, the seal of which has not been 
25 
broken or tampered with, the liability that may arise because of their quality and purity, 
26 
rests upon the manufacturer or importer, the distributor, representative, or dealer who 
27 
is responsible for their distribution or sale. 
28 
Sec. 36. - Filling and Partial Filling of Prescription. - All prescriptions shall be filled or 
29 
compounded only by a registered and licensed pharmacist following the standards of 
30 
purity, safety and quality. Completely filled prescriptions should be surrendered to the 
31 
pharmacist for recording. , 
32 
Partial filling of prescription is dispenSing units less than the total quantity indicated in 
33 
the prescription. The prescription should contain information as to how many units 
34 
were served and shall be ,returned to the buyer after being recorded in the appropriate 
35 
book or equivalent system. The drugstore, which completes the filling of the 
36 
prescription, shall keep the prescription on file for a prescribed period of time. 
37 
Sec. 37. - Physician's sample. - Drugs, biologic products, devices or proprietary 
38 
medicines, given or intended to be given free to the physician and other qualified 
39 
person by any manufacturer or distributor or its medical representative/ detailman as 
40 
part of its program or promotion, should not be sold. 
41 
The statement "Sample, not for sale" shall appear conspicuously on the container, 
42 
package, or carton of the drug or device to be given. It shall be unlawful to remove, 
43 
erase, deface already marked original labels of samples. 
44 
Sec. 38. - Prohibition against use of cipher or unusual terms in prescriptions and 
45 
prescription switching - Pharmacists should not compound or dispense prescriptions, 
15 


1 
recipes or formulas which are written in ciphers, codes or secret keys or prescriptions of 
2 
drugs using unusual names which differ from those in standard pharmacopeias or 
3 
formularies. 
4 
The pharmacist dispensing or compounding prescriptions should not substitute the 
5 
drug or drugs called for, in the prescription with any other drug. or substance or 
6 
ingredient without prior consultation with, and a written consent of the person 
7 
prescribing, except in accordance with RA 6675, known as the Generics Act of 1988, and 
8 
other pertinent laws and regulations. 
9 
Sec. 39. - Label of Dispense4 Medicines. - Upon every box, bottle or package containing 
10 
medicine compounded ~r dispensed by a registered and licensed pharmacist based on 
11 
prescriptio~ there shall be .pasted, affixed or imprinted a seal or label bearing, among 
12 
others, name of patient, generic name of drug; brand name, if any, strength, expiry date, 
13 
directions ,for use, and name and address of drugstore and other requirements 
14 
prescribed by the Cheaper: Medicines Act (RA 9502) and its implementing rules and 
15 
regulations. 
16 
Every prescription which in its preparation contains any quantity of a drug, which is 
17 
habit-forming, or a derivative of such drug, shall have an auxiliary label or a notation, 
18 
"Warning - May be habit forming". Such prescriptions should comply with the 
19 
requirements of the R. A. 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, and 
20 
any future amendments thereto. 
21 
Filled prescription for external use shall bear the auxiliary label, "For External Use". 
22 
Sec. 40. - Record Books for Prescription. - All prescriptions dispensed in the drugstore 
23 
shall be recorded in the book or an equivalent recording system approved by FDA for 
24 
this purpose indicating therein, among others, 'the prescription number, name of 
25 
prescriber, generic name and brand, dosage strength, quantity of drug, name of the 
26 
patient and address, and initials of pharmacist. It shall be open to inspection by the 
27 
proper authorities at any ,time of the day when the pharmacy is open to the public and 
28 
must be preserved for a period of not less than two (2) years after the last entry in it has 
29 
been made. 
30 
All prescriptions shall be attached to the prescription book or compiled (for equivalent 
31 
recording systern) and numbered consecutively and shall be preserved for the same 
32 
period of time as required .. ' 
33 
All required information on dangerous drugs dispensed by a pharmacy shall be 
34 
recorded in the Dangerous Drugs book or an equivalent recording system as required 
35 
by R.A. 9165. 
36 
Sec. 41. - Requirements for the Opening and Operation of Retail Drug Outlet or 
37 
Establishment. - The minimum requirements necessary for the opening of retail drug 
38 
outlet or establishment shall be in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed 
39 
by the Food and Drug Administration in accordance with the provisions of this Act. 
40 
The application for the operung of a retail drug outlet or other business establishments 
41 
should not be approved unless applied for by a Filipino registered pharmacist either as 
42 
owner or as pharmacist-in-charge pursuant to the provisions of this Act. 
16 


1 
Sec. 42. - Handling of Drugs by Persons Other than a Phannacist. - For the purpose of 
2 
this section, persons handling drugs other than the pharmacist are: professional medical 
3 
representatives, pharmacy assistants, pharmacy aidesj clerks, and other persons who 
4 
assist pharmacists in dispensing medicines or any other person performing functions 
5 
involving the handling of drugs and drug products. It is preferred that these positions 
6 
are occupied by those who finished pharmacy degree, not necessarily licensed as 
7 
pharmacists and who has undergone the prescribed training from a Commission-
8 
accredited provider. 
9 
The professional medical representative or detailman is one who represents any duly 
10 
authorized manufacturer, distributor, trader and wholesaler of drugs, pharmaceuticals, 
11 
biologic products and devices, whose primary duty is to introduce said products to 
12 
legitimate prescribers and which forms part of their program for promotion by 
13 
describing its use, composition, action, dosage, administration, contraindication, 
14 
advantages and other relevant information about the drugs being promoted. 
15 
The pharmacy assistant is one who helps the pharmacist in compounding, dispensing 
16 
of medicines and giving of information on proper use of medicines while the pharmacy 
17 
aidej clerk is involved in other aspects of operation assigned by the pharmacist. 
18 
Any person who shall be employed or engaged as professional medical representative 
19 
or pharmacy aidejclerk shall undergo comprehensive standardized training programs 
20 
approved by the Board with providers approved andj or accredited by the Board in 
21 
accordance with criteria established therefor. 
22 
ARTICLE V 
23 
ACCREDITED INTEGRATED NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR PHARMACISTS 
24 
25 
Sec. 43. - The Accredited Integrated National ProfeSSional Organization (AINO) of 
26 
Phannacists -
The pharmacists ate integrated under one national accredited 
27 
professional organization that is duly registered with the Securities and Exchange 
28 
Commission (SEC). The Board subject to the approval by the Commission shall accredit 
29 
the said organization as the only integrated national organization for registered 
30 
pharmacists (and pharmacy assistants). All pharmacists (and pharmacy assistants) 
31 
whose names appear in the registry shall ipso facto or automatically become members 
32 
thereof and shall receive all the benefits and privileges accorded to its members upon 
33 
payment of the required fees and dues. Membership to the foregoing shall not be a bar 
34 
to membership in any other association of pharmacists. 
35 
Sec. 44. 
-
Membership. to the Accredited Integrated National ProfeSSional 
36 
Organization. - All registered pharmacists (and pharmacy assistants) must be members 
37 
of the AINO and must maintain membership throughout the duration of the practice of 
38 
the profession. Professional identification card shall not be renewed if the requirements 
39 
for membership with AINO are not met including credit units for attendance to duly 
40 
accredited continuing professional development (CPD) education activities. 
41 
Sec. 45. - Specialty Boards in Various Areas of Pharmacy Practice. - Specialty Boards 
42 
created within the affiliate organizations and societies for recognition of the AINO (1) 
43 
for the Board, subject to the approval of the Commissioner shall accredit specialties in 
44 
various areas of practice, (2) setting standards of practice within different specialties, 
45 
and (3) establishing qualifications and requirements for certification of practitioners 
46 
under each specialty. 
17 


1 
ARTICLE VI 
2 
VIOLATIONS, ADMINISTRATIVE SANCTIONS, AND PROCEDURES 
3 
Sec. 46. - Revocation or Suspension of the Certificate of Registration and Cancellation 
4 
of Temporary or Special Permit. - The Board shall have the power, upon notice and 
5 
hearing to revoke or suspend the certificate of registration of a registered pharmacist or 
6 
to cancel a temporary or special permit granted to a foreign pharmacist on the basis of 
7 
the following: 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
28 
29 
30 
31 
32 
33 
34 
35 
36 
37 
38 
39 
(a) 
(b) 
(c) 
(d) 
(e) 
(f) 
(g) 
(h) 
(i) 
G) 
(k) 
(1) 
(m) 
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 Governance, 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 permit; 
Acting as a dummy of an alien or a person who is not qualified to establish 
and operate a retail drugstore; 
Insanity or any mental disorder that would render the person incompetent to 
practice his/her profession; 
False, extravagant or unethical advertisements and product endorsements 
where the pharmacist's name, professional organization he/she represents, 
and similar information are used; 
Manufacture, sale, offering for sale of counterfeit drugs and committing other 
acts in violation of Sec. 4 of the Special Law on Counterfeit Drugs, R.A. No. 
8203; 
. 
Illegal manufacturing, sale, possession, dispensing of dangerous drugs and 
other pertinent acts in violation of Dangerous Drugs Act, R.A. No. 9165; 
Committing acts in violation of Sec. 6 of P.D. No. 881 on Hazardous 
Substances; and 
18 


1 
2 
(n) 
(0) 
Practicing pharmacy while under suspension. 
Practicing with an expired professional identification card. 
3 
Section 47. - Non-renewal of license. - The following are the grounds for the non-
4 
renewal of professional identification card: 
5 
6 
7 
8 
(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 
9 
The Board shall periodically evaluate the aforementioned grounds and revise as the 
10 
need arises subject to the approval of the Commission. 
11 
Any person, entity or Organization maY' file charges according to the provision of this 
12 
section against any registrant, or the Board may investigate violation of any of the 
13 
abovementioned causes, Affidavit of complaint under oath shall be filed together with 
14 
the affidavits of witnesses qnd other documentary evidence with the Board through the 
15 
Legal and Investigation Office. The move to conduct an investigation shall be embodied 
16 
in a formal charge to be signed by at least a majority of the members of the Board. The 
17 
rules on administrative investigation issued by the Commission shall govern the 
18 
hearing or investigation subject to applicable provisions of this Act, RA. No. 8981 and 
19 
its rules and regulations thereof, and Rules of Court.' 
I 
20 
Sec. 48. - Administrative Investigation/Sanctions. - Administrative investigations shall 
21 
be conducted by the Board assisted by the Legal or Hearing Officer of the Commission. 
22 
The existing rules of evidence shall also be observed and applied during administrative 
23 
investigations. 
24 
If the Board, by a majority vote of the members, shall find that the charges are sustained 
25 
by evidence adduced, it may, at its discretion reprimand the respondent or revoke or 
26 
suspend his certificate of registration. 
27 
Sec. 49. - Procedure and Rilles. - The Board upon receipt of a formal complaint under 
28 
oath against any pharmacist shall furnish the latter a copy of the complaint, which shall 
29 
be answered in writing within ten (10) days from recetpt thereof. If the Board, after 
30 
careful study of the records, finds that there 
31 
is a valid ground to the charge, it shall conduct a formal investigation and set the dates 
32 
of the hearing thereof. For this purpose, a subpoena and/ or subpoena duces tecum may 
33 
be issued by the chairman of the Board or by the Chief, Legal and Investigation 
34 
Division. The investigation proceedings shall at all times be recorded. The investigation 
35 
shall have been terminated and resolved within ninety (90) days from the time the first 
36 
date of hearing shall be set and heard. 
37 
Sec. 50. - Rights of Respondent. - The respondent pharmacist is entitled to be heard or 
38 
be represented by counsel; to have speedy public hearing, to confront, and to cross-
39 
examine the witness o~ witnesses against him; to summon and present witness or 
40 
witnesses in his behalf; OF to avail himself/herself of aJ;ly other process for the 
41 
protection of his/her constitutional rights 
19 


1 
Sec. 51. - Motion for. Reconsideration. - A motion for reconsideration within the 
2 
prescribed period may be made based on any of the following grounds: 
3 
(a) Grave abuse of discretion by the Board, 
4 
(b) Findings not supported by substantial evidence, and Irregularity in the conduct 
5 
of investigation. 
6 
Sec. 52. - AppeaVFinality of Decision, - The decision of the Board shall automatically 
7 
become final and executory fifteen (15) days from the appropriate service of the 
8 
decision to the respondent, unless the latter within the same period, has appealed the 
9 
decision to the Commission; provided that said decision of the Board and/or the 
10 
Commission may be appealed to the Court of Appeals. 
11 
ARTICLE VII 
12 
PENAL PROVISIONS 
13 
Sec. 53. - Penal Provisions. - Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of the 
14 
practice of pharmacy asdeflned in the following provisions of Article IV: 
15 
Registration certificate (Section 32) 
16 
(a) Allowing the display of his/her registration certificate In an outlet or 
17 
establishment by a pharmacist where he/ she is not employed 
18 
(b) Display of a pharmacists registration certificate by an outlet or establishment 
19 
when the pharmacist is not employed 
20 
Dispensing and compounding (Sections 27,33,38,42) 
21 
(c) Dispensing done in, or offering for sale of prescription drugs in a place not 
22 
licensed by FDA as drug outlet 
23 
(d) Dispensing of prescription of and pharmacist-only over-the-counter drugs by a 
24 
person other than a registered pharmacist 
25 
(e) Dispensing of prescription drugs without presentation of a valid prescription 
26 
(f) Compounding of prescription drugs and pharmacist-only over-the-counter 
27 
drugs done by a person other than a pharmacist 
28 
(g) Selling of prescription and· pharmacist-only over-the-counter drugs by 
29 
manufacturers, importers, and wholesalers to unlicensed drug outlets and other 
30 
drug establishments . 
31 
(h) Substitution of prescription drugs which are not generically equivalent to what 
32 
was on the prescription without the consent of the prescriber 
33 
(i) Compounding not in accordance with the current Good Manuf,acturing Practices 
34 
and Good Pharmacy Practice 
35 
(j) Forcing, coercing or intimidating a registered pharmacist to compound or 
36 
dispense drugs not in accordance with this Act 
20 


1 
(k) Preparation and compounding of pharmaceutical products in quantities greatly 
2 
in excess of single therapeutic doses without a registered pharmacist 
3 
(I) Non-compliance with the labeling requirement for dispensed medicines by a 
4 
drug outlet 
5 
'(m)Allowing pharmacy assistants to dispense without the supervision of a 
6 
pharmacist 
7 
Requirement of Pharmacist (Sections 33,34, 36) 
8 
(n) Establishment! outlet selling prescription and pharmacist-only over-the-counter 
9 
drugs which opens for business without a licensed pharmacist 
10 
(0) Compounding 
by 
a 
non-registered 
pharmacist 
or 
pharmacist 
with 
11 
expired! revoked! suspended license 
12 
(p) Filling of prescription by a non-pharmacist or by a non-registered pharmacist or 
13 
pharmacist with expired! revoked! suspended license 
I 
14 
(q) Wholesale of pharmaceutical. products without the direct and immediate' 
15 
supervision of a registered pharmacist 
16 
(r) Rural Health Units dispensing prescription drugs and pharmacist-only over-the-
17 
counter drugs withqut the supervision of a registered pharmacist Manufacturing 
18 
and selling of pharmaceutical products under fraudulent name and address (Section 35) 
19 
Adulteration and misbranding of drugs (Section 35) Manufacturing and selling of 
20 
unsafe and substandard drugs (Section 35) shall upon conviction thereof, be 
21 
sentenced to i. fine of not less than Two Hundred Fifty Thousand 
22 
(Php250,000.00) 
Pesos 
but 
not 
exceeding 
Five 
Hundred 
Thousand 
23 
(Php500,000.00) Pesos and! or to an imprisonment of not less than one year and 
24 
one day but not more than six years, or both fine and penalty, at the discretion of 
25 
the court. 
26 
Sec. 54. - Other Penalties. - Any person who shall violate any of the following 
27 
provisions of this Act: 
2,8 
(a) Affixing of the title, R.Ph. by a person who is not a pharmacist and a graduate of 
29 
pharmacy degree Who is not registered with PRC (Section 21) 
30 
(b) Practice of pharmacy in the Philippines by a foreigner without special permit 
31 
(Section 28) 
. 
32 
(c) Non-indication by a pharmacist of his!her registration number and Professional 
33 
Tax Receipt number in official documents requiring such information (Section 
34 
30) 
35 
(d) Non-display of certificate of registration of a pharmacist in drug establishment 
36 
requiring such (Section 32) 
37 
(e) Non-display 
of 
certificate 
of 
registration 
of 
a 
pharmacist 
by 
an 
38 
establishment! outlet (Section 32) 
21 


1 
(f) Non-compliance with this Act's provision on the required salary for a registered 
2 
pharmacist (Section 34) 
3 
(g) Non-compliance by a pharmacist with the requirement on the filling of 
4 
prescription (Section 36) 
5 
(h) Non-compliance by a registered pharmacist on the requirement for partially 
6 
filled prescription (Section 36) 
7 
(i) Selling of physician's samples (Section 37) 
8 
0) The removal, erasure and alteration of mark or label of physician's sample 
9 
(Section 37) 
10 
(k) Non-compliance with the filling up of Record Books by a drug outlet (Section 40) 
11 
(1) Employment of persons in a pharmacy without the provision of the required 
12 
training (Section 42) 
13 
(m) Rendering dispensing-related services by non-pharmacists in a drug outlet 
14 
without undergoing the required training (Section 42) shall upon conviction 
15 
thereof, be sentenced to a fine of not less than One Hundred Thousand 
16 
(PhplOO,OOO.OO) 
Pesos 
but not exceeding 
Two 
Hundred Thousand 
17 
(Php200,000.00) Pesos or to an imprisonment of not less than Thirty (30) days 
18 
but not more than One (1) year, or both fine and penalty at the discretion of the 
19 
court. 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
28 
29 
Any person other than the citizens of the Philippines having been found 
guilty of any vioiation as provided for in this and the preceding section shall, 
after having paid the fine or having served his sentence or both when so 
adjudged, be also subject to immediate deportation. 
< 
For any violation of the provisions of this Act penalized under this and 
the preceding section, which also constitutes or considered as punishable 
offense or described as a violation of other laws, the applicable penalty shall be 
that of the law providing for a higher fine and! or imprisonment. 
For any violation of the rules and regulations implementing the 
provisions of this Act, appropriate penalty shall be imposed. 
30 
ARTICLE VIII 
31 
FINAL PROVISIONS 
32 
Sec. 55; - Enforcement. - The Commission shall be the enforcement agency of this Act. 
33 
As such, the Commission shall implement the appropriate provisions of this Act, 
34 
enforce its implementing rules and regulations as adopted by the Board, assist the 
35 
Board in the investigation of complaints against violators of this Act, its rules and 
36 
regulations, Code of Ethics for pharmacists, professional standards, and other policies 
37 
of the Board and the Commission. 
38 
The Commission and! or the Board shall call upon or request any department, 
39 
instrumentality, office, bureau, institution or agency of the government, including local 
40 
government units to 'render such assistance as it may require, or to coordinate or 
41 
cooperate in order to carry but, enforce or implement the provisions of this Act. 
22 


1 
Sec. 56. - Appropriations. - The Chairperson of the PRC shall immediately include in its 
2 
programs on the implementation of this Act, the funding of which shall be charged 
3 
against their current years' appropriations and thereafter, in the annual General 
4 
Appropriations Act. 
5 
Sec. 57. - Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within one hundred and twenty (120) 
6 
days after the approval of this Act, the Board subject to the approval by the 
7 
Commission, in consultation with the AINO, shall issue and formulate the rules and 
8 
regulations, the Code of Ethics and professional standards for pharmacists, to 
9 
effectively implement this Act. 
10 
Sec. 58. - Separability Clause. - If any clause, provisions, paragraph or part 
11 
hereof shall be declared unconstitutional or invalid, such judgment shall not affect, 
12 
invalidate, impair any other part thereof, but such judgment shall be merely confined to 
13 
the clause, provision, paragraph or part directly involved in the controversy in which 
14 
such judgment has been rendered. 
15 
Sec. 59. - Repealing clause. - R.A. No. 5921, known as the Pharmacy Law, as amended 
16 
by E.O. No. 174, and PD No. 1363, and all other laws are hereby repealed, Presidential 
17 
decrees, executive orders; and other administrative issuances and parts thereof which 
18 
are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby modified, amended, 
19 
superseded or repealed accordingly. 
20 
Sec. 60. - Effectivity. - This Act shall take effecfafter fifteen (15) days following the full 
21 
and complete publication thereof in the Official Gazette or in any major daily 
22 
newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines. 
23 
Approved, 
23