FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
1 
SENATE 
S.B. No. -- 
Introduced 'by SENATOR JUAN PONCE ENRILE 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
In the past several years, our country has been a witness to an exodus of Filipino 
medical practitioners going abroad to take on other professions, such as the nursing 
profession. 
A study by the National Institute of Health revealed that at least 3,500 
doctors have left the country since the year 2000 to work as nurses. These figures were 
confirmed by the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA) in its annual report 
where they indicated that health care professionals continue to dominate the number of 
professionals leaving the Philippines every year. 
Compounding the personal economic considerations of each doctor who seek 
greener pasture abroad are the prevailing political instability and the apparent lack of 
commitment on the part of the government to prioritize the health care system in the 
country. Undeniably, the health sector continues to receive one of the lowest allocations 
under the annual appropriations of the government. 
According to a group called Health Alliance for Democracy, health care services 
in the Philippines are already operating at 3.5% of the GNP budget - below the 5% 
percent recommended by the World Health Organization. This could only mean that 
fewer people could afford to see the doctor or to pay for prescribed medicines. This also 
meant budget cuts for government-run hospitals, stoppage of various health programs 
and, ultimately, less income and resources for doctors and nurses. 
Unfortunately, the consequence of medical practitioners high-tailing it to another 
country for better opportunities has caused dire working conditions of the health care 
system they left behind. We have now started to feel the effects of dwindling professional 
health care providers as the decision by many doctors to become nurses has aggravated 
the doctor-to-population ratio. While the ideal ratio is one doctor for every 6,000 
Filipinos, there is now one for every 26,000. Furthermore, reports from the Department 
of Health indicate that 42 towns in the country, belonging to the SIh and 6'h income 
brackets of government, remained without a doctor. 
Thus, it is incumbent upon the government to take the necessary steps to 
revitalize, develop and sustain the practice of medicine here in the Philippines. Congress 
is now being urged to undertake a much-needed review of the Medical Act of 1959. 
Hence, this bill. 


This proposed measure seeks to enact a new Physicians Act that will govern the 
regulation of the education, licensing and the practice of medicine by physicians here in 
the Philippines. It is not only enough to address their economic concerns by increasing 
their pay and remuneration but as the government thus recognizes the very crucial role of 
physicians in the national health care system, it is also essential that an environment be 
provided for them where they can further cultivate and enhance their skills and expertise 
thereby upgrading the standards by which their practice shall be measured. 
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is e t l y  sought 


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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
1 
SENATE 
S.B. No. 
x226 
Introduced by SENATOR JUAN PONCE ENRILE 
AN ACT 
REGULATING THE EDUCATION AND LICENSURE OF PHYSICIANS AND 
THE PRACTICE OF MEDICINE IN THE PHILIPPINES, REPEALING FOR 
THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 2382, AS AMENDED, AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES 
Be it enacted in the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
ARTICLE I - GENERAL PROVISIONS 
SEC. 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Physicians Act of 2007" 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State recognizes the vital role of physicians 
in nation-building and, towards this end, promotes the sustained development of a pool of 
physicians whose competence shall be certified through honest and credible licensure 
examinations and whose standards of professional service and practice shall be at par 
with internationally recognized ethics and conduct. 
SEC. 3. Objectives. - This Act shall govern: 
(a) 
the standardization, upgrading, and regulation of medicine courses 
including internship training; 
the examination for registration and licensure of Physicians; 
the supervision, control and regulation of the practice of medicine; 
the integration of the medical profession; and, 
the development of the professional competence of physicians 
through continuing professional education in accordance with the 
guidelines set by the Professional Regulation Commission. 
(b) 
(c) 
(d) 
(e) 
SEC. 4. Enforcement. - For the purpose of implementing the provisions of this 
Act, there shall be created the following: thc Council on Medical Education, hereinafter 
referred to as the Council, under the administrative control and supervision of the 
Commission on Higher Edncation (CHED); and, the Professional Regulatory Board of 


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Medicine, hereinafter referred to as the Board, under the administrative supervision and 
control of the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), hereinafter referred to as the 
Commission. 
ARTICLE I1 - COUNCIL ON MEDICAL EDUCATION 
SEC. 5. Composition of the Council on Medical Education. - There shall be 
created the Council on Medical Education which shall be composed of the following: 
Chairman of the Commission on Higher Education, or hidher duly 
authorized representative, as Chairman; 
the Secretary of the Department of Health, or hisher duly 
authorized representative, as member; 
the Chairman of the Professional Regulatory Board For Medicine, 
or hisiher duly authorized representative, as member; 
the President of the Philippine Medical Association, or hidher 
authorized representative, as member; and, 
the President of the Association of Philippine Medical Colleges, or 
hidher duly authorized representative, as member. 
SEC. 6. Functions and Duties. - The Council on Medical Education shall have 
the following functions and duties: 
To determine and prescribe requirements for admission into a 
recognized College of Medicine in accordance with the guidelines 
issued by the CHED; 
To determine and prescribe requirements for minimum physical 
facilities of colleges of Medicine, to wit: buildings, including 
hospitals, equipment and supplies, apparatus, 
instruments, 
appliances, laboratories, bed capacity for instruction purposes, 
operating and delivery rooms, facilities for out-patient services, 
and other equipment used for didactic and practical instruction in 
accordance with modern trends; 
To determine and prescribe the minimum number and the 
minimum qualifications of teaching personnel including student-to- 
teacher ratio; 
To determine and prescribe the minimum required curriculum 
including internship leading to the degree oE Doctor of Medicine; 
To authorize the implementation of innovative and medical 
curricula in a medical school that has exceptional faculty and 


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instrumental facilities. Such an innovative curriculum may include 
admission and graduation requirements other than those prescribed 
in this Act: Provided, That only exceptional students shall be 
enrolled in the innovative curriculum; 
To select, determine and approve hospitals or some departments of 
the hospitals for training which comply with the minimum specific 
physical facilities as provided in subparagraph (b) hereof; and, 
To promulgate, prescribe and enforce the necessary rules and 
regulations for the proper implementation of the foregoing 
functions. 
SEC. 7. Compensation and Travel Expenses. - The Chairman, members and 
secretary of the Council shall receive reasonable per diems for every meeting attended: 
Provided, That the number of meetings shall not exceed four times in a month. They shall 
likewise be entitled to travelling expenses in connection with their official duties. The 
grant of per diems and travelling expenses shall be at rates in accordance with existing 
accounting and auditing rules and regulations. 
SEC. 8. Minimum Required Course. - Students seeking admission to a medical 
course must have a bachelor's degree in science or arts. The said medical course leading 
to the degree of Doctor of Medicine shall be for five (5) years inclusive of clinical 
clerkship and internship and shall consist of the following subjects: Anatomy and 
Histology; Physiology; Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Pharmacology and 
Therapeutics; General Pathology; Clinical Pathology, Microbiology and Parasitology; 
Internal Medicine; Neurology and Psychiatry; Obstetrics and Gynecology; Pediatrics and 
Nutrition; Surgery, Ophthalmology and; Otorhinolaryngology; Preventive Medicine and 
Public Health; Legal Medicine, Medical Jurisprudence, Medical Ethics and Economics: 
Provided, That, the Council is authorized to modify, rearrange, add, recluster, and revise 
the above-mentioned subjects as the needs and the demands of development in the 
medical profession may require. 
SEC. 9. Admission Requirements. - The College of Medicine may admit any 
student who has not been convicted by final judgment by any court of any criminal 
offense involving moral turpitude and who presents the following: 
(a) 
a record showing completion of a bachelor's degree in science or 
arts; 
a certificate of good moral character issued by two (2) former 
professors in the college offering the pre-medicine course(s); and, 
(b) 


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(c) 
an authenticated birth certificate. 
Nothing in this Act shall be construed to inhibit any College of Medicine from 
establishing, in addition to the requirements specified in the paragraph, other 
requirements that may be deemed necessary for admission. 
For the purpose of this Act, the term "College of Medicine" shall mean to include 
faculty of medicine, institute of medicine, school of medicine or other similar institution, 
offering a complete medical course leading to the degree of Doctor of Medicine or its 
equivalent course obtained abroad. 
Every College of Medicine must keep coinplete records of enrollment, grades, 
graduates and must publish each year a catalogue stating the following information: 
date of publication; 
calendar of academic year; 
faculty roll indicating whether on full or part time basis; 
requirements for admission; 
grading system; 
requirements for promotion; 
requirements for graduation; 
curriculum and description of course by department; and, 
number of students enrolled in each class in the preceding year. 
ARTICLE 111 
THE PROFESSIONAL REGULATORY BOARD FOR MEDICINE 
SEC. 10. Composition of the Board. - There is hereby created a Professional 
Regulatory Board for Medicine, hereinafter referred to as the Board, under the 
administrative control and supervision of the Professional Regulation Commission, 
hereinafter referred to as the Commission. The Board shall he composed of a Chairman 
and six (6) members to be appointed by the President of the Philippines from among 
three (3) recommendees for each position, chosen and ranked by the Commission from a 
list of five (5) nominees for each position submitted by the integrated arid accredited 
professional organization. The Board shall be organized not later than six (6) months 
from the effectivity of this Act. 
SEC. 11. Powers and Duties of the Board - The Board shall exercise executive 
or administrative, rule-making and quasi-judicial powers in carrying ont the provisions of 
this Act. It shall be vested with the following specific powers, functions, duties and 
responsibilities: 
(a) 
Supervise and regulate the practice of medicine in the Philippines; 


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Determine and evaluate the qualifications of the applicants for 
registration, with or without the Physician Licensure Examination, 
and for the purpose of the issuance of special permits; 
Undertake the necessary preparations for the conduct of the 
Physician Licensure Examination, in relation to Section 19 hereof 
such as prescribing the syllabi of the subjects and their relative 
weights for the licensure examinations; formulating, modifying or 
adopting test questions and depositing them in a test question hank; 
drawing the test questions at random through a computerized 
process; 
Conduct walk-in examinations, if practicable; 
Correct and rate the examinations papers and submit the 
examination results to the Commission within the period provided 
for by the rules of the Commission; 
Prescribe, amend or revise the requirements for the subjects in the 
Physician Licensure Examination and their relative weights subject 
to the approval of the Commission; 
Register successful examinees in the Physician Licensure 
Examination 
and issue the corresponding certificates of 
registration; 
Issue special or temporary permits to foreign physicians with 
highly specialized skills which no Filipino possesses, as certified 
by the Department of Health and the Department of Labor and 
Employment, to practice medicine for specific projects and for a 
specific duration of time; 
Look into the conditions affecting the practice of medicine, adopt 
measures for the enhancement of the profession and the 
maintenance of a high professional, technical, and ethical 
standards; 
Recommend to CHED the opening or closure of a program of 
Medicine and conduct ocular inspection of places where physicians 
practice their profession; 
Monitor the performance of the medical schools and their 
compliance with the rules and regulations of the Council on 
Medical Education; 
Promulgate rules and regulations, and a Code of Ethics for 
Physicians, administrative policies, orders, and issuances to carry 
out the provisions of this Act; 


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Investigate violations of the Act and the rules and regulations, 
Code of Ethics, administrative policies, orders and issuances 
promulgated by the Board: Provided, That the rules on 
administrative investigation promulgated by the Commission shall 
govern such investigation; 
Issue subpoena or subpoena duces tecum to secure the attendance 
of respondents or witnesses or the production of documents 
relative to the investigation conducted by the Board; 
Delegate to the Chairman, Vice-chairman, Member of the Board, 
or a Commission Attorney the hearing of an administrative case, If 
the case is technical in nature or concerns strictly the practice of 
the profession, the investigation shall be presided by the Chairman, 
Vice-chairman or a Member of the Board with assistance of a PRC 
attorney; 
Render decision, order or resolution on preliminary investigation 
or inquiry against violators of this Act, Rules and Regulations or 
any policy on undocketed cases and on docketed administrative 
cases against examinees or registrants which shall become final 
and executory unless appealed to the Commission within fifteen 
(1 5) days from receipt of the copy thereof; 
After due notice and hearing, cancel examination papers and/or bar 
any examinee who shall be found to have violated provision or 
provisions of this Act from future examinations; refuse or defer his 
registration; reprimand the registrant with stern warning; suspend 
him/her from the practice of the profession; revoke hidher 
certificate of registration; cancel special or temporary permit; 
remove hisher name from the roll of physicians for continuous 
nonpayment of annual registration fees and non-compliance with 
Continuing Professional Education (CPE) requirements; 
After due consideration, notice, hearing and deliberation, reinstate 
or re-enroll his name in the said roll and reissue or return hidher 
certificate of registration and professional identification card 
pursuant to Section 3 1 hereof; 
Administer oaths in connection 
with 
the 
administration, 
implementation, or enforcement of this Act; 
Prosecute or institute criminal action against any violator of this 
Act and/or the rules and regulations of the Board; 
Adopt an official seal; 


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(v) 
Coordinate with the Council of Medical Education in prescribing, 
amending and/or revising the courses; 
Assist the Commission in the implementation of its prescribed 
guidelines and criteria on the Continuing Professional Education 
for registered/licensed physicians; and 
Perform such other functions and duties as may he iiecessary to 
effectively implement this Act. 
(w) 
(x) 
The policies, resolutions, and rules and regulations, issued or promulgated by the 
Board shall be subject to the review, revision, and approval by the Commission: 
Provided, however, that the Board's decisions, resolutions or orders which are not 
interlocutory, rendered in an administrative case, shall be subject to review only if on 
appeal. 
SEC. 12. Qunl@cations ofBo0np.d Members. - Each member of the Board must, 
at the time of hidher appointment: 
Be a natural born Filipino citizen and a resident of the Philippines 
for at least ten (1 0) consecutive years; 
Be at leastforty (40) years old; 
Be a physician who is a holder of a valid certificate of registration 
and a valid professional identification card; 
Be a medical practitioner for at least ten (10) years; 
Be a bonajde member of the integrated and accredited national 
organization of Physicians; 
Have not been convicted by final judgment by a competent court of 
a criminal offense involving moral turpitude; 
Have at least two (2) years experience as faculty members in a 
college of medicine; 
Not be a member of the faculty in an institute, school or college of 
medicine or not have a pecuniary interest, direct or indirect, in the 
institution which offers and operates the course or degree ofDoctor 
of Medicine; 
Not be connected with a review center or school or group or 
association where review classes or lectures in preparation for the 
Physician Licensure Examination are being conducted, at the time 
of appointment; and, 
Not be an officer of the accredited organization of physicians or the 
integrated and accredited national organization of registered and 
licensed physicians at the time of appointment. 


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SEC. 13. Term of Of@ce. - The Members of the Board shall hold office from the 
date of their appointment for a term of three (3) years or until their successors shall have 
been appointed. They may, however, be reappointed for another term after expiry of their 
first term. Appointments to fill up vacancies created by causes other than through 
expiration of regular terms shall be for the unexpired period only. Each member shall 
take an oath of office before entering upon the performance of hidher duties. The 
incumbents whose terms have not yet expired or who are serving in a holdover capacity 
at the effectivity of this Act shall be allowed to serve the unexpired portions of their 
terms and may be appointed under this Act. 
SEC. 14. Compensation of Board Members. - The Chairman and Members of the 
Board shall receive compensation and allowances comparable to the compensation and 
allowances received by the chairmen and members of existing regulatory boards under 
the Commission as provided for under the General Appropriations Act. 
SEC. 15. Suspension or Removal of Board Member. - The President of the 
Philippines, upon the recommendation of the Commission after giving the concerned 
member an opportunity to defend himselfherself in a proper administrative investigation 
to be conducted by the Commission, may suspend or remove any member of the Board 
on the following grounds: 
(a) 
(b) 
(c) 
Neglect of duty or incompetence; 
Unprofessional, unethical or dishonorable conduct; 
Manipulation or rigging of the Physician Licensure Examination's 
results, providing secret information, or disclosure of the 
examination questions prior to the conduct of the said examination, 
or tampering of the grades therein; or 
Final conviction by the court of criminal offenses involving moral 
turpitude. 
(d) 
SEC. 16. Administrative Management, Ciistody of Records, Secretariat and 
Support Services. - The Board shall be under the administrative and executive 
management of the Commission, with the Chairman of the Commission as the Chief 
Executive Officer thereof. All records of the Board shall be under the custody of the 
Commission. 
The Commission shall designate the Secretary of the Board and shall provide the 
Secretariat and other support services to implement the provisions of this Act. 


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SEC. 17. Annual Report. - The Board shall, on or before the end of January of 
the following year, submit its annual report of accomplishments on programs, projects, 
and activities undertaken during the previous calendar year together with its appropriate 
recommendations on issues or problems affecting the practice of medicine, to be 
submitted to the Commission. 
ARTICLE IV 
EXAMINATION, REGISTRATION AND LICENSURE 
SEC. 18. Prerequisite to the Practice of Medicine. - No person shall engage in 
the practice of Medicine in the Philippines unless heishe holds: 
(a) 
a valid certificate of registration and a professional identification 
card; 
a valid special or temporary permit issued by the Board subject to 
approval by the Commission, or unless he/she is exempted by this 
Act from holding any of the foregoing licenses. 
(b) 
SEC. 19. Examinations Required. - All applicants for registration, before they 
can be issued a certificate of registration and professional identification card as a 
physician, shall be reqnired to pass a written licensure examination for physicians as 
provided for in this Act, subject to the payment of the fees prescribed by the 
Commission. 
SEC. 20. Qualifications for Examination. - Every applicant for examination 
shall establish to the satisfaction of the Board that heishe has the following qualifications: 
(a) 
Heishe is a citizen and resident of the Philippines; Provided, that in 
cases of a foreign citizen, he or she must first comply with the 
provisions of Section 38 of this Act; 
He/she is mentally, emotionally and physically sound; 
W s h e  has not been convicted in a final judgment by a court for 
any criminal offense involving moral turpitude; 
Heishe is a holder of a degree of Doctor of Medicine conferred by 
a College of Medicine established in the Philippines and duly 
recognized by CHED or of a degree conferred by a College of 
Medicine abroad and accredited by CHED as substantially 
equivalent to the degree of Doctor of Medicine offered by a 
College of Medicine here in the Philippines; and, 
(b) 
(c) 
(d) 


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(e) 
I-Iehhe has completed one year of post-graduate internship in a 
Philippine hospital or training abroad accredited as equivalent to 
such internship by the Board, 
SEC. 21. Venues and Schedule of Exuminntions. - The Board shall conduct 
examinations for the registration of Physicians at least once a year in such places and 
dates as the Commission may designate in accordance with the provisions of Republic 
Act No. 8981, otherwise known as the Professional Regulation Commission 
Modernization Act of 2000. 
SEC. 22. Registration, Issuance of CertiFcnte of Registrntion nnd Professional 
Zdentijkation Card, and Non-registration. - All successful examinees, upon compliance 
with all the legal requirements and payment of fees prescribed by the Commission, shall 
be registered and issued certificates of registration and professional identification cards 
by the Commission. The certificate of registration shall bear the registration number and 
date of issuance and the signatures o f  the Chairperson and the members of the Board, 
stamped with the seal of the Commission and the Board, certifying that the name of the 
person stated therein appears in the Registry or Roll o€ Physicians under the custody o f  
the Commission; that he or she has met or complied with all the legal requirements for 
registration as a physician; that he or she is entitled to exercise all the privileges 
appurtenant to the practice of his or her profession; Provided, That, heishe does not 
violate this Act, its implementing rules and regulations, Code of Ethics for Physicians, 
Code of Technical or Professional Standards and other regulatory policies of the 
Commission and the Board. 
The Professional Identification Card duly signed by the Chairperson of the 
Commission shall bear the name of the registered physician, hisker registration number, 
the date of issuance, its date of expiry, and shall be evidence that he/she can lawfully 
practice hidher profession. 
A successful examinee who has been convicted in final judgment by a court for a 
criminal offense on moral turpitude, found guilty by the Board for dishonorable or 
immoral conduct, or declared by the court to be of unsound mind shall not be included in 
the Registry. The decision of the Board, finding the examinee guilty for dishonorable or 
immoral conduct, may be appealed by the examinee to the Commission and/or to the 
Court of Appeals. The facts and the reasons for refusal to register shall be in writing, 
communicated to the examinee, and duly incorporated in the records of the Commission. 
SEC. 23. Scope of Examination. - The Physician Licensure Examinations shall 
cover the following individual or combined/clustered subjects with equal weights for 


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each one final examination after completion of internship: (1) Anatomy; (2) Physiology; 
(3) Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; (4) Pharmacology and Therapeutics; (5) 
Microbiology and Parasitology; (6) Medicine; (7) Pediatrics and Nutrition; (8) Pathology; 
(9) Obstetrics and Gynecology; (1 0) Surgery, Ophthalmology, Otolaryngology and 
Otorhinotoryngology (1 1) Preventive Medicine and Public Health; (12) Legal Medicine, 
Code of Ethics for Physicians, and Jurisprudence on the Practice of Medicine; and (13) 
Neurology and Psychiatry. 
When an urgent and important need arises to conform to technological and 
modern changes, the Board may recluster, rearrange, modify the foregoing subjects, add 
to or exclude any subject, or prescribe the number of final examination(s) to be 
conducted every year, in consultation with the Council and with approval by the 
Commission. The Board Resolution thereon shall be officially published in the Oficial 
Gazette or newspapers of general circulation and also circularized and disseminated to all 
of Medicine. 
Each of the thirteen (13) subjects shall have its syllabus or table of specification. 
The Board shall apply the syllabi only after necessary consultation with the concerned 
members of the academe, approval by the Commission, publication of its Board 
Resolution pursuant to legal requirements, dissemination to all Colleges of Medicine, and 
a lapse of at least three (3) months from its effectivity. Each syllabus shall be subject to 
modification or amendment, as the need arises. 
SEC. 24. Rating in the Examination. - To pass the Physician Licensure 
Examination, an examinee must obtain a general weighted average rating in all thirteen 
(13) subjects of no less than seventy-five percent (75%) with no rating in any subject 
below fifty per cent (50%). 
SEC. 25. Reports and Publication of the Results of Examination. - The Board 
shall report the rating of each examinee to the Commission within ten (10) days from the 
last day of examination. The official results of the examination, containing the list of 
topnotcher examinees, and the names of the schools or colleges obtaining top percentages 
of successful graduate examinees shall be published by the Commission in a newspaper 
of general circulation. 
The Report of Rating of every examinee shall be mailed to his given address 
using the mailing envelope he submitted during the examination. 
SEC. 26. Oath. - All successful examinees shall be required to take their oath 
before the Board, or any official authorized by the Commission to administer oath, prior 


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to the issuance of their certificates of registration and professional identification card or 
before they start the practice of their profession. 
ARTICLE V 
REGULATION OF THE PRACTICE OF THE MEDICAL PROFESSION 
SEC. 27. Acts Constituting the Practice of Medicine. - A person shall be 
considered as engaged in the practice of Medicine: 
for compensation, fee, salary or reward in any form paid to him 
directly or through another, physically examine any person and 
diagnose, treat, operate or prescribe any remedy for human disease, 
injury, deformity, physical, mental, psychical condition or any 
ailment, real or imaginary, regardless of the nature of the remedy 
for treatment administered, prescribed or recommended; 
by means of signs, cards, advertisements, written or printed matter; 
or through the radio, television or any other means of 
communication, either offer or undertake by any means or method 
to diagnose, treat, operate or prescribe any remedy for ariy humari 
disease, injury, deformity, physical, mental or psychological 
condition; 
administer medical aid or treatment in life threatening situations 
where pharmacy services are not accessible; 
use M.D. after hisher name; 
teach, lecture or conduct review classes on subjects on the medical 
degree or in the Physicians Licensure Examination; or 
be a holder of a special/ternporary permit. 
SEC. 28. Suspension or Revocation of the Cert@cate of Registration. - The 
Board shall have the power, upon proper notice and hearing, to revoke the certificate of 
registration of a physician, suspend him/her From the practice of himiher profession or, in 
case of a foreign physician, reprimand him/her of a cancellation of the special or 
temporary permit issued thereto, for any of the following grounds or causes: 
(a) 
Final conviction by a court of competent jurisdiction of any 
criminal offense involving moral turpitude; 
(b) 
Immoral or dishonorable conduct; 
(c) 
Insanity; 
(d) 
Fraud in the acquisition of certificate of registration and 
professional identification card or temporary or special permit; 


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Gross negligence, ignorance or incompetence in the practice of 
hidher profession, resulting in an injury or death of the patient; 
Addiction to alcoholic beverages, or to any habit-forming drug 
rendering him/her incompetent to practice hidher profession, 
False or extravagant or unethical advertisements wherein other 
things than his name, profession, limitation of practice, clinic 
hours, office and home address arc mentioned; 
Performance of; or aiding in, any criminal abortion; 
Issuance of any false medical certificate; 
Issuance of any statement or spreading any news or rumor which is 
derogatory to the character and reputation of another physician 
without justifiable move; 
The aiding or acting as dummy €or unqualified or unregistered 
person to practice medicine; 
Violation of any provision of the Code of Ethics for Physicians or 
the Code of Technical or Professional Standards as prescribed by 
the organization of physicians accredited by the Commission or by 
the integrated and accredited national organization of physicians, 
and adopted and promulgated by the Board subject to the approval 
of the Commission; 
The practice of profession during the period of his suspension from 
the practice thereof; 
Refusal to attend to a patient in danger of death if there is no risk to 
his own life; 
Expulsion or termination of membership in the integrated and 
accredited national organization of physicians; and 
Violation of this Act, its implementing rules and regulations and 
other policies the Board and the Commission issued pursuant to 
this Act. 
A decision of suspension, revocation of the certificate of 
registration or removal from the roll by the Board as provided herein may 
be appealed initially to the Commission within fifteen days from receipt 
thereof. The decision of the Commission may be appealed to the Court of 
Appeals in accordance with the procedures provided in the Rules of Court. 
SEC. 29. Rights of Respondents. - The respondent physician shall be entitled to 
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be represented by a counsel or be heard in person, to have a speedy and public hearing, to 


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confront, and to cross-examine witness or witnesses testifying against him, and to all 
other rights guaranteed by the Constitution provided for in the Rules of Court. 
SEC. 30. Appeals from Judgment. - The decision of the Board shall 
automatically become final fifteen (15) days after the date of its promulgation unless the 
respondent, during the same period, has appealed the said decision o f  the Commission. If 
the final decision is not satisfactory, the respondent may appeal the decision to the Court 
of Appeals. 
SEC. 31. Reissuance of Revoked Certificate of Registration and Professional 
License and Replacement of Lost Certc9cate or Professional License. - A€ter two (2) 
years and after due consultation with the integrated and accredited national organization 
of physicians, the Board may order the reinstatement of any physician whose certificate 
of registration has been revoked, if the respondent has acted in an exemplary manner in 
the community. 
A new certificate of registration or professional license may be issued to a 
physician who has lost, destroyed or mutilated, subject to the rules of the Commission. 
SEC. 32. Indication of Cert@cate or Registrution and Professional T m  Receipt. 
- A registered physician shall indicate hisher certificate of registration number, date of 
issuance, the expiry date, and the professional tax receipt number on the prescription and 
other documents he/she signs, uses or issues in connection with the practice of hisiher 
profession. 
SEC. 33. Vested Rights. - All physicians registered at the time this law tales 
effect shall automatically be registered under the provisions hereof, subject however to 
future requirements set forth hereunder. 
SEC. 34. Persons Exempted from Holding Valid Certijicate of Registrution or 
Special Tenzporary Permit. - The preceding section shall not be construed to affect the 
following: 
(a) 
any medical student duly enrolled in an approved medical college 
or school, or any graduate who is under training, or who is serving 
without any professional fee in any government or private hospital: 
Provided That, he/she renders such service under the direct 
supervision and control of a registered physician; 
any legally registered dentist engaged exclusively in the practice of 
dentistry; 
(b) 


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any duly registered masseur or physiotherapist: Provided, that 
he/she applies massage or other physical means upon written order 
or prescription OC a duly registeredilicensed physician: Provided, 
further, that such application of massage of physical means shall 
be limited to physical or muscular development; 
any duly registered optometrist who mechanically fits or sells 
lenses, artificial eyes, limbs, or other similar appliances or who is 
engaged in the mechanical examination of the eyes for the purpose 
of constructing or adjusting eyeglasses, spectacles and lenses; 
any person who renders any service gratuitously in cases of 
emergency, or in places where the services of a duly registered 
physician, nurse or midwife is not available; 
any person who administers or recommends any household remedy 
as per classification of existing pharmacy laws; 
any clinical psychologist, or mental hygienist, in the performance 
of hidher duties, with regard to patients with psychiatric problems: 
Provided, that such performance is done with the prescription and 
direct supervision of a duly registeredilicensed physician; and, 
a prosthetist who tits artificial limbs under the supervision of a 
registered physicians. 
SEC. 35. Integration of tlze Profession. - The profession shall he integrated into 
one national organization of registered physicians to be duly recognized and accredited 
by the Board subject to approval by the Commission. A physician duly registered by the 
Board and the Commission shall automatically become a member of the said organization 
and shall receive the benefits and privileges appurtenant thereto upon payment of 
required fees and dues. Membership in the integrated organization shall not be a bar to 
membership in any other association of physicians. 
SEC. 36. Continuing Medical Education. - The Board shall implement the 
continuing medical education among practicing physicians in consonance with the 
guidelines of the Continuing Professional Education (CPE) of the Commission. 
Exemption from the CPE program may he applied for upon reaching the age of 65. 
SEC. 37. Automatic Registration of Plzysicinns. - All physicians whose names 
shall appear in the Registry or Roll or Roster of Physicians at the time of the effectivity 
of this Act shall automatically be registered by the Board and the Commission as 
physicians and thereafter by the integrated and accredited national organization of 


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registered and licensed physicians as its bomfide members pursuant to Section 35 of this 
Act. 
SEC. 38. Foreign Reciprocity. - Unless the country of which heishe is a subject 
or citizen specifically permits Filipino physicians to practice within its territorial limits on 
the same basis as the subject or citizen of such foreign state or country under reciprocity 
and under international agreements, no foreigner shall be admitted to the examination and 
be given a certificate of registration to practice as a physician and be entitled to any of the 
privileges under this Act. 
ARTICLE VI 
PENAL PROVISIONS 
SEC. 39. Peizaltks. - The penalties of imprisonment of not less than one (1) year 
but not more than five (5) years or a fine of not less than Fifty Thousand Pesos 
(P50,OOO. 00) but not more than Two Hundred Thousand Pesos (P200,000.00), or both, 
upon discretion of the court, shall be imposed upon any of the following: 
Any person who shall practice or offer to practice medicine in the 
Philippines without a valid certificate of registration and a valid 
professional identification card or a valid temporary or special 
permit in accordance with the provision of this Act; 
Any person presenting or attempting to use as hisiher own the 
certificate of registration or temporary or special permit of another; 
Any person who shall give any false or forged evidence of any 
kind to the Board or to the Commission in obtaining a certificate of 
registration or temporary or special permit; 
Any person who shall impersonate a registrant using the same 
name; 
Any registered or licensed physician who shall abet or assist the 
illegal practice of a person who is not lawfully qualified to practice 
medicine; 
Any person who shall attempt to use a revoked or suspended 
certificate of registration or professional identification card or a 
cancelled special or temporary permit; 
Any person who shall use or advertise any title of description 
tending to convey the impression that he is a registered licensed 
physician; 


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h) 
Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of this Act and 
its implementing rules and regulations. 
SEC. 40. Injunctions. - The Board may file an action to enjoin any person 
illegally practicing Medicine from the performance of any act constituting the practice of 
Medicine if the case so warrants until the necessary certificate therefore is secured. Any 
such person who, after having been so enjoined, continues on the illegal practice of 
Medicine shall be punished for contempt of court. The said injunction shall not relieve 
the person from criminal prosecution and punishment as provided in the preceding 
section. 
ARTICLE VI1 
FINAL PROVISIONS 
SEC. 41. Enforcement. - The Commission shall be the enforcement agency of the 
Board. As such, the Commission shall implement the concerned provisions of this Act, 
enforce its implementing rules and regulations as adopted by the Board, assist the Board 
in the investigation of compIaints against violators of this Act, its implementing rules and 
regulations, Code of Ethics for Physicians and other policies of the Board. The 
Commission or the Board shall call upon or request any department, instrumentality, 
office, bureau, institution or agency of the government, including local government units 
to render such assistance as it may require, or to coordinate or cooperate in order to carry 
out, enforce or implement the professional regulatory policies of the Government or any 
program or activity it may undertake. 
SEC. 42. Appropriations. - The Chairpersons of CHED and the PRC shall 
immediately include in their programs the implementation of this Act, the fkding of 
which shall be charged against their current year’s appropriations and thereafter in their 
annual appropriations. 
SEC. 43. Implementing Rules nnd Regulations. - Within ninety days from the 
effectivity of this Act, the Board, subject to the approval of the Commission, and in 
coordination with the accredited and integrated national organization of registered and 
licensed physicians, shall prepare the necessary rules and regulations, including a Code of 
Ethics for Physicians, to implement the provisions of this Act. 
SEC. 44. Transitory Provision. - The incumbent Board shall continue to function 
in the interim until such time as the new Board shall have been constituted pursuant to 
this Act. 


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SEC. 45. Separability Clause. - If any clause, provisions, paragraphs or part 
hereof shall be declared unconstitutional or invalid, such judgment shall not affect, 
invalidate, impair any other part thereof, but such judgment shall be merely confined to 
the clause, provision, paragraph or part directly involved in the controversy in which such 
judgment has been rendered. 
SEC. 46. RepeaZiiig Clause. - Republic Act No. 2382 known as "The Medical 
Act of 1959" us amended by Republic Act Nos. 4224 and 5946, all laws amending the 
said Act, and all other laws, decrees, executive orders, and other administrative issuances 
and parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
modified, amended, superseded or repealed accordingly. 
SEC. 47. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days lollowing 
the completion of its publication in the OfJicial Gazette or any major daily newspaper of 
general circulation in the Philippines. 
Approved, 
pmv\physician'sact2 125