Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS

First Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNo._4560

EXPLANATORY NOTE

‘The Philippine Medical Association, Inc. (PMA) is an organization of doctors
licensed to practice medicine in the country. It is the mother association of all medical
organizations or the umbrella organization of the medical profession of the country
which brings together the entire medical profession under one roof to serve as an
authoritative source of information of health, disease and medical practice.

‘The PMA is responsible for the sustained excellent quality healthcare delivery
through its continuing medical education, formulation of clinical practices, and
guidelines, directly or through the special societies. It polices its own ranks through
the rigid Code of Ethics of the Medical Profession.

‘The PMA and its specialty societies periodically conduct seminars, workshop and
conventions educating its members on the latest medical technology and medicines. Its
specialty societies determine who are going to be the specialists in the several fields of
medicine.

It has eight specialty divisions: Pathology, Radiology, Anesthesiology, Surgery,
Physicians, Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology and Family Medicine. All of these
specialty divisions have several sub-specialty societies. To date, there are 28,000
phyaiclane who are members of the PMA. Membership in the PMA is coursed through
the Component Society, the basic unit of the Association. There are presently 117
Component Societies equitably distributed in all regions of the country.

All provinces and cities in the Philippines have component societies, more
popularly known as medical societies. A group of these medical societies form a region
or regional councils. The Board of Governors exercise control and supervision over the
regional councils and the component societies. The Board of Governors has the power
to realign regions and component societies and further has the power to create new
component societies or delist existing ones.

There is no other medical organization that possesses the breadth, composition,
membership and nationwide coverage of the PMA. In almost all matters affecting
health or the medical profession, the government seeks the advice of the PMA.

As such, this proposed measure seeks to institutionalize the Philippine Medical
Association as the integrated professional medical organization in the country
where all physicians wanting to practice medicine will be required to become
members of the PMA.

In so doing, it puts the PMA as a partner of the government in the
improvement of the health care delivery system by institutionalizing a mechanism
to regulate and rid the medical profession of so-called misfits found to be negligent
in the medical practice.


With the passage of this measure, the medical profession, just like the legal
profession, will be integrated into one (1) accredited organization, to be known as
the Philippine Medical Association (PMA).

In view thereof, early approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

ANGELINA noel TAN, M.D.

4th District, Quezon


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS

First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. __4060

Introduced by: Hon. Angelina “Helen” D.L. Tan, M.D.

AN ACT
ACCREDITING THE PHILIPPINE MEDICAL ASSOCIATION AS THE
INTEGRATED MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION OF THE
PHILIPPINES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1, Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Integrated Medical Professional
Organization Act”

. 2. The Philippine Medical Association, Inc, shall be the only Integrated Medical
Association Professional Organization in the Philippines.

SEC. 3. Membership. - All physicians duly registered with the Professional Regulations
Commission shall become members of the Philippine Medical Association, Inc,
Membership in good standing of the PMA shall be a condition precedent for his
renewal of license and for the continuous practice of medicine.

SEC. 4. Organization. - The organizational structure of the Philippine Medical
Association, Inc. including the specialty divisions, specialty and sub- specialty societies
and the component medical societies and as a non-stock, non- profit corporation duly
registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission shall be retained

SEC. 5. Rules and Regulations. - ‘The Philippine Medical Association shall prescribe rules
and regulations to implement the integration of the medical profession including the
various specialty divisions, the specialty and subspecialty societies and their training
program, and the component and affiliate medical societie:

SEC. 6. Complaints. - The Philippine Medical Association shall hear complaints against
its members. The Philippine Medical Association shall prescribe its procedures. ‘The
rules shall be liberally construed and the technical rules of procedure on evidence shall
not be strictly applied.

SEC. 7. Grounds. - A person may file a verified complaint before the Philippine Medical
Association against a PMA member based on the following grounds:

a) gross negligence, ignorance or incomplete in the practice of his/her
profession resulting, in death, physical injury to a person;

b) conviction by a court of competent jurisdiction of any criminal offense
involving moral turpitude;

©) immoral or dishonorable conduct;

@) insanity;

c) fraud in the acquisition of the certificate of registration, and professional
license or renewal thereof;

) addiction to alcoholic beverages or to any habit forming drug rendering him
or her incompetent to practice his or her profession;


g) false or extravagant or unethical advertisement;
performing or aiding in any criminal abortion;

i) _ knowingly issuing any false medical certificate;

j) _ issuing any statement or spreading any news or rumor which is derogatory
to the character and reputation of another physician without justifiable
motive;

k) aiding or acting as a dummy of unqualified or unregistered person to
practice medicine; and

1) _ violation of the Code of the PMA

SEC. 8. Penalties. - The Philippine Medical Association may impose penalties of
reprimand, suspension or expulsion. All cases filed or pending under this act shall not
be discussed or taken in any forum until after the same shall have been decided with
finality.

SEC. 9. Implementing Rules. - The Philippine Medical Association shall promulgate the
implementing rules and guidelines within 60 days after the enactment of this Act

SEC. 10. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional or
invalid, other provisions not affected herein shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 11. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, order, rule and regulations that are
inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed and/or modified accordingly.

SEC. 12. Effectivity. - This act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of national circulation, which ever is earlier.