1 
Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO.____ 
Introduced by Representative MA. VICTORIA CO-PILAR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines, under Article II, Section 15, 
thereof provides that “the State shall protect and promote the right to health of the 
people and instill health consciousness among them.” In fulfilling this constitutional 
mandate, it is imperative for the State to ensure that its medical professionals are trained, 
licensed, and regulated under a modern legal framework that promotes competence, 
ethical conduct, and professional accountability. 
The passage of the Philippine Medical Act is a long-overdue legislative response 
to the changing landscape of health care in the country and the world. While it is true 
that the Medical Act of 1959 (Republic Act No. 2382, as amended), was once 
groundbreaking, the outdated provisions thereof no longer respond adequately to 
contemporary health challenges, nor do they meet the standards expected in global 
medical education and practice. This bill seeks to repeal Republic Act No. 2382 and 
replace it with a new, responsive, and comprehensive law that governs the education, 
licensure, regulation, and ethical practice of physicians in the Philippines. 
This proposed measure provides a holistic legal structure that balances 
regulatory control, academic excellence, professional ethics, and public welfare. By 
updating and expanding the scope of physician regulation, the Philippine Medical Act 
reinforces the State’s responsibility to ensure that only competent, ethical, and 
compassionate physicians are entrusted with the lives and well-being of the Filipino 
people. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is respectfully and 
urgently sought. 
July 24, 2025
4:23 pm
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2 
Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO.____ 
Introduced by Representative MA. VICTORIA CO-PILAR 
AN ACT 
1 
PROVIDING FOR A PHILIPPINE MEDICAL ACT, REPEALING FOR THE 
2 
PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 2382, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS 
3 
THE MEDICAL ACT OF 1959  
4 
5 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
6 
assembled:  
7 
ARTICLE I 
8 
TITLE, POLICY, OBJECTIVES AND ENFORCEMENT 
9 
10 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Philippine Medical 
11 
Act”.  
12 
13 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. – The State recognizes the vital role of physicians 
14 
in the prevention, maintenance, safeguarding, treatment, and enhancement of the life, 
15 
health, and general welfare of the citizenry. The professional roles and services of 
16 
physicians shall, therefore, be promoted and regarded as a fundamental pillar in a health 
17 
care model that provides access to quality and cost-effective, preventive, promotive, 
18 
curative, rehabilitative, and palliative health services.  
19 
SEC. 3. Coverage. – This Act provides for and shall govern the: 
20 
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3 
 
(a) Standardization, upgrading and regulation of the basic medical 
1 
education, medical internship, and postgraduate medical education 
2 
and training;  
3 
(b) Licensure and the registration of physicians;  
4 
(c) Supervision and regulation of the practice of medicine;  
5 
(d) Integration of the medical profession under one national professional 
6 
organization of physicians; and  
7 
(e) Upholding preventive, promotive and curative disease prevention and 
8 
promotion of health, patient welfare and patient safety as the primary 
9 
consideration in the practice of medicine and promoting competence, 
10 
moral values, and professional ethics of members of the medical 
11 
profession.  
12 
SEC. 4. Enforcement. – For purposes of implementing the provisions of this 
13 
Act, there shall be created the following: Medical Education Council (MEC) under 
14 
the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Professional Regulatory Board of 
15 
Medicine  
16 
(PRBM) under the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC); Postgraduate 
17 
Medical Education Council (PGMEC) under the PRBM, and the Integrated 
18 
Philippine Medical Association (IPMA).  
19 
These entities may call upon or request any department, instrumentality, office, 
20 
bureau, institution, or agency of the government including local government units 
21 
(LGUs) to render such assistance as they may require to carry out, enforce, or 
22 
implement the professional regulatory policies of the government or any program or 
23 
activity they may undertake pursuant to the provisions of this Act.  
24 
 
25 
 
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4 
 
ARTICLE II 
1 
DEFINITION OF TERMS  
2 
SEC. 5. Definition of Terms. – As used in this Act:  
3 
(a) Accreditation refers to the formal or official approval granted to a 
4 
person, a program or organization, upon meeting essential requirements 
5 
of achievement standard, including qualifications or units of a 
6 
qualification, usually for a particular period of time, as accrediting body;  
7 
(b) Basic Medical Education  refers to a post-baccalaureate program 
8 
offered by a medical college recognized by the CHED composed of core 
9 
curricular and clinical subjects, the completion of which leads to the 
10 
conferment of the degree of Doctor of Medicine and grants the holder the 
11 
eligibility to take the Physician Licensure Examination inclusive of a one 
12 
(1) year medical internship, offered by a medical college recognized by 
13 
CHED;  
14 
(c) Illegal Practice of Medicine refers to the practice of the medical 
15 
profession without the required valid certificate of registration and valid 
16 
professional identification card as a Physician, or such other permits 
17 
evidencing the authority to practice as may be issued by the PRC and the 
18 
PRBM, including the Special Temporary Permit, or Temporary Training  
19 
Permit;  
20 
(d) Innovative Curriculum refers to a curriculum that applies non-
21 
traditional, flexible, creative, and open curricular frameworks, teaching-
22 
learning models, and methods of evaluation and assessment applied to 
23 
basic medical education in real world situations as defined by the CHED 
24 
in its pertinent policies, standards and guidelines for medical education 
25 


5 
 
program: Provided, That the same program outcomes are achieved that 
1 
will lead to the same MD degree;  
2 
(e) Integrated Philippine Medical Association (IPMA) refers to the 
3 
integrated national professional organization of physicians in the 
4 
Philippines recognized and accredited by the PRBM of the PRC;  
5 
(f) Medical College refers to a learning institution which has complied with 
6 
the standards and requirements set forth and duly recognized by the 
7 
CHED to offer a complete basic medical education program leading to a 
8 
degree of Doctor of Medicine. It may also be known as a college of 
9 
medicine, faculty of medicine, institute of medicine, school of medicine 
10 
or other similar names;  
11 
(g) Medical Specialist refers to a duly licensed physician who, after having 
12 
completed the prescribed training in an accredited postgraduate 
13 
education and training institution and passed the corresponding 
14 
specialty board certifying examination, is qualified to practice a 
15 
particular medical specialty or subspecialty;  
16 
(h) Medical Specialty refers to a major branch or discipline of medicine that 
17 
is focused on a defined group of patients, diseases, or skills in which a 
18 
physician-practitioner 
has 
special 
additional 
knowledge, 
skills, 
19 
experience, and expertise acquired after completion of a formal 
20 
postgraduate education and training program in a PRBM accredited 
21 
training institution;  
22 
(i) Physician Licensure Examination refers to an evaluative process 
23 
conducted by the PRBM of the PRC to eligible candidates to determine 
24 
their competency to practice the profession as physicians and a successful 
25 


6 
 
result thereof being a requirement for the issuance of a PRC professional 
1 
license;  
2 
(j) Postgraduate Medical Education and Training refers to an educational 
3 
program either through a clinical or non-clinical track, pursued after 
4 
conferment of a Doctor of Medicine degree, and referring to any type of 
5 
formal medical education or training in a hospital, community, facility, 
6 
institute, or higher education institution (HEI) or any combination 
7 
thereof leading to specialization;  
8 
(k) Primary care refers to initial contact, accessible, continuous, 
9 
comprehensive, and coordinated health care or medical care that is 
10 
accessible at the time of need including a range of services for all 
11 
presenting conditions, and the ability to coordinate referrals to other 
12 
health care providers in the health care delivery system, when necessary;  
13 
(l) Resident or Fellow Trainee refers to a duly licensed physician  
14 
undergoing postgraduate medical education and training in a particular 
15 
specialty or subspecialty of medicine in an accredited training institution;  
16 
(m) Specialty Board Certifying Examination  refers to the evaluative 
17 
process conducted at the end of the residency and fellowship training 
18 
program;  
19 
(n) Special Temporary Permit refers to the privilege granted to a foreign 
20 
Physician to be able to practice in the Philippines for a limited period of 
21 
time, subject to limitations and conditions provided for by law;  
22 
(o) Telemedicine refers to the practice of medicine by means of            
23 
electronic and telecommunications technologies such as by telephone,                    
24 
internet-enabled messaging, short messaging service (SMS), or audio- 
25 


7 
 
and video-conferencing to deliver health care at a distance between a 
1 
patient at an originating site, and a physician at a distant site; and  
2 
(p) 
Temporary Training Permit refers to the authority granted to a foreign 
3 
medical professional by the PRBM and the PRC for the purpose of undergoing medical 
4 
residency or fellowship training in the Philippines.  
5 
 
6 
ARTICLE III 
7 
MEDICAL EDUCATION COUNCIL  
8 
 SEC. 6. Creation. – There is hereby created a Medical Education Council (MEC) 
9 
under the CHED and shall be composed of the following:  
10 
(a) Chairperson of the CHED or the Chairperson’s duly authorized 
11 
representative as Chairperson of the MEC;  
12 
(b) 
Secretary of Health or the Secretary’s duly authorized representative                
13 
as member;  
14 
(c) Chairperson of the PRBM or the Chairperson’s duly authorized 
15 
representative as member;  
16 
(d) President of IPMA or the President’s duly authorized representative as 
17 
member;  
18 
(e) President of the association of Philippine medical colleges or its duly 
19 
authorized representative as member;  
20 
(f) President of the national association of hospitals duly recognized by the 
21 
Department of Health (DOH) or the President’s duly authorized 
22 
representative as member; and  
23 
(g) The Dean of the University of the Philippines College of Medicine as 
24 
permanent member.  
25 


8 
 
 The Chairperson and members of the MEC shall hold office during their incumbency 
1 
in the respective institutions or associations that they represent.  
2 
  
The MEC shall, within sixty (60) days after the effectivity of this Act, appoint a  
3 
Technical Panel on Medical Education (TPME) upon the recommendation of the 
4 
IPMA.  The TPME shall consists of a Chairperson and at least seven (7) outstanding 
5 
members of the academe, the profession or both whose responsibility is to assist the 
6 
MEC in carrying out its functions and powers on basic medical education, except for 
7 
the medical internship program.  
8 
 The MEC shall, within sixty (60) days after the effectivity of this Act, also appoint a 
9 
Technical Panel on Medical Internship (TPMI) upon the recommendation of the 
10 
IPMA.  The TPMI shall consists of a Chairperson and at least seven (7) Deans of 
11 
CHEDrecognized medical colleges or their representatives whose responsibility is to 
12 
assist the MEC in carrying out its functions and duties on the medical internship 
13 
program.  
14 
 Members thereof who are not government officials or employees shall be entitled to 
15 
per diem chargeable against the funds of the CHED, as approved by the MEC, subject 
16 
to existing rules and regulations of the Department of Budget and Management 
17 
(DBM).  SEC. 7. Functions and Duties. – The MEC shall have the following functions   
18 
and duties:  
19 
(a) Recommend the opening and recognition of new medical colleges 
20 
especially in areas of need upon compliance with the minimum 
21 
requirements;  
22 
(b) Determine the minimum requirements for physical facilities of medical 
23 
colleges such as buildings, hospitals, equipment and supplies, apparatus, 
24 
instruments, appliances, laboratories and bed capacity for instruction 
25 
purposes, operating and delivery rooms, facilities for out-patient services, 
26 


9 
 
community health services, and others that are necessary for didactic and 
1 
practical instruction in accordance with recent trends;  
2 
(c) Determine the minimum number and the standard qualifications of 
3 
administrative and academic teaching personnel including student-
4 
teacher ratio;  
5 
(d) Determine the minimum required curriculum leading to the degree of 
6 
Doctor of Medicine, including medical internship;  
7 
(e) Recommend the implementation of an acceptable innovative medical 
8 
curriculum or strategy in a medical college that has exceptional faculty, 
9 
students, equipment, and facilities; such medical colleges with an 
10 
innovative curriculum may prescribe admission and graduation 
11 
requirements other than those prescribed in this Act;  
12 
(f) Determine the minimum requirements for admission into a recognized 
13 
medical college;  
14 
(g) Develop and put into place programs as well as adopt and implement 
15 
policies that will encourage and allow applicants coming from 
16 
marginalized areas or groups as well as financially-challenged families to 
17 
be admitted into medical colleges and complete their medical education;  
18 
(h) Maintain a registry of medical students enrolled in medical colleges, and 
19 
conduct tracer studies for medical graduates for up to five (5) years from 
20 
graduation;  
21 
(i) Recommend the closure or suspension of the degree of Doctor of Medicine 
22 
program of a medical college by reason of poor performance in the 
23 
Physician Licensure Examination over a given period of time based on 
24 
statistical data furnished by the PRBM, or upon inspection of the medical 
25 
college by the MEC for reasons of various deficiencies or violations;  
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10 
 
(j) Promulgate, prescribe, and enforce policies and programs which will 
1 
ensure the proper and orderly operations and upkeep of medical colleges 
2 
in order to ensure that basic medical education is not treated merely as a 
3 
business enterprise but one with a social dimension;  
4 
(k) Regulate, supervise, and monitor the medical internship program;  
5 
  
6 
(l) Recommend to the Unified Financial Assistance System (UniFAST) Board 
7 
and  
8 
CHED, policies and strategies for the effective implementation of Republic 
9 
Act (RA) No. 10687, otherwise known as the “Unified Student Financial 
10 
Assistance System for Tertiary Education (UniFAST) Act” and RA No. 
11 
11509, otherwise known as the “Doktor Para sa Bayan Act” on matters 
12 
related to government scholarships for medical education and prescribe 
13 
mechanisms for the effective implementation of return-service agreements; 
14 
and  
15 
(m) Promulgate, prescribe, and enforce the necessary rules and regulations for 
16 
the proper implementation of the foregoing function.  
17 
SEC. 8. Medical Internship Program. – Medical Internship is a phase  of the 
18 
professional education of the physician to further hone the academic and technical 
19 
proficiency in medicine.  It is a twelve (12) month rotation conducted in an accredited 
20 
health facility and community undertaken after graduation in most medical schools 
21 
or can be incorporated in the final year of innovative medical programs. Medical 
22 
Internship is under the supervision of CHED which delegates the authority to 
23 
implement the program to the authorized association of Philippine medical colleges. 
24 
The Technical Panel for Medical Internship shall have the following functions and 
25 
duties:  
26 


11 
 
(a) Formulate a one (1)-year standardized curriculum for medical internship that 
1 
may be rotating hospital-based, community-oriented, or combination of both, 
2 
including accreditation standards for health institutions;  
3 
(b) Review the medical internship curriculum and accreditation standards at least 
4 
every four (4) years;  
5 
(c) Formulate and implement regulations and procedures for accredited health  
6 
institutions including sanctions for non-compliance;  
7 
(d) Accredit hospitals and other health facilities or settings that will be allowed to 
8 
conduct a medical internship training program;  
9 
(e) Regularly evaluate and monitor the compliance of accredited health 
10 
institutions with the prescribed curriculum and accreditation standards, and 
11 
institute mechanisms for program evaluation;  
12 
(f) Determine the reasonable processing fee for eligible applicants to the 
13 
internship program and an administrative fee for accreditation of health 
14 
institutions; 
15 
(g)Assist clinical clerks in coordination with their medical colleges, in making              
16 
an informed choice when selecting a particular health institution for their      
17 
medical  internship;  
18 
(h) Formulate and implement a national internship matching program including 
19 
mechanisms  for transfers after having been matched;  
20 
(i) Develop and implement a system for accredited health institutions to monitor 
21 
and evaluate the performance of their medical interns;  
22 
(j) Receive concerns and resolve complaints from medical interns or host 
23 
institutions; and  
24 
(k) Recommend to the MEC for the issuance of a certificate of completion of 
25 
medical internship to a medical intern upon the recommendation of the 
26 


12 
 
accredited health institution following the satisfactory completion of the 
1 
internship program.  
2 
 
3 
ARTICLE IV 
4 
THE PROFESSIONAL REGULATORY BOARD OF MEDICINE  
5 
 SEC. 9. Creation. – There is hereby created a PRBM, under the administrative 
6 
control and supervision of the PRC. The PRBM shall be composed of a Chairperson, 
7 
a Vice Chairperson and five (5) members. The Chairperson of the PRBM shall be 
8 
elected from among themselves by the members at a meeting called for a purpose. 
9 
The PRBM Chairperson shall serve for one (1) year and subject for re-election. Each 
10 
vacant  position of the PRBM shall be appointed by the President of the Republic of 
11 
the Philippines from a list of three (3) nominees submitted exclusively by the PRC 
12 
from recommendations coming from the IPMA, other professional organizations of 
13 
physicians, or recognized medical colleges. The PRBM shall be organized not later 
14 
than six (6) months from the effectivity of this Act.  
15 
 SEC. 10. Powers and Duties. – The PRBM shall be vested with the following specific 
16 
powers, functions, duties, and responsibilities:  
17 
(a) Supervise, regulate, and monitor the practice of medicine in the Philippines, 
18 
including telemedicine;  
19 
(b) Determine and evaluate qualifications of the applicants for the Physician 
20 
Licensure Examination and foreign applicants for special permits to practice 
21 
medicine in     the Philippines or temporary training permits for post-graduate 
22 
medical education and training;  
23 
  
24 
(c) Prepare the test questions in the Physician Licensure Examination in 
25 
accordance with recognized principles of evaluation and pertinent provisions 
26 


13 
 
of Section 18 of this Act; prescribe the syllabi of the subjects and their relative 
1 
weights for the licensure examinations; conduct the examination; and 
2 
determine the final rating of the examination papers of each examinee;  
3 
(d) Ensure that test questions in the Physician Licensure Examination are 
4 
appropriately formulated to assess the knowledge, skills and attitudes of              
5 
the examinees;  
6 
(e) Determine, amend or revise the coverage of the subjects in the Physician 
7 
Licensure Examination and their relative weights, and the proper conduct of 
8 
the examinations, including the security of the examination questions to 
9 
ensure that there are no leakages in the system, subject to the approval of the 
10 
PRC;  
11 
(f) Explore and develop ways on how to measure and evaluate the clinical 
12 
competence of examinees and integrate the same into the Physician Licensure 
13 
Examination;  
14 
(g) Register successful examinees in the Physician Licensure Examination in the 
15 
roll of physicians and issue the corresponding certificates of registration;  
16 
(h) Issue special or temporary permits to foreign medical professionals to practice 
17 
medicine for specific projects, duration of time, and place of practice;  
18 
(i) Administer the qualifying assessment for foreign medical professionals who   
19 
intend to train in the Philippines for a particular specialty or sub-specialty 
20 
field     of practice;  
21 
(j) Monitor the conditions affecting the practice of the medical profession, 
22 
respond to emerging needs, and adopt measures for the enhancement of the 
23 
quality of the education and practice of medicine in coordination with the 
24 
appropriate regulatory bodies;  
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14 
 
(k) Monitor the performance of medical colleges and their compliance with the 
1 
rules and regulations of the MEC, in coordination with CHED;  
2 
(l) Conduct inspection of establishments where physicians are practicing and in 
3 
the case of medical schools, in coordination with the MEC as provided in 
4 
Section 9 of  
5 
RA No. 8981, otherwise known as the “PRC Modernization Act of 2000”;  
6 
(m) Promulgate rules and regulations including a Code of Ethics of the Medical 
7 
Profession, administrative policies, orders, and issuances to carry out the 
8 
provisions of this Act, in collaboration with the IPMA;  
9 
(n) Conduct regular quality assurance programs and activities to ensure quality 
10 
medical education;  
11 
(o) Investigate meritorious cases of violations of this Act, Code of Ethics, and the 
12 
pertinent rules and regulations, administrative policies, orders, and issuances 
13 
which are recommended for decision by the IPMA. The rules on 
14 
administrative investigation promulgated by the PRC shall govern the 
15 
conduct of such investigations: Provided, That a majority of the members of 
16 
the PRBM with the assistance of the Legal Division of the PRC shall conduct 
17 
the hearings. A member of the PRBM shall be assigned to preside over each 
18 
case for hearing;  
19 
(p) Issue subpoena ad testificandum or subpoena duces tecum to secure 
20 
attendance of respondents or witnesses as well as the production of 
21 
documents: Provided, That failure to comply therewith by the party to whom 
22 
a subpoena has been issued shall be punishable by way of indirect contempt. 
23 
For this purpose, the PRBM is hereby vested the power to cite any party for 
24 
contempt which may be exercised pursuant to the applicable provisions of 
25 
Rule 71 of the Rules of Court;  
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15 
 
(q) After due notice and hearing, cancel examination papers or bar any examinee 
1 
from future examinations, or both; refuse or defer the registration of an 
2 
examinee; reprimand the physician with a stern warning; suspend the 
3 
physician from the practice of the profession; revoke the physician’s certificate 
4 
of registration; cancel special or temporary permit; impose the payment of 
5 
penalty fee, reprimand, suspend, or remove from the roll of physicians on 
6 
account of continuous non-payment of annual registration fees, reinstate or 
7 
re-enroll a physician’s name in the said roll; and re-issue or return the 
8 
physician’s certificate of registration and professional identification card.   
9 
 A decision of suspension, revocation of the certificate of registration or removal 
10 
from the roll by the PRBM as provided herein, may be appealed to the PRC 
11 
within  fifteen (15) days from receipt thereof;  
12 
(r) Administer the physician's oath;  
13 
(s) Institute and prosecute or cause to be instituted and prosecuted any and all 
14 
criminal action against any violation of this Act or the rules and regulations of 
15 
the PRBM, or both, subject to the provisions of Section 5, Rule 110 of the Rules 
16 
of Criminal Procedure, as amended;  
17 
(t) Adopt an official seal;  
18 
(u) Coordinate with the MEC in prescribing, amending or revising the curricular 
19 
courses in a Doctor of Medicine program;  
20 
(v) Assist the PRC in the implementation of its prescribed guidelines and criteria 
21 
on continuing professional development (CPD) for licensed physicians 
22 
consistent  with RA No. 10912, otherwise known as the “Continuing 
23 
Professional Development Act of 2016”;  
24 
(w) Set the standards and guidelines for the issuance and re-issuance of certificates 
25 
of registration including compliance with the PRBM’s CPD program; and  
26 


16 
 
(x) Perform such other functions and duties as may be necessary to implement 
1 
the provisions of this Act efficiently and effectively.  
2 
The policies, resolutions, rules and regulations, orders, or decisions issued or 
3 
promulgated by the PRBM shall be subject to the review, revision, and approval by 
4 
the PRC. The orders or decisions may be appealed to the PRC within the prescribed 
5 
period.  However, in case of imminent and immediate danger to patients, the PRBM’s 
6 
final decisions, resolutions or orders rendered in any administrative case shall be 
7 
immediately executory.   
8 
SEC. 11. Qualifications of Members of the Board. – Each PRBM member at 
9 
the time of appointment must have the following qualifications:  
10 
(a) A natural born Filipino citizen and has been a resident of the Philippines for 
11 
at least ten (10) consecutive years;  
12 
(b) A holder of a valid certificate of registration and updated professional 
13 
identification card as a physician;  
14 
(c) Has been practicing medicine for at least ten (10) years;   
15 
(d) A continuing bona fide member of the IPMA;  
16 
(e) Has not been convicted by final judgment by a competent court of a criminal 
17 
offense involving moral turpitude;  
18 
(f) Has at least ten (10) years’ experience as a faculty member of a medical   
19 
college and preferably with an academic rank of Associate Professor;  
20 
(g) Not a current member of the faculty staff of any medical college;  
21 
(h) Does not have any pecuniary interest in an institution which offers and 
22 
operates a program for the degree of Doctor of Medicine; and  
23 
(i) Not connected with or has no pecuniary interest in a review center, school, 
24 
group, or association offering classes or lectures as preparation for the 
25 
Physician Licensure Examination.  
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17 
 
 SEC.  12. Term of Office. – The members of the PRBM shall hold office from the 
1 
date of their appointment for a term of five (5) years or until their successors shall 
2 
have been qualified and appointed, subject to reappointment for another term only. 
3 
Appointments to fill up vacant positions for reasons other than through expiration 
4 
of regular terms, including physical or mental incapacity shall be for the unexpired      
5 
period only.   
6 
A successor to a member whose term of office has expired shall be appointed for 
7 
the full term of five (5) years from the date of expiration of the term of office for which 
8 
member’s predecessor was appointed.   
9 
Each member shall take an oath of office before the performance of their duties 
10 
and responsibilities. The incumbents whose terms have not yet expired or who are 
11 
merely on a hold over capacity, at the effectivity of this Act, shall be allowed to serve 
12 
the unexpired portion of their terms or may be re-appointed under this Act.  
13 
 SEC. 13. Compensation. – The Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, and members of 
14 
the PRBM shall receive compensation and allowances or other benefits pursuant to 
15 
the provisions of RA No. 8981, and other pertinent laws and comparable to the 
16 
compensation and allowances received by the chairperson and members of existing 
17 
professional regulatory boards.  
18 
  
SEC. 14.  Suspension or Removal. – The President, upon recommendation of 
19 
the PRC after giving the member an opportunity to be heard by himself or by counsel 
20 
in a proper administrative investigation to be conducted by the PRC, may suspend, or 
21 
remove any member of the PRBM on any of the following grounds:  
22 
(a) Neglect of duty or incompetence;  
23 
(b) Unprofessional, unethical, or dishonorable conduct;  
24 


18 
 
(c) Manipulation or rigging the results of any Physician Licensure 
1 
Examination, divulging of secret information, disclosure of the said 
2 
examination, or tampering of the grades therein; or  
3 
(d) Final conviction by the court of any criminal offense involving moral 
4 
turpitude.  
5 
SEC. 15. Administrative Management, Custody of Records, Secretariat and 
6 
Support Services. – The PRBM shall be under the supervision and control of the 
7 
PRC, with the PRC chairperson as the chief executive officer thereof. All records of 
8 
the PRBM shall be under the custody of the PRC.  
9 
 The PRC shall designate the secretary of the PRBM and shall provide the secretariat 
10 
and other support services from the organic personnel of the PRC to implement the 
11 
provisions of this Act.  
12 
  
13 
  ARTICLE V  
14 
PHYSICIAN LICENSURE EXAMINATION  
15 
  
16 
SEC. 16. Examination Required. – All applicants for registration prior to the 
17 
issuance of certificate of registration and a professional identification card as a 
18 
physician, shall be required to pass the Physician Licensure Examination as provided 
19 
for in this Act, and shall be subject to the payment of the fees prescribed by the PRC.  
20 
SEC. 17. Qualifications for Applicants for the Physician Licensure 
21 
Examination. – All applicants for the Physician Licensure Examination must possess 
22 
all qualifications and none of the disqualifications hereunder set forth as follows:   
23 
(a) A citizen and resident of the Philippines or a citizen of a foreign country 
24 
or State that observes reciprocity in the practice of medicine with the 
25 
Philippines;  
26 


19 
 
(b) Is mentally, emotionally and physically sound with a certificate of good 
1 
moral character signed by the Dean of the medical college from where 
2 
the applicant graduated;  
3 
(c) Has not been convicted by final judgment by a court of any criminal 
4 
offense;  
5 
(d) A holder of the degree of Doctor of Medicine or its equivalent for 
6 
innovative curriculum, conferred by a medical college established in the 
7 
Philippines and duly recognized by the CHED, or a degree conferred by 
8 
a foreign college of medicine and accredited by the CHED as 
9 
substantially equivalent to the degree of Doctor of Medicine conferred 
10 
by medical colleges in the Philippines; and  
11 
(e) Has completed a one (1) year medical internship.  
12 
 SEC. 18. Scope of Physician Licensure Examination. – The Physician  
13 
Licensure Examination shall cover the following fourteen (14) individual or 
14 
combined subjects with the relative weights for each:  
15 
(a) 
Anatomy and Histology;   
16 
(b) 
Physiology;  
17 
(c) 
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology;   
18 
(d) 
Pharmacology and Therapeutics;  
19 
(e) 
Microbiology and Parasitology;  
20 
(f) 
Anatomic and Clinical Pathology;  
21 
(g) 
Internal Medicine, Neurology, Dermatology, Geriatrics, Oncology,   
22 
Psychiatry Behavioral Medicine, and Clinical Neuroscience;  
23 
(h) 
Obstetrics and Gynecology;   
24 
(i) 
Pediatrics and Nutrition;  
25 
(j) 
Surgery, Anesthesiology and Pain Management;   
26 


20 
 
(k) 
Ophthalmology, Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, and 
1 
Orthopedics;  
2 
(l) 
Family and Community Medicine, Preventive Medicine and Public 
3 
Health Economics, Physical and Rehabilitative Medicine, Palliative Medicine;  
4 
(m) 
Medical Ethics; and  
5 
(n) 
Legal Medicine, Medical Jurisprudence, and Medical Informatics.  
6 
 Diagnostic, Interventional and Therapeutic Radiology shall be integrated into all 
7 
clinical subject clusters.  
8 
 In case there is a need or when circumstances require, or to conform with 
9 
technological advancements and other developments, the PRBM, in consultation 
10 
with the MEC and recognized association of medical colleges, may revise the 
11 
substance, format, and the conduct of the examinations.  
12 
 Each of the fourteen (14) subjects shall have its syllabus or table of specifications for 
13 
purposes of the Physician Licensure Examination. The PRBM shall apply the table of 
14 
specifications after a lapse of three (3) months reckoned from the concurrence of all 
15 
the following requisites:  
16 
(1) Consultation with the association of medical colleges;  
17 
(2) Approval by the PRC;  
18 
(3) Publication of the PRBM resolution in a newspaper of general 
19 
circulation; and  
20 
(4) Dissemination to all medical colleges.  
21 
SEC. 19. Venues and Schedule of Examinations. – The PRBM shall  
22 
administer the examinations for the registration of physicians at least twice a year           
23 
in such places as the PRC may designate in accordance with the provisions of                  
24 
RA No. 8981. However, in case of a public health emergency, disaster, or calamity, 
25 


21 
 
whether natural or human-induced, the PRBM may postpone such examinations to 
1 
a later date.  
2 
 An applicant may be allowed to take the examinations in two (2) parts. The first part 
3 
shall consist of questions from basic medical courses enumerated in paragraphs (a) 
4 
to (f) of Section 18 of this Act, and the rest may be taken up in the second part: 
5 
Provided, however, That the two (2)-part examinations must be taken within one 
6 
(1) and the same year.  
7 
SEC. 20. Rating in the Examination. – To pass the Physician Licensure 
8 
Examination, an examinee must obtain a general average rating of at least seventy-
9 
five percent (75%) in all fourteen (14) subjects: Provided, That there is no rating 
10 
obtained in any subject below fifty percent (50%): Provided, further, That any 
11 
examinee who fail in the Physician Licensure Examination (PLE) for the third time 
12 
shall be required to take a refresher course taken from an accredited medical school 
13 
as a requirement prior to allowing such examinee to take subsequent PLE.  
14 
The PRBM shall issue specific guidelines on the refresher course requirement.  
15 
SEC. 21. Report and Publication of the Results of Examination. – The 
16 
PRBM shall report the rating of each examinee to the PRC within ten (10) days from 
17 
the last day of examination or any other period granted by the PRC. The official 
18 
results of the examination containing the list of topnotcher examinees with their 
19 
respective medical colleges and the names of the medical colleges obtaining the top 
20 
percentage of successful examinees shall be published by the PRC.  
21 
 The report of rating of every examinee shall be sent via registered mail to the 
22 
examinee’s given address, using the examinee’s mailing envelope submitted prior to 
23 
the examination.  
24 
SEC. 22. Oath. – All successful examinees shall be required to take the 
25 
physician’s oath before the PRBM or any person authorized by the PRC to administer 
26 


22 
 
it before they are issued their certificates of registration and professional 
1 
identification cards, or before they are allowed to start their practice of the medical 
2 
profession.   
3 
They shall also be required to take their oath of membership in the IPMA.  
4 
SEC. 23. Registration, Issuance of Certificate of Registration and 
5 
Professional Identification Card; Integrated Philippine Medical Association 
6 
Membership Card; Non-registration and Grounds Thereof. – All successful 
7 
examinees, upon compliance with all legal requirements and payment of fees 
8 
prescribed by the PRC, shall be registered and issued certificates of registration and 
9 
professional identification cards. They shall likewise be deemed members of the 
10 
IPMA upon compliance with all requirements and payment of reasonable 
11 
compulsory dues. Upon presentation of their certificates of registration and 
12 
professional identification card, they shall be issued a separate IPMA membership 
13 
card.  
14 
 The certificate of registration of a physician shall bear the registration number and 
15 
the date of issuance and the signatures of the chairperson of the PRC and the 
16 
members of the PRBM. Moreover, this document must  be stamped with the seals of 
17 
the PRC and the PRBM, certifying that the name of the person stated therein appears 
18 
in the Registry, Roster, or Roll of Physicians under the custody of the PRC; that the 
19 
person has complied with all the legal requirements for registration as a physician; 
20 
and that the person is entitled to exercise all the privileges appurtenant to the practice 
21 
of medical profession: Provided, That the physician does not violate this Act, its 
22 
implementing rules and regulations, the Code of Ethics of the Medical Profession, 
23 
and other regulatory issuances and policies of the PRC and the PRBM.  
24 
 The professional identification card shall bear the name of the registered licensed 
25 
physician, the registration number, the date of issuance, and the date of the 
26 


23 
 
expiration of the license. Together with the IPMA membership identification card, 
1 
the physician is deemed qualified to practice medicine in the Philippines.  
2 
 Updating of practice information such as location, affiliation, and field of practice 
3 
and specialization shall be required for renewal of the PRC identification card and 
4 
IPMA membership card.  
5 
 A successful examinee who has been finally convicted by a competent court of a 
6 
criminal offense, found guilty by the PRBM of dishonorable or immoral conduct, or 
7 
declared by a court to be of unsound mind, shall not be registered. The decision of 
8 
the PRBM, finding the examinee guilty of dishonorable or immoral conduct may be 
9 
appealed to the PRC within fifteen (15) days from receipt of the PRBM's decision or 
10 
resolution, and to the Court of Appeals within the same period from the receipt of 
11 
the decision or resolution of the PRC. The facts and the reasons for refusal to register 
12 
shall be clearly stated in writing, communicated to the examinee, and duly 
13 
incorporated in the records of the PRC.  
14 
SEC. 24. Registration of Foreign Medical Graduates of Philippine  Medical  
15 
Schools.  –  A foreign student who has been conferred the Doctor of Medicine degree 
16 
from a Philippine College of Medicine recognized by the Commission on Higher 
17 
Education (CHED)  and completed the 12-month internship in the Philippines is 
18 
eligible for registration and practice. To this end, the CHED is hereby mandated to 
19 
issue the required certification or appropriate documentation thereto.  
20 
The said foreign medical graduates who obtained their medical degrees in 
21 
Philippine medical schools who opt to pursue medical practice in the Philippines 
22 
shall be allowed to take the Physician Licensure Examination and upon passing the 
23 
PLE, shall be entitled to practice medicine subject to the provisions of Section 40 or 
24 
Section 41 of this Act.  
25 
 
26 


24 
 
ARTICLE VI  
1 
THE POSTGRADUATE MEDICAL EDUCATION COUNCIL  
2 
SEC. 25. Creation. – There is hereby created the Postgraduate Medical 
3 
Education Council, herein referred to as the PGMEC, under the Professional 
4 
Regulatory Board of Medicine (PRBM).  
5 
 The PGMEC shall be headed by the incumbent chair of the PRBM or its duly 
6 
authorized representative and the following as members:  
7 
(a) Chairperson of the Civil Service Commission or a duly authorized 
8 
representative;  
9 
(b) Secretary of Health or a duly authorized representative;  
10 
(c) Secretary of Labor and Employment or a duly authorized representative;  
11 
(d) One (1) representative from the IPMA;  
12 
(e) One (1) representative from the private hospital association; and  
13 
(f) Three (3) representatives, one (1) from each of three (3) different Medical 
14 
Practice Groups.  
15 
 The PGMEC shall constitute a Medical Practice Group (MPG) for each lead or 
16 
primary medical specialty previously identified by the PRBM through a resolution. 
17 
Each MPG shall be composed of a chairperson and at least six (6) but not to exceed         
18 
twelve (12) members who must all be licensed physicians and actively engaged in 
19 
the professional practice of the respective medical specialty.  
20 
 The IPMA shall promulgate a nomination process for the membership of each MPG 
21 
as recommended by the primary professional specialty organization or specialty 
22 
board based on an explicit set of qualifications. It shall appoint the chairperson and 
23 
members of each MPG for a term of two (2) years: Provided, That, no chairperson 
24 
nor member shall serve for more than three (3) consecutive terms.  
25 


25 
 
 To provide equal opportunity for representation, the IPMA shall select which   
1 
MPGs will be represented in the PGMEC based on a yearly rotation mechanism for 
2 
all       existing MPGs.  
3 
 Each MPG with the assistance of and in coordination with the corresponding 
4 
professional specialty organization or specialty board shall constitute four (4) 
5 
committees to assist the PGMEC in discharging its functions:  
6 
(a) Committee on Training   
7 
It shall establish standards of residency or fellowship training including the 
8 
curriculum and all necessary resources for each medical specialty or 
9 
subspecialty. It shall regularly monitor the performance and achievements of 
10 
all trainees including the conduct of in-service training examinations to 
11 
evaluate the competencies achieved by trainees per year level. It shall 
12 
regularly review the training curriculum to keep up with emerging trends 
13 
and new developments.  
14 
(b) Committee on Accreditation  
15 
It shall establish standard requirements for the accreditation of postgraduate 
16 
medical education and training programs of healthcare institutions in a 
17 
particular medical specialty or subspecialty and regularly review these in the 
18 
light of emerging trends and new developments. It shall regularly monitor the 
19 
compliance of training programs of healthcare institutions with the 
20 
established guidelines. It shall screen, inspect, examine, assess and 
21 
recommend the approval of new training programs. It may recommend 
22 
sanctions including the withdrawal of accreditation for training programs 
23 
with repeated or major deficiencies.  
24 
(c) Committee on Certification  
25 


26 
 
It shall determine the eligibility credentials of graduate residents or fellows in 
1 
training in preparation for the specialty board certifying examination. It shall 
2 
formulate and conduct the specialty board certifying examinations to 
3 
determine whether a graduate resident or fellow in training has satisfactorily 
4 
attained the required proficiencies of a specialist or practitioner of the 
5 
corresponding specialty or subspecialty of medicine.  
6 
(d) Review Committee  
7 
It shall formulate policies on compensation, benefits and working conditions 
8 
of residents or fellows in training and other policies related to postgraduate 
9 
medical education and training. It shall handle complaints of residents, 
10 
fellows, patients, or physicians and submit recommendations to the PRBM for 
11 
approval and action regarding complaints filed. It shall also screen foreign 
12 
medical professionals who would like to undergo residency or fellowship 
13 
training in the country. It shall establish guidelines for the recognition of new 
14 
medical specialties or subspecialties and receive applications for such. It shall 
15 
study, review, hear, and recommend the approval or disapproval of 
16 
applications for recognition of a new medical specialty or subspecialty.  
17 
 The members of the PGMEC shall perform their duties as such without 
18 
compensation or remuneration, subject to reasonable per diem allowances as 
19 
approved by the PRC and subject to existing rules and regulations of the DBM. 
20 
Members thereof who are not government officials or employees shall be entitled to 
21 
necessary travelling expenses, per diem and representation allowances chargeable 
22 
against the funds of the PRC, subject to existing rules and regulations of the DBM.  
23 
SEC. 26. Powers and Functions of the PGMEC.  – The PGMEC shall ensure   
24 
the quality, sustainability, and development of post-graduate medical education and 
25 
training for all specialties and subspecialties of medicine. Through the respective 
26 


27 
 
MPGs and the professional specialty organizations or specialty boards, it shall 
1 
perform the following functions:  
2 
(a) Oversee the establishment of standards of postgraduate medical education 
3 
and training in all medical specialties or subspecialties including their 
4 
training curricula and desired outcomes;  
5 
(b) Ensure that the standards set for postgraduate medical education and 
6 
training are aligned with the Career Progression and Specialization 
7 
Program of the PRC and the PRBM, national health agenda, responsive to 
8 
the health needs of the population, and at par with international norms;  
9 
(c) Oversee the accreditation of postgraduate medical education and training 
10 
programs;  
11 
(d) Oversee the compliance of accredited postgraduate medical education and 
12 
training programs with established accreditation guidelines and prescribe 
13 
remedial measures for those with deficiencies;  
14 
(e) In consultation with appropriate agencies, work for the provision of better 
15 
compensation and benefits and humane working conditions for residents 
16 
and fellows in training;  
17 
(f) Screen foreign medical professionals who intend to undergo postgraduate 
18 
medical education and training in the country and monitor their 
19 
performance;  
20 
(g) Maintain a registry or database of accredited postgraduate medical 
21 
education and training programs, the residents and fellows including 
22 
foreign medical professionals training in those institutions;  
23 
(h) Receive and act on complaints and grievances of residents or fellows in 
24 
training against co-residents, co-fellows and their host healthcare 
25 
institution, as well as complaints of patients against trainees;  
26 


28 
 
(i) Oversee the conduct of the specialty board certifying examinations 
1 
including determination of each candidate’s eligibility;  
2 
(j) Issue the corresponding Certificates of Accreditation to healthcare 
3 
institutions that have complied with all requirements; Certificates of 
4 
Training to resident and fellow trainees who have satisfactorily completed 
5 
their postgraduate medical education and training; and Diplomas to 
6 
eligible candidates who have successfully passed the professional specialty 
7 
board certifying examinations;  
8 
(k) Seek or request the assistance and support of any government agency, 
9 
office or instrumentality including government-owned or -controlled 
10 
corporations, local government units as well as non-governmental 
11 
organizations or institutions in pursuance of its functions; and  
12 
(l) Formulate other policies as it may deem necessary in pursuance of its 
13 
functions.  
14 
SEC. 27.  Accreditation of Postgraduate Medical Education and Training 
15 
Programs. – Postgraduate medical education and training programs shall only be 
16 
conducted in PGMEC-accredited training institutions. The PGMEC shall be the only 
17 
government agency who shall have authority over postgraduate medical education 
18 
and training programs. Through the corresponding MPGs and the primary 
19 
professional specialty organizations or specialty boards, it shall oversee the training 
20 
and certification of medical specialists and subspecialists in the country.  
21 
 Certificates of Competence or similar certifications issued by different professional 
22 
specialty or sub-specialty organizations or specialty boards prior to the passage of 
23 
this Act, shall be replaced with new Diplomas to be issued by PGMEC upon 
24 
submission of the original or certified true copy of the original certificates.  
25 


29 
 
SEC. 28. Qualifications of Applicants to Postgraduate Medical Education 
1 
and Training Programs. – The following shall be the minimum qualifications of  
2 
applicants to postgraduate medical education and training programs:  
3 
(a) Must be a registered and licensed Physician;  
4 
(b) Has no previous criminal conviction or administrative liability, or both;  
5 
(c) Has obtained temporary training permit from the PRBM in the case of foreign 
6 
medical professionals; and   
7 
(d) Has complied with the other qualifications as may be required by the PRBM 
8 
and the PRC.  
9 
SEC. 29.  General Conditions for the Postgraduate Medical Education and 
10 
Training of Foreign Medical Professionals.  – The following general conditions 
11 
shall be applied to foreign medical professionals undergoing postgraduate medical 
12 
education and training in the Philippines:  
13 
(a) Accredited postgraduate medical education and training programs shall 
14 
be allowed to accept foreign medical professionals only in cases wherein 
15 
no Filipino physician is applying for the same vacancy. Filipino physicians 
16 
shall be given the first priority in filling up vacancies for residency or 
17 
fellowship trainee positions;  
18 
(b) Foreign medical professionals shall secure clearance from the PRBM prior 
19 
to applying for a training position with any accredited postgraduate 
20 
medical education and training program;  
21 
(c) Foreign medical professionals shall undergo basic language course in 
22 
Filipino or the dialect that is used in the locality where the accredited 
23 
training institution is located before commencing postgraduate medical 
24 
education and training.             A certificate of proficiency in Filipino and 
25 
the dialect of the locality shall be obtained by the foreign medical 
26 


30 
 
professional from a CHED-accredited state university or tertiary education 
1 
institution in the locality where the foreign medical  
2 
professional intends to undergo postgraduate medical education and 
3 
training before the PRBM may issue a clearance. For accredited institutions 
4 
located in areas wherein English is the language used and understood by 
5 
the majority, proficiency in a dialect shall no longer be required;   
6 
(d) Foreign medical professionals shall be required to undergo a seminar on 
7 
Philippine history, culture, and government as well as the Philippine laws 
8 
affecting the health care delivery system, such as RA No. 11223,  otherwise 
9 
known as the “Universal Health Care Act”; RA No. 10173, otherwise 
10 
known as the “Data Privacy Act of 2012”; RA No. 11332, otherwise known 
11 
as the  “Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases”; RA No. 11058, 
12 
otherwise known as the “Health Events of Health Correction Act,” and 
13 
among others prior to the commencement of postgraduate medical 
14 
education and training; and  
15 
(e) Foreign graduates of medicine must have no previous criminal conviction 
16 
or administrative liability in the Philippines and their country of origin.  
17 
 The PRBM, subject to the approval of the PRC, shall issue specific guidelines on the 
18 
issuance of the Temporary Training Permit to foreign medical professionals 
19 
intending to undergo residency training.  
20 
SEC. 30. Working Conditions of Residents or Fellows in Training. – The 
21 
following shall be strictly observed by all accredited postgraduate medical education 
22 
and training healthcare institutions:  
23 
(a) 
No resident or fellow trainee shall be allowed to go on duty for more than 
24 
twenty-four (24) hours straight, except in extraordinary cases to be 
25 


31 
 
determined by the corresponding hospital administrator or training 
1 
program director;  
2 
(b) Resident and fellow trainees shall be entitled to one (1) day off from 
3 
hospital duty every week; unless there is an agreement to the contrary 
4 
between the hospital and medical resident;  
5 
(c) 
Resident and fellow trainees shall be provided with standard quarters in 
6 
the hospital where they can stay and rest during their tour of duty;  
7 
(d) Resident and fellow trainees shall only perform those functions that are 
8 
related to their education and training. As such, their superiors are hereby 
9 
prohibited from issuing unrelated orders or are demeaning to a trainee's 
10 
dignity as a person. The PGMEC shall receive and investigate complaints 
11 
of this nature;  
12 
(e) Resident and fellow trainees are entitled to adequate periods for meal 
13 
breaks and personal care during their tour of duty;  
14 
(f) 
Resident and fellow trainees shall always be supervised by their superiors 
15 
especially when performing critical procedures on patients. In the case of 
16 
a junior trainee, the more senior trainee or consultant shall be available for 
17 
supervision and assistance, and in the case of senior trainees, their 
18 
consultant; and  
19 
(g) Residents and fellow trainees shall be treated equally. No trainee shall be 
20 
discriminated because of gender, race, ethnicity, or religion.  
21 
In any and all cases described above, it is the quality and continuity of patient 
22 
care that should be the most important consideration.   
23 
SEC. 31. Professional Conduct of Resident or Fellow Trainees. – In  addition 
24 
to the Code of Ethics of the Medical Profession as jointly approved by the     IPMA 
25 


32 
 
and the PRC, a resident or fellow trainee shall always observe the following 
1 
professional conduct:  
2 
(a) Uphold the dignity, privacy and rights of their patients;  
3 
(b) Perform their functions with utmost diligence especially those related to 
4 
care of patients so as not to inflict any harm on them;  
5 
(c) Refrain from engaging in unacceptable practices such as:  
6 
(1) Receiving any form of payment from their patients;  
7 
(2) Accepting commissions from laboratories, diagnostic facilities, or 
8 
pharmacies for referring patients to these facilities;  
9 
(3) Obtaining excess and unused medicines, drugs and other materials 
10 
from patients or the supply source, without proper permission;  
11 
(4) Selling medicines, drugs and other materials to patients or their 
12 
relatives;  
13 
(5) Selling free samples of drugs or other medicines; and  
14 
(6) Receiving 
money 
or 
any 
form 
of 
incentives 
from 
any 
15 
pharmaceutical company for prescribing their brand of drugs, 
16 
medicines, and other materials;  
17 
(d) Treat superiors, subordinates, co-workers, and patients’ relatives with    
18 
utmost respect;  
19 
(e) Observe the provisions of RA No. 6675, otherwise known as the “Generics 
20 
Act of 1988” and RA No. 9502, otherwise known as the “Cheaper and 
21 
Quality Medicines Act of 2008”; and   
22 
(f) Render full-time service to the healthcare institution where the trainee is 
23 
employed and shall not engage in any part-time job outside the institution.  
24 
SEC. 32. Responsibilities of Accredited Postgraduate Medical Education 
25 
and Training Healthcare Institutions. – In addition to the enforcement of the 
26 


33 
 
provisions of this Act, accredited postgraduate medical education and training 
1 
institutions shall have the following responsibilities:  
2 
(a) Regularly submit the names of residents and fellow trainees in their  
3 
institution and such other relevant information to the PRBM;  
4 
(b) Provision of the necessary standard quarters, logistics, equipment, and  
5 
other supplies to trainees while undergoing postgraduate medical 
6 
education and training; and  
7 
(c) Conduct periodic evaluation of competencies acquired by resident and 
8 
fellow trainees per year level.  
9 
SEC. 33. Grievance System. – A grievance system is hereby established, 
10 
wherein any aggrieved party may seek redress in accordance with the following 
11 
rules and procedures:  
12 
(a) A written complaint must be filed with the Review Committee of the 
13 
respective MPG, hereinafter referred to as the Committee. The Committee 
14 
shall rule on the complaint through a notice of resolution within sixty (60) 
15 
calendar days from receipt thereof;  
16 
(b) An appeal from the decision of the Committee must be filed with the 
17 
PGMEC within thirty (30) calendar days from receipt of the notice of 
18 
resolution;  
19 
(c) The PGMEC shall promptly and expeditiously issue its decision or 
20 
resolution on each appeal or grievance within sixty (60) days from the date 
21 
it is submitted to it for determination; or employee to the penalties 
22 
prescribed under Section 34 of this Act; and  
23 
(d) All parties shall keep the proceedings confidential during the pendency of 
24 
the case before the Committee.  
25 


34 
 
SEC. 34. Hearing Procedures of the Committee. – Upon the filing of the 
1 
complaint, the Committee, after consideration of the allegations thereof, may dismiss 
2 
the case outrightly due to lack of verification, or for failure to state the cause of action, 
3 
or any other valid ground for the dismissal of the complaint after consultation with 
4 
the PGMEC, or require the respondent to file a verified answer within five (5) days 
5 
from service of summons.  
6 
 In case the respondent fails to answer the complaint within the reglementary five 
7 
(5)-day period herein provided, the Committee, motu propio or upon motion of the 
8 
complainant, may render judgment as may be warranted by the facts alleged in the 
9 
complaint and limited to what is prayed for therein.  
10 
 After an answer is filed and the issues are joined, the Committee shall require the 
11 
parties to submit, within ten (10) days from receipt of the order, the affidavits 
12 
of  witnesses and other evidence on the factual issues defined therein, together with 
13 
a brief statement of their positions setting forth the law and the facts relied upon by 
14 
them. In the event that the Committee finds, upon consideration of the pleadings, 
15 
the affidavits and other evidence, and position statements submitted by the parties, 
16 
that a judgment may be rendered thereon without need of a formal hearing, it may 
17 
proceed to render judgment not later than ten (10) days from the submission of the 
18 
position statements of the parties.  
19 
 In cases where the Committee deems it necessary to hold a hearing to clarify specific 
20 
factual matters before rendering judgment, it shall set the case for hearing. At such 
21 
hearing, the proponent may conduct a direct examination of witnesses on the basis 
22 
of their affidavits and may be cross examined by the adverse party. The order setting 
23 
the case for hearing shall specify the witnesses who will be called to testify, and the 
24 
matters which their examination will pertain to. The hearing shall be terminated 
25 


35 
 
within fifteen (15) days, and the case decided upon by the Committee within fifteen 
1 
(15) days from such termination.  
2 
 The decision of the Committee shall become final and executory fifteen (15) days 
3 
after notice thereof: Provided, That the same may be appealable to the PGMEC 
4 
within thirty (30) days from receipt of the copy of the judgment appealed from. An 
5 
appellee shall be given fifteen (15) days from notice to file a memorandum after 
6 
which the PGMEC shall decide on the appeal within sixty (60) days from the 
7 
submittal of the       said pleadings.  
8 
 The decision of the PGMEC shall also become final and executory fifteen (15) days 
9 
after notice thereof: Provided, however, That the same may be reviewed by the 
10 
Supreme Court on purely questions of law in accordance with the Rules of Court.  
11 
 The Committee and the PGMEC, in the exercise of their quasi-judicial functions can 
12 
administer oaths, certify to official acts, and issue subpoena to compel the attendance 
13 
and testimony of witnesses, and subpoena duces tecum and ad  
14 
testificandum to enjoin the production of books, papers, and other records, and to 
15 
testify therein on any question arising out of this Act. Any case of contumacy shall 
16 
be dealt with in accordance with the provisions of the Revised Administrative Code 
17 
and the Rules of Court. The PGMEC or the Committee, as the case may be, shall 
18 
prescribe the necessary administrative sanctions.  
19 
 In all its proceedings, the PGMEC or the Committee shall not be bound by the 
20 
technical rules of evidence: Provided, finally, That the Rules of Court shall apply 
21 
with suppletory effect.  
22 
SEC. 35. Violations. – Any healthcare training institution or any of its resident 
23 
or fellow trainees, or both, that have been found violating any provisions of this Act 
24 
shall have the following penalties:  
25 
(a) First Offense - Reprimand;  
26 


36 
 
(b) Second Offense - Suspension with duration depending on the gravity of the 
1 
offense but not exceeding six (6) months; and  
2 
(c) Third Offense - Revocation of the accreditation of the training institution, or 
3 
in the case of a resident or fellow in training, non-issuance of a Certificate of 
4 
Training and removal from the postgraduate medical education and training 
5 
program.  
6 
 
7 
ARTICLE VII  
8 
REGULATION OF THE PRACTICE OF THE MEDICAL PROFESSION  
9 
 
10 
SEC. 36. Acts Constituting the Practice of Medicine. – The following are    
11 
acts constituting the practice of medicine:  
12 
(a) History taking and physical examination of any person for any disease, 
13 
injury, or deformity; and diagnosing, treating, operating, prescribing, or 
14 
dispensing any remedy therefor;  
15 
(b) History-taking and examination of any person through submission of 
16 
photographs 
and 
videos 
or 
any 
communication 
through 
17 
telecommunication or electronic means for any disease, injury, or 
18 
deformity; diagnosing and prescribing or dispensing any remedy therefor 
19 
through electronic means or telemedicine;  
20 
(c) History-taking and physical examination of any person’s mental condition 
21 
for any ailment, real or imaginary, regardless of the nature of the remedy 
22 
or treatment administered, prescribed, or recommended;  
23 
(d) Offering or undertaking to diagnose, treat, operate, prescribe, or administer 
24 
any remedy for any human disease, injury, deformity, physical or mental 
25 


37 
 
condition, either personally or by means of signs, cards or advertisements 
1 
by way of mass media, or any other means of communication;  
2 
(e) Using or affixing “M.D.” to the person’s name in written or oral 
3 
communications. Unless otherwise specified, the letters “M.D.” shall mean 
4 
Doctor of Medicine: Provided, That only those who have passed the 
5 
Physician Licensure Examination and licensed to practice the medical 
6 
profession are allowed to use the title “M.D.”; and  
7 
(f) Conducting formal medical classes in medical colleges, seminars, lectures, 
8 
symposia and the like unless the subject matter being taken up involves 
9 
basic science fundamentals in the furtherance of its applications in clinical 
10 
medicine.  
11 
SEC. 37. Exceptions in the Practice of Medicine. – For purposes of this Act, 
12 
the following shall not be considered as engaging in the practice of medicine: 
13 
Provided, That they are attending to patients under the direct supervision and control 
14 
of a duly licensed physician.  
15 
(a) Medical students, clinical clerks, and medical interns attending to 
16 
patients;  
17 
(b) Foreigners who intend to undergo or are undergoing postgraduate 
18 
medical education and training or otherwise under training with a valid 
19 
special  permit from the PRBM;  
20 
(c) Non-medical persons who perform specific interventions in emergency 
21 
situations to save life or preserve limb according to their level of  
22 
competence determined by their prior training and certification;  
23 
(d) Non-medical educators who have attained a Masters or Doctorate degree  
24 
on a specific field in the basic sciences of medicine who conduct 
25 


38 
 
teachinglearning activities for medical students, interns, or licensed 
1 
physicians; and  
2 
(e) Practitioners of Traditional and Complementary Medicine Modalities or 
3 
systems who are regulated by the Philippine Institute of Traditional and 
4 
Alternative Health Care.  
5 
SEC. 38. Scope of Medical Practice. – The scope of the practice of medicine  is 
6 
the application of medical knowledge, skill, and judgment for the promotion of good 
7 
health; the prevention and treatment of physical, mental, or psycho-social diseases, 
8 
disorders, injuries, and conditions; the assessment and management of a physical, 
9 
mental, or psycho-social disease, disorder, injury, or condition of an individual or 
10 
group of individuals at any stage of the biological life cycle, including the prenatal 
11 
and postmortem periods delivered either in clinical or non-clinical settings. (a) 
12 
Clinical Practice of Medicine  
13 
(1) General Medical Practice refers to the professional practice of a General 
14 
Physician who has completed basic medical education and medical 
15 
internship, has obtained a PRC license, and has not completed any  
16 
formal postgraduate medical education and training as defined in            
17 
this Act.  
18 
(2) A General Physician or a Medical Specialist may serve as a Primary 
19 
Care Provider as provided for in RA No. 11223, when the defined 
20 
competencies  in Primary Care as certified by the DOH are achieved.  
21 
(3) Limited Specialty Care Practice refers to the clinical practice of a  
22 
General Physician with additional credentials to independently 
23 
provide particular emergency and essential health care services in 
24 
locations  where specialist physicians are unavailable or inaccessible, 
25 
obtained  after undergoing the necessary qualifications and training as 
26 


39 
 
may be determined by the corresponding MPGs and PGMEC in 
1 
collaboration  with the respective professional specialty organizations 
2 
or specialty boards and monitored regularly by the same. The 
3 
corresponding MPGs and PGMEC, in consultation with the DOH, shall 
4 
determine the localities where specialist physicians are unavailable or 
5 
inaccessible.  
6 
(4) Specialty Medical Practice refers to the professional practice of a  
7 
Specialist Physician who is a licensed physician and has completed 
8 
additional formal postgraduate medical education and training in a  
9 
distinct clinical medical discipline focused on a defined group of  
10 
patients, diseases, skills, or philosophy and has been certified by the 
11 
PGMEC upon the recommendation of the corresponding MPGs. The  
12 
scope of specialty medical practice refers to the diagnosis and 
13 
management of specific conditions as defined by the corresponding  
14 
MPG and PGMEC for a particular specialty or subspecialty: Provided,  
15 
That those who have been in practice for at least ten (10) years in good 
16 
standing by IPMA and with specific and sufficient specialty training 
17 
prior to the effectivity of this Act shall be recognized and certified by 
18 
the  PGMEC as specialist physician.   
19 
(b) Non-Clinical Practice of Medicine  
20 
This refers to the practice of the profession wherein the physician is 
21 
engaged in the application of medical knowledge and skills in the fields of 
22 
health research and policy, basic medical education, public health and 
23 
health systems management, health communications, healthcare industry 
24 
and administration, and among others.  
25 


40 
 
This Act shall not be construed to affect or prevent the practice of any other 
1 
legally recognized profession.  
2 
The foregoing list notwithstanding any act that requires the application of 
3 
medical knowledge, skills, training, and competence shall be deemed to constitute 
4 
the practice of medicine.  
5 
SEC. 39. Establishment of Physician-Patient Relationship. – The physician 
6 
and patient interacting through telecommunication services, for purposes of 
7 
telemedicine practice, shall be considered to have established a physician-patient 
8 
relationship, and all pertinent laws governing and related to the said relationship 
9 
shall likewise apply.   
10 
 A physician-patient relationship may be established through telemedicine and the 
11 
health care services provided through this means shall be held to the same standards 
12 
of practice and conduct as in-person services. The relationship is firmly established 
13 
when the physician agrees to undertake diagnosis and treatment of the patient and 
14 
the patient agrees to be treated, whether there has been an in-person encounter or 
15 
not.  
16 
SEC. 40. Reciprocity. – A foreigner may be allowed to practice medicine in the 
17 
Philippines without having to pass the Physicians Licensure Examination, if the 
18 
country of which the foreigner is a citizen, allows Filipino citizens to practice 
19 
medicine under the same conditions such as the following:  
20 
(a) The country of which the foreigner is a citizen, imposes the same 
21 
academic and training requirements for its citizens to be able to practice 
22 
medicine;  
23 
(b) There is a reciprocity agreement, executive agreement, or international 
24 
agreement, or treaty to this effect signed by both governments of the 
25 
Philippines and the country of which the foreigner is a citizen; and  
26 


41 
 
(c) The foreigner must show documents equivalent to the PRC 
1 
Identification Card or Certificate of Registration attesting that the foreign 
2 
country’s regulatory board of medicine has allowed the person to 
3 
practice medical profession in their country.  
4 
SEC. 41.  Special Permits to Practice Medicine in the Philippines. – In the 
5 
absence of reciprocity agreement, executive agreement, international agreement, or 
6 
treaty, a foreigner may be allowed to practice in the Philippines subject to the 
7 
following conditions:  
8 
(a) The foreigner must obtain a special permit from the PRC;  
9 
(b) The special permit shall specify the purpose, limitations, place of practice,  
10 
and such other conditions as may be imposed by the PRC such as:  
11 
(1) A period of not more than one (1) year, subject to renewal or  
12 
extension: Provided, That the renewal or extension shall be under the 
13 
same process and requirements as hereinabove described;  
14 
(2) The specific area of medical specialization;   
15 
(3) The specific place of practice, such as clinic, hospital, center, medical 
16 
college, as the case may be;  
17 
(c) Payment of the required fees; and  
18 
(d) Undertaking that the foreigner shall abide by the Code of Ethics of the 
19 
Medical Profession in the Philippines.  
20 
 The PRC may issue a special permit to a foreign medical professional not covered 
21 
by any reciprocity agreement or under Section 40 hereof under the following 
22 
guidelines:  
23 
(a) Physicians who are citizens of and licensed in foreign countries and who 
24 
intend to render free medical services to patients, indigent or otherwise, in the 
25 
Philippines in a particular local hospital, center, or clinic: Provided, That a 
26 


42 
 
reasonable honorarium may be allowed for daily subsistence during their stay 
1 
or service in the Philippines, and: Provided, further, That they render such 
2 
services under the direct supervision and control of a duly licensed Filipino 
3 
physician;  
4 
(b) Physicians who are internationally well-known medical specialists or publicly 
5 
acknowledged as experts in any field of medical specialization;  
6 
(c) Physicians of foreign countries whose services are urgently necessary, owing 
7 
to the lack of available local specialists or experts, or for the promotion and 
8 
advancement of the practice of medicine including, the conduct of formal 
9 
classes or training and acting as resource persons in medical seminars, fora, 
10 
or symposia; and  
11 
(d) Physicians licensed in foreign countries who are employed as exchange 
12 
professors in any area of medical specialization.  
13 
Other categories of foreign physicians as may be determined by the PRBM and         
14 
the PRC.  
15 
SEC. 42. Administrative Investigation and Disciplinary Actions. – The 
16 
PRBM shall have the power, upon proper notice and hearing, after finding of guilt, 
17 
issue and reprimand, to suspend from the practice of profession, or revoke the 
18 
certificate of registration of a physician, or cancel the special or temporary permit or 
19 
temporary training permit issued to a foreign medical professional for any of the 
20 
following grounds or causes:  
21 
(a) Final conviction by a court of competent jurisdiction of any criminal 
22 
offense involving moral turpitude;  
23 
(b) Immoral or dishonorable conduct;  
24 
(c) Mental incapacity;  
25 


43 
 
(d) Fraud in the acquisition of the certificate of registration and the 
1 
professional identification card or temporary or special permit or 
2 
temporary training permit;  
3 
(e) Gross negligence, ignorance, or incompetence in the practice of the 
4 
profession, resulting in injury to or death of the patient;  
5 
(f) Addiction to alcoholic beverages, any habit-forming drug, or any form of 
6 
illegal gambling, rendering the person incompetent to practice the 
7 
profession;  
8 
(g) Making or causing to be made false, misleading, extravagant, or unethical 
9 
advertisements, or making or causing to be made advertisements wherein 
10 
things other than the physician’s name, profession, limitation of practice, 
11 
clinic hours, and office and home addresses are mentioned;  
12 
(h) Issuance of any false statement or spreading any false news or rumor 
13 
which is derogatory to the character and reputation of another physician 
14 
without justifiable motive;  
15 
(i) Issuing any false medical certificate or findings or making any fraudulent 
16 
claims with government or private health insurance knowingly;  
17 
(j) Performance of, or aiding in, any criminal abortion;  
18 
(k) Allowing oneself to be substituted by an unqualified or unlicensed person 
19 
to practice general or specialty medicine: Provided, however, That this 
20 
provision shall not apply to accredited training programs where students, 
21 
interns, or residents or fellows in training are allowed to perform tasks 
22 
under supervision;  
23 
(l) Substituting for another medical practitioner in the professional care of the 
24 
latter’s patient without the patient’s knowledge and consent;  
25 


44 
 
(m) Abetting or assisting in the illegal practice by a person who is not lawfully 
1 
qualified to practice the profession;  
2 
(n) Using or advertising any title or description tending to convey the 
3 
impression to the general public that one is a medical specialist in a 
4 
particular field of medicine when in fact the person does not possess the 
5 
necessary qualifications to practice the specialty;  
6 
(o) Practicing the profession during the period of the suspension or during 
7 
the period that the license is revoked;  
8 
(p) Willful failure or refusal to be a member in good standing of the IPMA; 
9 
and   
10 
(q) Violation of any provision of the Code of Ethics of the Medical Profession 
11 
as jointly approved by the IPMA and the PRC.    
12 
SEC. 43. Rights of the Parties. – The private complainant and the respondent 
13 
physician shall have the right to be heard, to a counsel, to a speedy and impartial 
14 
hearing, to confront and to meet the witnesses, to compulsory processes, to secure 
15 
the attendance of witnesses and the production of evidence, and to all other rights 
16 
guaranteed by the Constitution and the Rules of Court. All cases filed or pending 
17 
under this Act, except those filed or pending in courts and other quasi-judicial and 
18 
investigative bodies, shall not be discussed nor taken up in any other forum until 
19 
after the same shall have been decided with finality.  
20 
SEC. 44. Appeal from Judgment. – The decision of the PRBM shall become 
21 
final fifteen (15) days from the date of receipt of such decision by the parties or their 
22 
counsel. Within the same period, the aggrieved party may ask for a reconsideration 
23 
of the decision for being contrary to law or for insufficiency of evidence. No second 
24 
motion for reconsideration to the PRBM shall be allowed. A decision of suspension, 
25 
revocation  of the certificate of registration, or removal from the roll of physicians by 
26 


45 
 
the PRBM as provided herein may be appealed to the PRC within fifteen (15) days 
1 
from receipt thereof.  
2 
SEC. 45. Re-issuance of Revoked Certificate of Registration and 
3 
Professional Identification Card and Replacement of Lost Certificate of  
4 
Registration and Identification Card. – After two (2) years, the PRBM may order  
5 
the reinstatement of any physician whose certificate of registration has been revoked,  
6 
if the respondent, for reasons of equity and justice and when the cause for revocation 
7 
has disappeared or has been cured and  corrected or has shown or has acted in an 
8 
exemplary manner in the community, upon proper application therefor and the  
9 
payment of the required fees, issue another copy of the certificate of registration and 
10 
professional identification card.  
11 
A new certificate of registration or professional identification card to 
12 
replace a certificate or card that has been lost, destroyed, mutilated, or otherwise 
13 
could no  longer be used for its purpose, may be issued, subject to the rules of the 
14 
PRC.  
15 
SEC. 46. Mandatory Use of Certificate of Registration Number, Professional 
16 
ID Number, IPMA Membership Number, and Professional Tax Receipt Number. 
17 
– A registered licensed physician shall indicate the certificate of registration number, the 
18 
number and the expiry date of the professional  identification card, IPMA membership 
19 
number, and Professional Tax Receipt number  on the prescription and other 
20 
documents used or issued in connection with the practice of profession.  
21 
SEC. 47. Vested Rights. – All physicians registered at the time this Act takes 
22 
effect  shall be automatically registered under the provisions hereof, without 
23 
prejudice, if any, to the  other requirements herein set forth.  
24 
All physicians whose names appear in the Registry, Roll, or Roster of 
25 
Physicians at the time of the effectivity of this Act shall automatically be registered by 
26 


46 
 
the PRBM and PRC as physicians, and thereafter by the IPMA as its bona fide 
1 
members  pursuant to Section 23 of this Act.  
2 
 
3 
ARTICLE VIII  
4 
INTEGRATED PHILIPPINE MEDICAL ASSOCIATION   
5 
SEC. 48. Integration of the Profession. – For purposes of this Act, the existing 
6 
Philippine Medical Association shall be integrated into the Integrated Philippine 
7 
Medical Association (IPMA). All physicians, duly registered and licensed with the 
8 
PRBM and PRC, shall automatically become members of the IPMA, maintain such 
9 
memberships therein as a requisite to practice the profession, and receive benefits 
10 
and privileges appurtenant thereto upon payment of the required reasonable fees 
11 
and dues. Membership in the IPMA shall not be a bar to membership in other 
12 
associations of physicians.    
13 
The objectives of the IPMA shall be as follows:  
14 
(a) Elevate the standards of the medical profession that is responsive to the 
15 
health needs of the population;  
16 
(b) Assist the PGMEC with the education, training and certification of medical 
17 
specialists and subspecialists;  
18 
(c) Foster and maintain the high ideals of integrity, competence, 
19 
professionalism and compassion;  
20 
(d) Provide opportunities for continuing professional development and 
21 
research;  
22 
(e) Assist government health agencies in public health policy formulation, 
23 
implementation, and health care delivery;  
24 
(f) Promote the welfare and interests of its membership; and  
25 


47 
 
(g) Promote encourage, and conduct medical outreach programs and projects 
1 
to the marginalized sectors of the community.  
2 
SEC. 49. The Integrated Philippine Medical Association. – The IPMA shall 
3 
have perpetual succession and shall have all legal powers appertaining to a juridical 
4 
person, particularly the power to sue and be sued; to contract and be contracted with; 
5 
to hold real and personal property as may be necessary for corporate purposes; to 
6 
mortgage, lease, sell, transfer, convey and otherwise dispose of the same; to solicit 
7 
and receive public and private donations and contributions; to accept and receive 
8 
real and personal property by gift, devise or bequest; to levy and collect membership 
9 
dues and special assessments from its members; to adopt a seal and to alter the same 
10 
at pleasure; to have offices and conduct its affairs in the National Capital Region; and 
11 
generally to do all such acts and things as may be necessary or proper to carry into 
12 
effect and promote the purposes for which it was organized.  
13 
SEC. 50. Investigative and Recommendatory Power of the Integrated 
14 
Philippine Medical Association. – The IPMA shall have the power to investigate 
15 
complaints against physicians for violation of this Act, the Code of Ethics of the 
16 
Medical Profession, and the pertinent rules and regulations, administrative policies, 
17 
orders and issuances. The rules on administrative investigation promulgated by the 
18 
IPMA shall govern in such proceeding.  
19 
 If the complaint appears to be meritorious, the association shall issue a 
20 
recommendation to file the proper charges before the PRBM.  
21 
 If the complaint does not merit action, or if the answer shows to the satisfaction of 
22 
the association that the complaint is not meritorious, the same may be dismissed. The 
23 
PRBM may review the case motu proprio or upon timely appeal of the complainant 
24 
filed within fifteen (15) days from notice of the dismissal of the complaint.  
25 


48 
 
SEC. 51. Mandatory Continuing Professional Development. – The PRBM 
1 
shall implement a mandatory continuing professional development for physicians 
2 
consistent with RA No. 10912.  
3 
SEC. 52. The State shall subsequently enact a statute mandating all              
4 
medical practitioners in both private practice and government employment to         
5 
secure a malpractice insurance coverage to answer for any liability or damages or 
6 
death of a patient as a result of malpractice. The cost of the insurance premium of 
7 
government-employed medical practitioners shall be subsidized by the State. Not 
8 
more than fifty percent (50%) of the cost of insurance premium shall be passed on 
9 
proportionately to paying patients by private practitioners.  
10 
 
11 
ARTICLE IX 
12 
PENAL PROVISIONS  
13 
 SEC. 53. Penalties. – Except as otherwise allowed under this Act, no person shall 
14 
practice or offer to practice the medical profession in the Philippines or be appointed 
15 
as medical practitioner to any position without having previously obtained a 
16 
certificate of registration and professional identification card from the PRC.  
17 
  
The penalty of imprisonment of not less than one (1) year but not exceeding five  
18 
(5) years, or a fine of not less than Two hundred thousand pesos (P200,000.00) but  
19 
not exceeding Five hundred thousand pesos (P500,000.00), or both, upon the 
20 
discretion of the court, shall be imposed upon:  
21 
(a) Any person who practices or offers to practice medicine in the Philippines 
22 
with a fraudulent certificate of registration, professional identification card, 
23 
or temporary or special permit or temporary training permit in accordance 
24 
with the provisions of this Act;  
25 


49 
 
(b) Any person who shall attempt to use a revoked or suspended certificate of 
1 
registration or professional identification card, or a cancelled or expired 
2 
temporary or special permit or temporary training permit;  
3 
(c) Any person using or attempting to use the certificate of registration or 
4 
professional identification card or temporary or special permit or temporary 
5 
training permit duly issued to another;  
6 
(d) Any person who shall give any false or forged documents, credentials, or any 
7 
other proof of any kind to the PRBM or PRC in order to obtain a certificate of 
8 
registration or professional identification card or temporary or special permit 
9 
or temporary training permit;  
10 
(e) Any person who shall falsely present oneself as a bona fide licensed physician 
11 
with like or different name;  
12 
(f) Any person who is not a licensed physician and who uses or advertises any 
13 
title or description tending to convey the impression to the public that one is 
14 
a registered and licensed physician or medical specialist; and  
15 
(g) When any of the acts defined in paragraphs (a) or (b) of this Section is 
16 
committed by a person against three (3) or more persons, or when any of such 
17 
acts are committed by at least three (3) persons who conspire with one 
18 
another, or when death occurs, the offense shall be considered as a qualified 
19 
offense and shall be punished by life imprisonment and a fine of not less than 
20 
Five hundred thousand pesos (P500,000.00) but not more than Two million 
21 
pesos (P2,000,000.00). Prosecution of an offense under this Act shall be 
22 
without prejudice to a separate prosecution under the provisions of the 
23 
Revised Penal Code and other laws.  
24 
 SEC. 54. Cease-and-Desist Order. – The PRBM shall issue a cease-and- desist order 
25 
after due notice and hearing, to enjoin any person illegally practicing medicine from 
26 


50 
 
the performance of any act constituting the practice of the profession. Any such 
1 
person who, after having been so enjoined, continues in the illegal practice of 
2 
medicine, shall be charged and punished for contempt of court. The said injunction 
3 
shall not relieve the person illegally practicing medicine from criminal prosecution 
4 
and punishment as provided for in the preceding section.  
5 
 However, if it is shown that the public will suffer grave injustice or irreparable 
6 
injury, the chairperson of the PRBM, or in the chairperson’s absence, any PRBM 
7 
member holding office, may issue the cease-and-desist order within seventy-two (72) 
8 
hours.   
9 
The Rules of the Court is suppletory for this purpose.  
10 
ARTICLE X MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS  
11 
 SEC. 55. Annual Report. – The PRBM shall, on or before the end of January of the 
12 
year following the enactment of this Act, and every year thereafter, submit to the 
13 
PRC its annual report of accomplishments on programs, projects, and activities for 
14 
the calendar year together with its appropriate recommendations on issues or 
15 
problems affecting the practice of medicine.  
16 
 SEC. 56. Appropriations. – The amount necessary for the implementation of this 
17 
Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.  
18 
 SEC. 57. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within ninety (90) days after the 
19 
approval of this Act, the PRC, in consultation and coordination with appropriate 
20 
government agencies, representatives from the private sector, and other 
21 
stakeholders, shall promulgate the necessary implementing rules and regulations for 
22 
the effective implementation of this Act.  
23 
 SEC. 58. Transitory Provisions. – The incumbent Professional Regulatory Board of 
24 
Medicine shall continue to function in the interim until such time the new PRBM 
25 
shall have been constituted pursuant to this Act.  
26 


51 
 
 SEC. 59.   Separability Clause.  –  If any part or provision of this Act is declared 
1 
invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not affected shall 
2 
remain in full force and effect.  
3 
 SEC. 60.  Repealing Clause. – RA No. 2382, otherwise known as the Medical Act of 
4 
1959, RA No. 1243, as amended by RA No. 2251, otherwise known as the law on the 
5 
Tenure of Office of Hospital Residents in Government Training Hospitals under 
6 
DOH, RA No. 5901, otherwise known as Forty Hours a Week of Labor for 
7 
Government and Private Hospitals or Clinic Personnel, Presidential Decree No. 1424, 
8 
otherwise known as the Hospital Residency Law, and all other laws, decrees, 
9 
executive orders, and other administrative issuances and parts thereof which are 
10 
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby modified, superseded, or 
11 
repealed accordingly.  
12 
SEC. 61. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in 
13 
the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines.  
14 
 
15 
 
  
Approved,  
16