Philippine Health Care Laws

REPUBLIC ACT – an act passed by the Congress of the Philippines, while the form of government is Republican government.

  • Republic Act 349 – Legalizes the use of human organs for surgical, medical and scientific purposes.
  • Republic Act 1054 – Requires the owner, lessee or operator of any commercial, industrial or agricultural establishment to furnish free emergency, medical and dental assistance to his employees and laborers.
  • Republic Act 1080 – Civil Service Eligibility
  • Republic Act 1082 – Rural Health Unit Act
  • Republic Act 1136 – Act recognizing the Division of Tuberculosis in the DOH
  • Republic Act 1612 – Privilege Tax/Professional tax/omnibus tax should be paid January 31 of each year
  • Republic Act 1891 – Act strengthening Health and Dental services in the rural areas
  • Republic Act 2382 – Philippine Medical Act which regulates the practice of medicines in the Philippines
  • Republic Act 2644 – Philippine Midwifery Act
  • Republic Act 3573 – Law on reporting of Communicable Diseases
  • Republic Act 4073 – Liberalized treatment of Leprosy
  • Republic Act 4226 – Hospital Licensure Act requires all hospital to be licensed before it can operative
  • Republic Act 5181 – Act prescribing permanent residence and reciprocity as qualifications for any examination or registration for the practice of any profession in the Philippines
  • Republic Act 5821 – The Pharmacy Act
  • Republic Act 5901 – 40 hours work for hospital workers
  • Republic Act 6111 – Medicare Act
  • Republic Act 6365 – Established a National Policy on Population and created the Commission on population
  • Republic Act 6425 – Dangerous Drug Act of 1992
  • Republic Act 6511 – Act to standardize the examination and registration fees charged by the National Boards, and for other purposes.
  • Republic Act 6675 – Generics Act of 1988
  • Republic Act 6713 – Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees
  • Republic Act 6725 – Act strengthening the prohibition on discrimination against women with respect to terms and condition of employment
  • Republic Act 6727 – Wage Rationalization Act
  • Republic Act 6758 – Standardized the salaries
  • Republic Act 6809 – Majority age is 18 years old
  • Republic Act 6972 – Day care center in every Barangay
  • Republic Act 7160 – Local Government Code
  • Republic Act 7164 – Philippine Nursing Act of 1991
  • Republic Act 7170 – Law that govern organ donation
  • Republic Act 7192 – Women in development nation building
  • Republic Act 7277 – Magna Carta of Disabled Persons
  • Republic Act 7305 – The Magna Carta of public Health Workers
  • Republic Act 7392 – Philippine Midwifery Act of 1992
  • Republic Act 7432 – Senior Citizen Act
  • Republic Act 7600 – Rooming In and Breastfeeding Act of 1992
  • Republic Act 7610 – Special protection of children against abuse, exploitation and discrimination act
  • Republic Act 7624 – Drug Education Law
  • Republic Act 7641 – New Retirement Law
  • Republic Act 7658 – An act prohibiting the employment of children below 15 years of age
  • Republic Act 7719 – National Blood Service Act of 1994
  • Republic Act 7875 – National Health Insurance Act of 1995
  • Republic Act 7876 – Senior Citizen Center of every Barangay
  • Republic Act 7877 – Anti-sexual harassment Act of 1995
  • Republic Act 7883 – Barangay Health workers Benefits and Incentives Act of 1992
  • Republic Act 8042 – Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipino Act of 1995
  • Republic Act 8172 – Asin Law
  • Republic Act 8187 – Paternity Leave Act of 1995
  • Republic Act 8203 – Special Law on Counterfeit Drugs
  • Republic Act 8282 – Social Security Law of 1997 (amended RA 1161)
  • Republic Act 8291 – Government Service Insurance System Act of 1997 (amended PD 1146)
  • Republic Act 8344 – Hospital Doctors to treat emergency cases referred for treatment
  • Republic Act 8423 – Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Medicine
  • Republic Act 8424 – Personal tax Exemption
  • Republic Act 8749 – The Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999
  • Republic Act 8981 – PRC Modernization Act of 2000
  • Republic Act 9165 – Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act 2002
  • Republic Act 9173 – Philippine Nursing Act of 2002
  • Republic Act 9288 – Newborn Screening Act

PRESIDENTIAL DECREE An order of the President. This power of the President which allows him/her to act as legislators was exercised during the Marshall Law period.

  • Presidential Decree 46 – An act making it punishable for any public officials or employee, whether of the national or local government, to receive directly or indirectly any gifts or valuable things
  • Presidential Decree 48 – Limits benefits of paid maternity leave privileges to four children
  • Presidential Decree 69 – Limits the number of children to four (4) tax exemption purposes
  • Presidential Decree 79 – Population Commission
  • Presidential Decree 147 – Declares April and May as National Immunization Day
  • Presidential Decree 148 – Regulation on Woman and Child Labor Law
  • Presidential Decree 166 – Strengthened Family Planning program by promoting participation of private sector in the formulation and implementation of program planning policies.
  • Presidential Decree 169 – Requiring Attending Physician and/or persons treating injuries resulting from any form of violence.
  • Presidential Decree 223 – Professional Regulation Commission
  • Presidential Decree 442 – Labor Code Promotes and protects employees self-organization and collective bargaining rights. Provision for a 10% right differential pay for hospital workers.
  • Presidential Decree 491 – Nutrition Program
  • Presidential Decree 539 – Declaring last week of October every as Nurse’s Week. October 17, 1958
  • Presidential Decree 541 – Allowing former Filipino professionals to practice their respective professions in the Philippines so they can provide the latent and expertise urgently needed by the homeland
  • Presidential Decree 568 – Role of Public Health midwives has been expanded after the implementation of the Restructed Health Care Delivery System (RHCDS)
  • Presidential Decree 603 – Child and Youth Welfare Act / Provision on Child Adoption
  • Presidential Decree 626 – Employee Compensation and State Insurance Fund. Provide benefits to person covered by SSS and GSIS for immediate injury, illness and disability.
  • Presidential Decree 651 – All births and deaths must be registered 30 days after delivery.
  • Presidential Decree 825 – Providing penalty for improper disposal garbage and other forms of uncleanliness and for other purposes.
  • Presidential Decree 851 – 13th Month pay
  • Presidential Decree 856 – Code of Sanitation
  • Presidential Decree 965 – Requiring applicants for Marriage License to receive instruction on family planning and responsible parenthood.
  • Presidential Decree 996 – Provides for compulsory basic immunization for children and infants below 8 years of age.
  • Presidential Decree 1083 – Muslim Holidays
  • Presidential Decree 1359 – A law allowing applicants for Philippine citizenship to take Board Examination pending their naturalization.
  • Presidential Decree 1519 – Gives medicare benefits to all government employees regardless of status of appointment.
  • Presidential Decree 1636 – requires compulsory membership in the SSS and self-employed
  • Presidential Decree 4226 – Hospital Licensure Act

PROCLAMATION – an official declaration by the Chief Executive / Office of the President of the Philippines on certain programs / projects / situation

  • Proclamation No.6 – UN’s goal of Universal Child Immunization; involved NGO’s in the immunization program
  • Proclamation No. 118 – Professional regulation Week is June 16 to 22
  • Proclamation No. 499 – National AIDS Awareness Day
  • Proclamation No. 539 – Nurse’s Week – Every third week of October
  • Proclamation No. 1275 – Declaring the third week of October every year as “Midwifery Week”

LETTER OF INSTRUCTION – An order issued by the President to serve as a guide to his/her previous decree or order.

  • LOI 47 – Directs all school of medicine, nursing, midwifery and allied medical professions and social work to prepare, plan and implement integration of family planning in their curriculum to require their graduate to take the licensing examination.
  • LOI 949 – Act on health and health related activities must be integrated with other activities of the overall national development program. Primary Health Care (10-19-79)
  • LOI 1000 – Government agencies should be given preference to members of the accredited professional organization when hiring

EXECUTIVE ORDER – an order issued by the executive branch of the government in order to implement a constructional mandate or a statutory provision.

  • Executive Order 51 – The Milk Code
  • Executive Order 174 – National Drug Policy on Availability, Affordability, Safe, Effective and Good Quality drugs to all
  • Executive Order 180 – Government Workers Collective Bargaining Rights Guidelines on the right to Organize of government employee.
  • Executive Order 203 – List of regular holidays and special holidays
  • Executive Order 209 – The Family Code (amended by RA 6809)
  • Executive Order 226 – Command responsibility
  • Executive Order 503 – Provides for the rules and regulations implementing the transfer of personnel, assets, liabilities and records of national agencies whose functions are to be devoted to the local government units.
  • Executive Order 857 – Compulsory Dollar Remittance Law

Other Important Information

  • Administrative Order 114 – Revised/updated the roles and functions of the Municipal Health Officers, Public Health Nurses and Rural Midwives
  • ILO Convention 149 – Provides the improvement of life and work conditions of nursing personnel.