NURSING JURISPRUDENCE

Laws Affecting the Practice of Nursing in the Philippines

LAW DATE PASSED SALIENT FEATURES

Republic Acts
RA 386 Ordained and instituted the Civil Code
RA 673 Code of Conduct
RA 877 June 19, 1953 Philippine nursing law
Requires the owner, lessee or operator of any commercial,
industrial or agricultural establishments to furnish free
emergency, medical and dental attendance to his
RA 1054 employees and laborers
Civil Service Act
Those who pass the bar and board examinations are
RA 1080 declared to be civil service eligible
1st RHU Act (1953)
Amended by RA 1891 on June 22, 1957
RA 1082 June 1954 Creation of 1st 81 RHUs
Privilege tax shall be paid before any business or
RA 1612 occupation can be lawfully begun or pursued
Strengthened dental and health services in RHUs and
RA 1891 1957 created RHUs of 8 categories of staffing patterns
RA 2382 Philippine Medical Act
RA 2493 1915 Regulated the practice of medicine
RA 2808 March 1, 1919 First true nursing law
1920 First board examination in the Philippines was given
RA 3015 Anti-Graft and Corruption Act
All communicable diseases should be reported to nearest
RA 3573 1929 health station
RA 3720 June 22, 1963 Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act
RA 4073 Liberalized the treatment of leprosy
June 19, 1965 Hospital Licensure Act
Licensing Agency = Office for Hospital and Medical
RA 4226 Services, Department of Health
Enlarged the staff by integrating into the RHU units the
provincial, city, and municipal sanitary inspectors, nurses
RA 4405 June 16, 1965 and midwives
RA 4642 1965-1966 1965-1966 Appropriation Act
RA 4704 June 18, 1966 Amended certain portions of RA 877
Permanent residence and reciprocity as qualifications for
any examination or registration for the practice of any
RA 5181 profession in the Philippines
Nurses working in 100-bed capacity or above and are
working in an area of 1 million population are supposed to
RA 5901 work only 40 hours a week
Law regulating the practice of Pharmacy as well as set
RA 5921 June 23, 1969 standards for Pharmaceutical Education in the Philippines
Philippine Medical Care (MEDICARE) Act
Employees insured with the GSIS and SSS are entitled to
RA 6111 1969 hospitalization privileges
Application and execution of legal orders in writing of
RA 6136 physicians concerning treatments and medications
RA 6365 National Policy on Population and created the POPCOM
RA 6425 March 30, 1972 Dangerous Drugs Act (old)
RA 6511 July 1, 1972 Amend RA 465 which standardized the examination and
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 registration fees
September 13,
RA 6675 1988 Generics Act of 1988
Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials
RA 6713 and Employees
Classification and Compensation Act or Salary
Standardization Law
Standardized the salaries of government employees which
RA 6758 1989 include the nursing personnel
RA 6809 Age of majority is 18 years (legal age)
RA 6972 Barangay Day Care Center
RA 7160 Local Government Code
By Sen. Heherson Alvarez
RA 7164 June 6, 1991 Philippine Nursing Act of 1991
RA 7170 February 20, 1995 Organ Donation Act of 1991
By Sen. Edgardo Angara
RA 7305 March 26, 1992 Magna Carta for Public Health Workers
Amended RA 2644 (Midwifery Law)
RA 7392 April 10, 1992 Lying-in Clinics
RA 7394 April 13, 1992 Consumer Act of the Philippines
RA 7432 Senior Citizens’ Act
20% discount in all public establishments
By Sen. Juan Flavier
RA 7600 1992 Rooming-in and Breastfeeding Act
RA 7610 Act Against Child Abuse, Neglect, Exploitation
RA 7719 May 5, 1994 National Blood Services Act
Compulsory immunization against “Hepatitis B” for infants
RA 7846 December 30, 1994 and children below 8 years old
RA 7875 February 14, 1995 National Health Insurance Act
RA 7876 Senior Citizens Day Care Center Act
RA 7877 Anti-Sexual Harassment Act
Barangay Health Workers’ Benefits and Incentives Act of
RA 7883 February 20, 1995 1995
RA 8042 1992 Migrant Filipino Overseas Contract Workers Act
RA 8172 Salt Iodization Act
RA 8191 National Diabetes Act
RA 8203 September 4, 1996 Special Law on Counterfeit Drugs
RA 8293 1998 Intellectual Property Code
Prohibits hospitals and clinics from demanding advance
payments/cash deposits before patients are
RA 8344 admitted/treated
RA 8353 1997 Anti-Rape Law
Philippine Institution of Traditional and Alternative
RA 8423 December 09, 1997 Health Act
RA 8749 June 23, 1999 Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999
Electronic Commerce Act of 2000
RA 8792 Computerization of government agencies
RA 8976 Philippine Food Fortification Act of 2000
Early Child Care Development Act
RA 8980 2000 “Bright Child”
PRC Modernization/Computerization Act
RA 8981 2000 “Professional Identification Card”
RA 9003 January 26, 2001 Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000
RA 9165 Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act
RA 9173 October 21, 2002 Philippine Nursing Act 0f 2002

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 RA 9211 Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003
Expanded Senior Citizens’ Act
20% discount in meds/transport/theater/food
RA 9257 2004 Establishments; 5% discount on grocery items
Act Defining Violence Against Women and Children,
RA 9262 Domestic Violence
RA 9288 April 7, 2004 Newborn Screening Act of 2004
By Rep. Juan Miguel Zubiri
Biofuel Act of 2006, An Act that would Allow the Use of
Biofuels as an Alternative Source of Fuel for the
Transport Sector
Two kinds of biofuel:
1. Bioethanol or E10 (5%) from sugarcane as an additive
to gasoline (4th year = 10%)
RA 9376 January 17, 2007 2. Biodiesel or B1 from coconut, as an additive to diesel.

Presidential Decrees
PD 48 Limits paid maternity leave privileges to four children
Limits the number of children to 4 for tax exemption
PD 69 purposes
Amended RA 679 (Woman and Child Labor Law)
Employable age shall be 16 years and privileges for
PD 148 working women
Amended PD 791 Strengthens family planning programs
though participation of private organizations and
PD 166 individuals
PD 223 June 23, 1973 Creation of Professional Regulation Commission License
Labor Code of the Philippines
PD 442 Right to self-organization and collective bargaining
PD 603 Child and Youth Welfare Code
PD 626 Employee Compensation and State Insurance Fund Act
Registration of birth of a child within 30 days with the Civil
PD 651 Registrar
Revised Population Act
Defines the objectives, duties and functions of the
PD 791 POPCOM
PD 807 Civil Service Law
Penalty for improper disposal of garbage and other forms
PD 825 of uncleanliness
PD 856 Code of Sanitation
Empowers the Secretary of Health to regulate the sale,
labeling, manufacture, and distribution of hazardous
PD 881 January 30, 1976 substances
Requires couples to undergo family planning and
responsible parenthood seminars prior to the issuance of a
PD 965 marriage license
September 16, Compulsory immunization for all children below eight years
PD 996 1976 old
Includes DILG and DOLE in national family planning
PD 1204 health and welfare programs
Medicare benefits to all government employees
PD 1519 regardless of status of appointment
Compulsory membership in the GSIS or SSS Retirement
PD 1636 January 1980 Fund

Executive Orders
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 Redirecting the Functions and Operations of the
EO 2 Department of Health
EO 51 Milk Code
EO 209 Family Code of the Philippines
EO 280 Avian influenza/bird flu virus and other related matters
Transfer of personnel, assets, liabilities and records of
national government agencies whose functions are to be
EO 503 devolved to LGUs

Administrative Orders
Licensing of Botika ng Barangay in various Local
AO 70 2002 Government Units
Revised Rules & Regulations Governing the Registration,
Licensure & Operation of Hospitals & Other Health
AO 70-A 2002 Facilities in the Philippines
Implementing Guidelines for the Polio-Free Maintenance
AO 71 2002 Immunization Campaign
Implementation Guidelines for the Unified GTZ Support
AO 73 2002 to the Philippines Health Sector
Creation of DOH National Infectious Disease Advisory
AO 76 2001 Council (NIDAC)
Amendment to A.O. No. 7-C s. 2001, Section A 1, 1.1, 2,
2.1 (Decentralization of some regulatory functions of the
BHFS on Cinical Lab & HIV Testing Lab to the CHD in the
AO 78 2002 Transition Phase)
Current Good Manufacturing Practice Guidelines for
AO 90 2002 Cosmetic Products
AO 114 1991 Revised the roles and functions of Public Health Workers

Letter of Instructions
Integration of family planning in the curricula and to
LOI 47 require graduates sufficient licensing information
Primary Health Care
In lined with Alma Ata WHO Convention USSR on
LOI 949 October 19, 1979 September 6-12, 1978
Members of accredited professional organizations shall be
given priority in the hiring of employees in the government
LOI 1000 March 20, 1980 service and in the engagement of professional services

Presidential Proclamations
Declaring the period from September 16-October 14,
1998 as the “Ligtas Tigdas Month” and launching the
PP 4 July 29, 1998 Philippines Measles Elimination Campaign
Implementing a UN goal on “Universal Child
PP 6 April 3, 1986 Immunization” by 1990
Reaffirming the commitment of the Philippines to the
September 16, “Universal Child and Mother Immunization” goal of the
PP 46 1992 World Health Assembly
Declaring April 21 and May 19, 1993 and every 3rd
Wednesday of January and February for 2 years as
PP 147 March 3, 1993 “National Immunization Days (NIDs)”
PP 539 October 17, 1958 Nurses’ Week every 4th Week of October
Declaring April 17 and May 15, 1996 and every 3rd
Wednesday of April and May from 1996-2000 as “Knock
PP 773 March 28, 1996 Out Polio Days”
PP 1064 August 27, 1997 Enjoining all sectors of society to participate in the
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 “Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP)” surveillance component of
polio eradication campaign of the Philippines
Declaring a national “neonatal tetanus” elimination
PP 1066 August 26, 1997 campaign starting 1997
PP 1275 Midwifery Week every 3rd Week of October

Ministry Circulars
MC 2 1986 AIDS as notifiable disease
Requires health examination and immunization of all
prospective Grade 1 pupils against smallpox, diphtheria
MC 14 1965 and TB as a prerequisite for enrolment
Guidelines in the application of penalties in administrative
MC 30 1989 cases

PRC BON Resolutions

Code of Ethics for Nurses by Dr. Julita V. Sotejo
PRC BON Res. 633 October 1982 July 14, 2004 New Code of Ethics for Nurses by PNA
PRC BON Res. 1955 Continuing Education Program for the Nurses

Other related laws

Requires all industrial establishments to provide family
Dept. of Labor 7 planning services
Enjoins all citizens of the Philippines…..to promote the
concept of family welfare, responsible parenthood, and
General Order 18 family planning
PRC Memo 90-11 August 20, 1990 Provided new rates for examination and registration
Improvement of life and work conditions of nursing
ILO Convention 149 personnel
Ratified by the Pres. Proclamation 1851
Treated the nurses as a labor force in need of:
1. good salary
2. humane working condition
UN Int’l Labor 3. power of control exercised by the superior over
Organizational Res. the subordinate
149 4. power of dismissal
Department Circular Implementation of the Health Promotion Plan for the
No. 273-A, s. 2003 Philippine Follow-up Measles Elimination Campaign 2004
Creation of Sub-Committee for Social Mobilization/IEC on
Department Order Philippine Measles Elimination Campaign dubbed as
No. 162- E, s. 2003 "Ligtas Tigdas"
Memorandum No. Identifying Priority Areas for Philippine Measles Elimination
164-A, s. 2003 Campaign for February 2004
Authority for Seclected NCDPC Staff to monitor Pre-
Implementation Activities of Philippine Follow-Up Measles
NCDPC Order Elimination Campaign and Garantisadong Pambata
No.123-E, s. 2003 Campaign on October 2003 to November 2003
Resolution No. 99-
624 Revised continuing education program for all professions
PRC Resolution No.
507 Continuing education program (old)
Memorandum
Circular No. 2000-
05 Qualifications of nursing service administrators
BON Memorandum Qualifications of deans and faculty members in schools
Circular No. 99-14 and colleges of nursing
BON No. 14 Adoption of nursing specialty certification program and
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 creation of a nursing specialty certification council
Parliamentary Bill Widen the scope of nursing practice (Philippine Nursing
446 Act of 1976)

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