RELATED LAWS AFFECTING THE PRACTICE OF NURSING

Act # 1931 Created for the ESTABLISHMENT OF NURSING SCHOOLS in the

country under the Bureau of Education in 1909.

Act # 1975 An act that transferred the school of NURSING UNDER THE BUREAU OF
HEALTH.

Act # 2468 An act that authorized the GRANTING OF THE TITLES of graduate in
nursing and midwifery from the school of nursing of Philippine General Hospital in 1915.

Act # 2808 This act provided for the earliest and TRUE NURSING LAW that served as the
basis of the practice of nurses in the Philippines in 1919 and a year after its passage, the first
local licensure or board examination for nurses was held in 1920. The First Board Examiners
were created under act # 2808 composed of three members then appointed by the Secretary
Interior. The chairman was a doctor of medicine and the other two are registered nurses who
must possess an experience in the nursing profession for at least five years and with a reputable
character.

RA # 649 provided for the standardization of nurses salaries both in institutions and in
public health.

RA # 465 an act which STANDARDIZED THE FEES charged by the Examining Boards
for Examination and Registration.

RA # 546 An act that reorganized and placed all the BOARD OF EXAMINERS under the
direct supervision of the President of the Philippines.

RA # 877 An Act also known as the Philippine Nursing Law of 1953 approved on June
19, 1953. This Law was sponsored by Senator Geromina T. Pecson which enacted to regulate
the practice of nursing in the Philippines and to set up provisions for the registration of nurses,
for the establishment and maintenance of standards of nursing education and nursing practice.

RA # 1080 This act approved on 1954 is also known as, An Act Declaring the Bar and Board
Examinations as CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATIONS which means that when a four year
degree course graduate had passed the board examinations or the Bar examinations for lawyers
they automatically become first grade civil service eligible.

RA # 997 This Republic Act in 1954 ABOLISHED THE DIVISION OF NURSING and
created a decentralized organization with a chief Public Health Nurse consultant in the office
of the Secretary of Health, and five consultant positions in nursing; namely, in Maternal and
Child Health, in Preventable Diseases, in Institutional Nursing, in Nursing Education, and in
Hospital Standardization.

RA # 4704 This act in 1966 AMENDED THE PHILIPPINE NURSING LAW OF 1953
otherwise known as RA 877 and introduced some minor revisions of the said act due to some
developments of the practice of nursing in the country.

RA # 6136 In 1971, This Republic Act introduced other MINOR REVISIONS IN THE
NURSING LAW of 1966 thus amending RA 4704 of 1966.

RA 7164 PHILIPPINE NURSING ACT OF 1991 was sponsored by Senator Heherson
Alvarez and was approved and signed by President Corazon Aquino on November 21, 1991.

ILO convention 149 and Recommendations 157 In 1977, the Philippine Nurses
Association, formerly known as the Filipino Nurses Association established in 1922 lobbied
our government for the adoption of ILO 149 and Recommendations 157 that were adopted in
Geneva. It set the concerns of employment of nursing personnel and the CONDITIONS OF
THE LIFE AND WORK OF NURSES and in 1978; the PNA passed The Declaration on the
Economic and Social Welfare of Filipino Nurses.

Proclamation No. 539 The President of the Philippines declared on October 17, 1958
that the last week of October (through this proclamation ) as the NURSES WEEK

Presidential Decree No. 223 This decree formed the PROFESSIONAL
REGULATION COMMISSION on June 23, 1973. Among its power is the regulation of
different profession which used to be under the Civil Service Commission.

RA 6511 This Act Amended RA 465 in 1972, which STANDARDIZED the
examination and REGISTRATION fees charged by the various Board Examiners.

Letter of Instruction No. 1000 this required that the members of Accredited
Professional Organizations (eg. PNA) shall be given PRIORITY in the HIRING of employees
in the government service and in the engagement of professional services.

RA 1612 Refers to the payment of PRIVILEGE TAX before any business or occupation
can be lawfully begun or pursued.

RA 7392 This Act provided that only licensed midwives could practice and that nurses
must pass first the MIDWIFERY EXAMINATION before they can practice midwifery








RA 2382 PHILIPPINE MEDICAL ACT ; defines the practice of medicine in the
Philippines. Section 10 of this Act provides: Act constituting the practice of medicine. A person
shall be considered as engaged in the practice of medicine who shall for compensation, fee,
salary, or reward in any form paid to him directly or through another or even without the same
may physically examine any person, and diagnose, treat, operate or prescribe any remedy for any
human disease, injury, deformity, physical, mental, physical condition or ailment nature, real or
imaginary, regardless of the remedy or treatment administered, prescribed or recommended.

RA 5181 An act that prescribes PERMANENT RESIDENCE and reciprocity as
qualifications for any examination or registration for the practice of any profession in the
Philippines

Presidential Decree 541 a decree allowing former Filipino (BALIKBAYANS)
professionals to practice their respective profession in the Philippines.

RA 6425 DANGEROUS DRUG ACT enacted in 1972 declaring that sale,
administration, delivery, distribution, and transportation of prohibited drugs are punishable by
law.

Act No. 3573 This Act in 1929 declared that all COMMUNICABLE DISEASES shall be
REPORTED to the nearest health station, and that any person may be inoculated, administered
or injected with prophylactic preparations.

RA 1082 creation of RURAL HEALTH UNITS in the Philippines.


RA 4073 liberalizes the LEPROSY TREATMENT. No person shall be confined in
leprosarium unless such disease requires institutional treatment.

Presidential Decree 996 COMPULSORY IMMUNIZATION for all children below eight
years old.

RA 8981 PRC MODERNIZATION ACT OF 2000 This Act gave the Professional
Regulatory Commission its regulatory powers and is now an agency of its own.

Presidential Decree 825 provided penalty for improper disposal of GARBAGE and other
forms of unclealiness.


Presidential Decree 856 CODE OF SANITATION, provides for control of all factors in
mans environment that affect health including the quality of water, food, milk, control of
insects, animal carriers, transmitters of disease, sanitary and recreation facilities, noise,
unpleasant odors and control of nuisance.

Presidential Decree 148 WOMAN AND CHILD LABOR LAW The employable age
is 16 years and above and further provides for the privileges of working women.


RA 6365 established a National Policy on Population and created the Commission on
Population (POPCOM).

PD 791 revised population Act. Empowered nurses and midwives to provide, dispense and
administer acceptable METHODS OF CONTRACEPTION after having undergone training
and having been granted authorization by POPCOM.

PD 166 Strengthened FAMILY PLANNING programs through participation of private
organizations and individuals in the formulation and implementation of the program planning
policies.

General Order No. 18 enjoins all citizens of the Philippines, universities, colleges, schools,
government offices, mass media, voluntary and religious organizations of all creeds, business
and industrial enterprises to promote the concept of family welfare, responsible parenthood and
family planning.

Letter of Instruction No. 47 directs all schools of medicine, nursing, midwifery and allied
medical professions and social work to prepare, plan, and implement the INTEGRATION OF
FAMILY PLANNING in their curricula and to require from their graduates sufficient
appropriate licensing examination.


Department of Labor Order No. 7 requires all industrial establishments to provide
FAMILY PLANNING SERVICES.

PD 48 limits paid MATERNITY LEAVE privileges to four children.

PD 69 limits the number of children to FOUR for TAX EXEMPTIONS purposes.

PD 965 requires that couples intending to get married must first undergo a family planning
and responsible PARENTHOOD INSTRUCTION prior to the issuance of marriage license.

RA 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.

RA 4226 HOSPITAL LICENSURE ACT requires all hospital in the country to be
licensed before it can offer to serve the community. The licensing agency is the Office For
Hospital and Medical Services, Department of Health.


RA 5901 nurses working in agencies with 100-bed capacity and/or above and are working
in area of one million population are supposed to WORK 40 HOURS A WEEK.


PD 442 LABOR CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES provides the right of the workers to self-
organization and collective bargaining agreement.

PD 603 CHILD AND YOUTH WELFARE CODE protects and promotes the rights and
welfare of children and youth.


PD 651 decrees the REGISTRATION OF BIRTH of a child within 30 days with the Civil
Registrar.

PD 1519 MEDICARE BENEFITS TO ALL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES regardless
of status of appointment.

PD 626 EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION AND STATE INSURANCE FUND

RA 6675 GENERICS ACT OF 1998

RA 6758 - standardized the salaries of government employees which include the nursing
personnel.

RA 7160 LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991devolution of powers from national
to local government.

RA 7305 MAGNA CARTA FOR PUBLIC HEALTH WORKERS

RA 7600 ROOMING-IN AND BREASTFEEDING ACT OF 1992 provides that babies
born in private and government hospitals should be roomed-in with their mothers to promote
breastfeeding and ensure safe and adequate nutrition to children.

EO 51 MILK CODE

RA 7432 SENIOR CITIZENS ACT does honor and justice to our peoples long tradition of
giving high regard to elderly. 20% discount in all public establishments such as restaurants,
pharmacies, public utility vehicles and hospitals.

PRC Resolution No. 2004-17 Series of 2004 RE-IMPLEMENTED CONTINUING
PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION requiring sixty (60) credit units for three years for
professionals with bachelors degree