Laws Affecting Nursing Practice in the

Philippines
• RA 6675- GENERIC DRUG ACT OF 1988
➢ Generic name- identification of drugs with scientifically and
internationally recognized active ingredients.

➢ Brand name- propriety name given by manufacturer

➢ Essential drug list- list of drugs prepared by DOH on the basis of

health conditions in the Phils as well as internationally accepted
criteria.

• RA 9165- Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act of 2002

➢ Prohibited acts:

○ Sell, administer, deliver or distribution and transport of

prohibited drugs
○ Importation of prohibited drugs
○ Den or drive
○ Employees or visitors of dens
○ Manufacture
○ Use and possession
○ Culture of plants

• RA 953 – NARCOTIC DRUG ACT

➢ Registration and imposition of license on all persons who deal in
narcotic drugs and the control of the legal traffic in narcotic drugs.

➢ Narcotics- drugs which produces insensibility, stupor, melancholy or

dullness of mind, habit forming

➢ Prohibited drugs- drugs with opium, coca leaf, heroine,

morphine,LSD

➢ Regulated drugs- self-inducing sedatives, secobarbitals, hypnotic

drugs
• RA 9262- Anti Violence against Women and their
children
➢ violence against women and children” means: any act or series of
acts against a woman

a. wife or former wife;

b sexual relationship or dating relationship
c. with whom he has a common child
d. against her child, leg or illeg

➢ Types of violence:

a. physical violence
b. sexual violence
c. psychological abuse
d. economic abuse

➢ Battered wife syndrome

- Pattern of psychological and behavioral symptoms found in

women living in battering relationships

- Cycle:

a. tension building
b. acute or serious battering
c. honeymoon stage

➢ Duties of Health care provider:

1. Safeguard records, provide rights and remedies

2. Automatically provide medical certificate free of charge
3. Document any of victim’s injuries

• RA 7610 - Anti Child Abuse

• RA 7658- an act prohibiting the employment of

children below 15 years of age
 • RA 6809-Emancipation law
➢ lowered majority age from 21 to 18 years old

• RA 8172 - Salt Iodization Law

• RA 3573- an act providing for the prevention and

suppression of dangerous communicable diseases

• RA 7305- Magna Carta of Public Health Workers

➢ has provisions on the benefits, rights and responsibilities of public
health workers

➢ Entitlement and protection:

1. Discrimination is prohibited
2. Understaffing and overstaffing not allowed
3. Due process observed
4. Normal hours of work, overtime pay, night shift dif, salary scale
5. Payment of salaries in legal tender
6. Hazard allowance
7. Right to self organization

• RA 8749- Phil Clean Air Act of 1999

➢ Declaration of policy:

1. Right of people to a balanced and healthful ecology

2. Promote and protect the global environment

3. State recognizes the principle that

“ polluters must pay”

4. State recognizes that a clean and healthy environment is for the

good and concern of all
• RA 6713- Code of conduct and Ethical Standards for
Public Officials and Employees
➢ Public officials and employees shall at all times be accountable to
the people and shall discharge their duties with utmost
responsibility, integrity, competence and uphold public interest

 RA 8344- An act penalizing the refusal of Hospitals

and medical Clinics to administer appropriate initial
treatment and support in emergency cases

• 7160- Local Government Code

➢ general features include decentralization and local autonomy
➢ the Local chief executive have the power over:

Budgets for health,

Implementation of programs
Personnel appointment

• RA 2644- Philippine Midwifery Act

➢ Registered nurses may practice midwifery through passing the
midwifery exam and has completed 20 actual deliveries

• RA 2382- Practice of medicine by a Nurse

1. during epidemics or national emergencies,
2. whenever services of duly registered physicians are not available
3. through special authorization given by the DOH and automatically
ceases when epidemic is terminated
• RA 7600- Rooming in and breastfeeding Act of 1992
➢ Policies include

1. preparation of mothers for breastfeeding,

2. latching on ( baby to suck 30 minutes after delivery),
3. rooming in 30 minutes after delivery,
4. breastfeeding for 4-6 months, feed per demand

 RA 7432- Senior Citizen’s Act

– 20 % Discount

• RA 8423- Established the traditional and alternative

health care

Memorization Drills

 RA 8423- Established the traditional and alternative health care

 RA 7432- Senior Citizen’s Act
 RA 7600- Rooming in and breastfeeding Act of 1992
 RA 2382- Practice of medicine by a Nurse
 RA 2644- Philippine Midwifery Act
 RA 7160- Local Government Code
 RA 7610 - Anti Child Abuse Code
 RA 8344- An act penalizing the refusal of Hospitals and medical
Clinics to administer appropriate initial treatment and support in
emergency cases
 RA 6713- Code of conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials
and employees
 RA 953 – NARCOTIC DRUG ACT
 RA 9262- Anti Violence against Women and their children
 RA 3573- an act providing for the prevention and suppression of
dangerous communicable diseases
 RA 7877- Anti Sexual Harassment Law
 RA 6675- GENERIC DRUG ACT OF 1988

RA 9165- Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act of 2002
 RA 6809- Emancipation law
 RA 7305- Magna Carta of Public Health Workers
 Presidential Decrees
➢ an order of the president in his capacity to act as legislator
➢ By Former President Ferdinand Marcos

• PD 603- CHILD AND YOUTH WELFARE CODE

➢ highlights the role of the nurse which include

1. registration of births
2. child’s health
3. freedom of expression
4. child’s inherent right to life
5. basic health services.

➢ it includes the rights and duties of parents over their children

- parental authority
 - joint
 - grandparents
 - eldest brother or sister
 - nearest next of kin
 - guardian appointed by the court

• PD 651- requires immediate registration of birth

within 30 days from delivery

• PD 996 - COMPULSORY BASIC IMMUNIZATION FOR INFANTS AND

CHILDREN BELOW EIGHT YEARS OF AGE

• PD 856 – Sanitation code of the Philippines