Ethical Considerations on Community Health Nursing: Public Health Laws

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering fundamental Philippine public health laws, legal definitions, and statutory frameworks in community health nursing.

Republic Act 7305

Also known as the Magna Carta of Public Health Workers; an act approved on March 26, 1992, aimed at promoting and improving the social and economic well-being of health workers, developing their skills and capabilities, and encouraging qualified personnel to join and remain in government service.

Health Workers (RA 7305)

All persons who are engaged in health and health-related work, and all persons employed in all hospitals, sanitaria, health infirmaries, health centers, rural health units, barangay health stations, clinics, and other health-related establishments owned and operated by the Government or its political subdivisions with original charters, including medical, allied health professional, administrative, and support personnel regardless of employment status.

Presidential Decree No. 856

Known as the Code on Sanitation of the Philippines; approved on December 23, 1975, by President Ferdinand E. Marcos to update and codify scattered sanitary laws to keep with modern standards of sanitation.

Local Health Authority (PD 856)

An official or employee responsible for the application of a prescribed health measure in a local political subdivision.

Health Officer (PD 856)

Provincial, City, or Municipal Health Officer as defined under the Code on Sanitation of the Philippines.

Republic Act 8749

Known as the Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999; approved on June 23, 1999, to provide a comprehensive air pollution control policy that balances development and environmental protection while adhering to the principle that 'polluters must pay.'

Air Pollutant (RA 8749)

Any matter found in the atmosphere other than oxygen, nitrogen, water vapor, carbon dioxide, and the inert gases in their natural or normal concentrations, that is detrimental to health or the environment, including smoke, dust, soot, cinders, fly ash, solid particles, gases, fumes, chemical mists, steam, and radio-active substances.

Ambient Air Quality

The general amount of pollution present in a broad area, referring to the atmosphere's average purity as distinguished from discharge measurements taken directly at the source of pollution.

Certificate of Conformity (RA 8749)

A certificate issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to a vehicle manufacturer/assembler or importer certifying that a particular new vehicle or vehicle type meets the requirements provided under the Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999 and its rules and regulations.

Eco-profile

The geographical-based instrument for planners and decision-makers presenting an evaluation of the environmental quality and carrying capacity of an area, resulting from the integration of primary and secondary data evaluated by risk assessment and forecasting methodologies.

Emission

Any air contaminant, pollutant, gas stream, or unwanted sound from a known source which is passed into the atmosphere.

Infectious Waste (RA 8749)

That portion of medical waste that could transmit an infectious disease.

Medical Waste (RA 8749)

Materials generated as a result of patient diagnosis, treatment, or immunization of human beings or animals.

Octane Rating or the Anti-Knock Index (AKI)

The rating of the antiknock characteristics of a grade or type of automotive gasoline determined by dividing by two (2) the sum of the Research Octane Number (RON) plus the Motor Octane Number (MON).

Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS)

Substances that significantly deplete or otherwise modify the ozone layer in a manner likely to result in adverse effects on human health and the environment, such as chlorofluorocarbons and halons.

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPS)

Organic compounds that persist in the environment, bioaccumulate through the food web, and pose a risk to human health and the environment by resisting photolytic, chemical, and biological degradation (e.g., dioxin, furan, PCBs, and organochlorine pesticides).

Republic Act No. 6675

Known as the Generics Act of 1988; approved on September 13, 1988, to promote, require, and ensure the production of an adequate supply, distribution, use, and acceptance of drugs and medicines identified by their generic names.

Generic Name or Generic Terminology

The identification of drugs and medicines by their scientifically and internationally recognized active ingredients or by their official generic name as determined by the Bureau of Food and Drugs of the Department of Health.

Active Ingredient

The chemical component responsible for the claimed therapeutic effect of the pharmaceutical product.

Core List

A list of drugs that meets the health care needs of the majority of the population under the Essential Drugs List or National Drug Formulary.

Complimentary List

A list of alternative drugs used when there is no response to the core essential drug, when there is a hypersensitivity reaction to the core essential drug, or when the core essential drug cannot be given.

Republic Act No. 10606

The National Health Insurance Act of 2013; approved on June 19, 2013, amending Republic Act No. 7875 to provide comprehensive health care services to all Filipinos through a socialized health insurance program prioritizing the underprivileged, sick, elderly, PWDs, women, and children.

Case-based Payment

A hospital payment method that reimburses hospitals a predetermined fixed rate for each treated case or disease; also called per case payment.

Health Technology Assessment

A field of science investigating the value of a health technology (procedure, process, product, or device) regarding its quality, relative cost-effectiveness, and safety, typically involving epidemiology and economics.

Lifetime Member (RA 10606)

A former member who has reached the age of retirement under the law and has paid at least one hundred twenty (120) monthly premium contributions.

Sponsored Member (RA 10606)

A member whose contribution is being paid by another individual, government agency, or private entity according to the rules prescribed by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation.

Republic Act No. 7719

Known as the National Blood Services Act of 1994; approved on May 5, 1994, to promote voluntary blood donation, lay down the principle that providing blood for transfusion is a professional medical service rather than a sale of a commodity, and phase out commercial blood banks.

Voluntary Blood Donor

One who donates blood on one's own volition or initiative and without monetary compensation.

Walking Blood Donor

An individual included in the list of qualified voluntary blood donors who is ready to donate blood when needed in his/her community.

Blood Transfusion Transmissible Diseases

Diseases which may be transmitted as a result of blood transfusion, including AIDS, Hepatitis-B, Malaria, and Syphilis.

Republic Act No. 11332

Known as the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act; approved on April 26, 2019, repealing Act No. 3573 to establish efficient surveillance and response systems complying with the 2005 International Health Regulations of the WHO.

Disease Surveillance (RA 11332)

The ongoing systematic collection, analysis, interpretation, and dissemination of outcome-specific data for use in planning, implementation, and evaluation of public health practice.

Epidemic/Outbreak (RA 11332)

An occurrence of more cases of disease than normally expected within a specific place or group of people over a given period of time.

Epidemiologic Investigation

An inquiry into the incidence, prevalence, extent, source, mode of transmission, causation of, and other information pertinent to a disease occurrence.

Response (RA 11332)

The implementation of specific activities to control further spread of infection, outbreaks, or epidemics and prevent re-occurrence, including verification, contact tracing, rapid risk assessment, case measures, patient treatment, risk communication, prevention activities, and rehabilitation.