Republic Act No. 10918: The Pharmacy Law

An act regulating and modernizing the practice of pharmacy in the Philippines, repealing for the

purpose republic act numbered five thousand nine hundred twenty-one (R.A. No. 5921).

Scope of the Practice of Pharmacy

A person is deemed to be practicing pharmacy, within the meaning of this Act, when with or

without a fee, salary, percentage or other rewards, paid or given directly or indirectly, shall:

Prepare, compound or manufacture, preserve, store, distribute, procure, sell, or

dispense, or both, any pharmaceutical product or its raw materials; or

Render services, such as clinical pharmacy services, drug information services, regulatory services, pharmaceutical marketing, medication management, or

whenever the expertise and technical knowledge of the pharmacist is required; or

Engage in teaching scientific, technical, or professional pharmacy courses in a school

or college of pharmacy; or

Dispense pharmaceutical products in situations where supervision of dispensing of

pharmaceutical products is required; or

Chemical, biological or microbiological analyses and assay of pharmaceutical

products, food/dietary supplements, health supplements, and cosmetics; or

Physico-chemical analyses for medical devices used in aid of administration of

pharmaceutical products; or

Administration of adult vaccines as approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA): Provided, That they shall undergo the training on the safe administration of adult vaccines and management of adverse event following immunization (AEFI) for pharmacists and hold a certificate of training issued by an institution duly accredited by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC); Provided, further, That the safe administration of vaccines be part of the higher education curriculum for

pharmacists; or

Conduct or undertake scientific research in all aspects involving pharmaceutical

products and health care; or

Provide other services where pharmaceutical knowledge is required.

Licensure Examination Requirement

Unless exempted therefrom, all applicants for registration for the practice of pharmacy shall be required to pass a licensure examination, as provided for in this Act and Section 7(d) of

Republic Act No. 8981.

Qualifications for the Licensure Examination

An applicant for the Pharmacists’ Licensure Examination shall establish to the satisfaction of

the Board that the following qualifications are met:

A citizen of the Philippines or of a foreign country which has a law or policy on

reciprocity for the practice of the pharmacy profession;

Of good moral character and reputation;

A degree holder of Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy or its equivalent degree conferred by an HEI in the Philippines or an institution of learning in a foreign country duly

recognized by the CHED; and

Issuance of COR and PIC

Has completed an internship program approved by the Board, pursuant to such guidelines as may hereinafter be promulgated, in consultation with the duly

recognized associations of pharmacy schools and the CHED.

A COR as a pharmacist shall be issued to those who passed the licensure examination, subject to compliance with the registration requirements and payment of the prescribed fees. The COR shall bear the registration number, the date of its issuance, and the signatures of the Chairperson of the PRC and the members of the Board, stamped with the official seals of the PRC and of the Board, certifying that the person named therein is entitled to the practice of the profession, with all the privileges appurtenant thereto. This COR shall remain in full force

and effect until suspended or revoked in accordance with RA 10918.

A PIC bearing the registration number and dates of its issuance and expiry, duly signed by the Chairperson of the PRC, shall likewise be issued to every registrant, upon payment of the prescribed fees. The PIC shall be renewed every three (3) years, upon presentation of the

Certificate of Good Standing (COGS) from the APO and proof of completion of the CPD

requirements.

Foreign Reciprocity

Unless the country or state of which the foreign pharmacist is a subject or citizen, specifically permits Filipino pharmacists to practice within its territorial limits on the same basis as the

subjects or citizens of the said foreign country or state under reciprocity and under international agreements, no foreigner shall be admitted to licensure examinations, given a

COR to practice as pharmacist nor be entitled to any of the privileges under RA 10918.

Practice Through Special/ Temporary Permit

The practice of pharmacy in the Philippines shall be limited to natural persons only and shall be governed by the provisions of Republic Act No. 8981 and other issuances pertinent thereto: Provided, That any foreign citizen who has gained entry in the Philippines to perform professional services within the scope of the practice of pharmacy, including the

following:

 being a consultant in foreign-funded or assisted projects of the government;  being engaged or employed by a Filipino employer or establishment;

 providing free services in humanitarian missions: and

being a visiting faculty member in any field or specialty in pharmacy shall, before assuming such duties, functions and responsibilities, secure an STP from the Board

and the PRC, under the following conditions:

The person is an internationally renowned pharmacist or expert in a field or

specialty of pharmacy;

The person is engaged in the provision of a professional service which is

determined to be necessary due to lack of Filipino specialist or expert; and

The person is required to work with a Filipino counterpart, a natural person

who is a registered and licensed pharmacist.

Grounds for Non-Registration

 The Board shall not register any successful examinee who has been:

Convicted of an offense involving moral turpitude by a court of competent

jurisdiction;

Summarily adjudged by the Board as guilty for misrepresentation or falsification of documents in connection with the application for examination or for violation of the

General Instructions to Examinees;

Found guilty of immoral or dishonorable conduct by the Board;

Medically proven to be addicted to any drug or alcohol by a medical or drug testing

facility accredited by the government; and

Declared of unsound mind by a court of competent jurisdiction.