Laws Governing Nursing

R.A. No. 2493            of 1915

  • AN ACT TO AMEND ACT NUMBERED THREE HUNDRED AND TEN, REGULATING THE PRACTICE IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS OF MEDICINE AND SURGERY IN ALL THEIR BRANCHES, TO REPEAL SECTION ONE OF ACT NUMBERED SIXTEEN HUNDRED AND THIRTY-TWO AND ACT NUMBERED SIXTEEN HUNDRED AND FIFTY-ONE, AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE EXAMINATION AND REGISTRATION OF NURSES IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS.

  • Regulated the practice of medicine

  • This act provided for the examination and registration of nurses in the Philippines


 R.A. No. 2808

  • First True Nursing Law in 1919

  • AN ACT REGULATING THE PRACTICE OF THE NURSING PROFESSION IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS.

  • It created the board of examination for nurses.

  • The first board examination in the Philippines was given, 1920.


R.A. No. 877              June 19, 1953

  • AN ACT TO REGULATE THE PRACTICE OF NURSING IN THE PHILIPPINES, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

  • Congress enacted The Philippine Nursing Law.

  • Provisions included the organization of the Board of Examiners for nurses, provisions regarding nursing schools and colleges, examination, registration of nurses including sundry provision relative to the practice of nursing


R.A.  No. 4704          June 18, 1966

  • “AN ACT TO AMEND CERTAIN SECTIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT NUMBERED EIGHT HUNDRED SEVENTY-SEVEN, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "PHILIPPINE NURSING LAW.”

  • First Amendment to the Philippine Nursing Law


R.A. No. 6136              August 31, 1970

  • “An Act Amending Subparagraph Seven of Section Seventeen of Republic Act Numbered Eight Hundred Seventy-Seven, as Amended, Known as the Philippine Nursing Law”

  • Revision of the dependent function of the nurse to include giving of the intravenous injections under the direction and supervision of a physician


Parliamentary Bill 446

(Philippine Nursing Act of 1976)

  • Proposed one professional program in nursing and the widening of the scope of nursing practice.

  • Not valid and Approved


Republic Act No. 7164             November 21, 1991

  • “AN ACT REGULATING THE PRACTICE OF NURSING IN THE PHILIPPINES”

  • Introduced by Senator Heherson Alvarez, codified and revised all the laws regulating the practice of nursing in the Philippines.

  • Known as Philippine Nursing Act of 1991


Proclamation No. 539                October 17,2003

  • Presidential Proclamation of Nurses' Week.

  • Designated the last week of October of every year as Nurses’ Week


Presidential Decree No. 223              June 23, 1973

  • Created the Professional Regulation Commission and prescribed its powers and functions.


R.A. No. 6511                      July 01, 1972

  • AN ACT AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NUMBERED FOUR HUNDRED SIXTY-FIVE ENTITLED "AN ACT TO STANDARDIZE THE EXAMINATION AND REGISTRATION FEES CHARGED BY THE NATIONAL EXAMINING BOARDS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

  • Amends R.A 465 – standardized the examination and registration fees charged by the various Board of Examiners. 


R.A. No. 1612                     1956

  • AN ACT TO AMEND CERTAIN SECTIONS OF TITLE V OF COMMONWEALTH ACT NUMBERED FOUR HUNDRED SIXTY-SIX, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE NATIONAL INTERNAL REVENUE CODE, AS AMENDED, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

  • Professional Tax – Professional should pay professional taxes on or before Jan. 31

  • Exempted are nurses working in the government agencies.


R.A. No. 1080

  • “An Act Declaring the Bar and Board Examinations as Civil Service Examinations”

  • Conversion of Bar and Board Examination as Civil Service Eligibility


R.A. No. 2644                      June 18,1960         

  • “An Act Regulating Midwifery Training and Practice”

  • aka Midwifery Law


R.A. No. 2382

  • Known as THE MEDICAL ACT OF 1959

  • The practice of medicine in the Philippines


R.A. No. 5181                        1967

  • Prescribes permanent residence and reciprocity as qualifications for any examination or registration for the practice of any profession in the Philippines.

  • No person shall be allowed to practice any profession in the Philippines unless he has complied with the existing laws and regulations: 

    • permanent resident for at least 3 years, if he is an alien, the country of which he is a subject or citizen permits Filipinos to practice their respective professions within its territories: 

Provided, That the practice of said professions is not limited by law to citizens of the Philippine

Provided, further, that Filipinos who became American nationals by reason of service in the Armed Forces of the United States during the Second World War and aliens who were admitted into the practice of their profession before July 4, 1946 shall be exempted from the restriction provided herein.


Presidential Decree 541                 1974

  • Allows former Filipino professionals to practice their respective profession in the Philippines.


R.A. No. 6425                              1972

  • Known as the Dangerous Drugs Act 


R.A. No. 3573                              1929

  • “AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE PREVENTION AND SUPPRESSION OF DANGEROUS COMMUNICABLE DISEASES, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.”

  • Declared that all communicable diseases shall be reported to the nearest health station.


R. A. No. 1082                        1954

  • “AN ACT STRENGTHENING HEALTH AND DENTAL SERVICES IN THE RURAL AREAS, AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR”.

  • Amended by R.A 1891 on June 22, 1957.

  • Rural Health Act 

  • Provides for the creation of rural health units


R.A. No. 4073

  • Liberalizes the treatment of leprosy 


Presidential Decree No. 148              1973 

  • amending R.A 679

  • Woman and Child Labor Law


Presidential Decree 996                    1976

  • Compulsory immunization for all children below eight years old against communicable diseases.

  • Provides penalty for improper disposal of garbage and other forms of uncleanliness.


Presidential Decree 825                       1975

  • Provides penalty for improper disposal of garbage and other forms of uncleanliness.


Presidential Decree 856                     1975                      

  • Code of sanitation

  • Provides for control of all factors in man’s 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 No. 148                   1973

  • (amending R.A 679) 

  • Woman and Child Labor Law

  • States that the employable age shall be 16 years. This decree provides for the minimum employable age and for privileges of working women.


Presidential Decree No. 166                 1973

  • “AMENDING THE REVISED POPULATION ACT OF NINETEEN HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-ONE”

  • amending Presidential Decree No 791

  • Strengthens Family planning programs


Presidential Decree No. 48                    1972

  • Limits paid maternity leave privileges to four (4) children.


Presidential Decree No. 69

  • Limits the number of children to four (4) for tax exemption purposes.


Presidential Decree No. 965                    1976

  • “Requires that couples intending to get married must first undergo a family planning and responsible parenthood instruction prior to issuance of a marriage license.”

  • Requires that couples intending to get married must first undergo a family planning and responsible parenthood instruction prior to issuance of a marriage license.


R.A. No. 1054                           1954

  • Industrial Workers Act - requires the owner, lessee or operator of any commercial, industrial or agricultural establishment to furnish free emergency, medical and dental attendance to his employees and laborers.


R.A. No. 4226                       1965

  • Known as the Hospital Licensure Act.

  • Requires all hospitals in the Philippines to be licensed before it can offer to serve the community.


R.A. No. 5901

  • “AN ACT PRESCRIBING FORTY HOURS A WEEK OF LABOR FOR GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE HOSPITALS OR CLINIC PERSONNEL.”

  • Forty (40) hours a week


Presidential Decree 442                  1974

  • Known as the Labor Code of the Philippines.

  • It promotes the rights and welfare of workers.


Presidential Decree 603                  1974

  • Child and Youth Welfare Code

  • Protects and promotes the rights and welfare of children and youth


Presidential Decree 651                    1975

  • “REQUIRING THE REGISTRATION OF BIRTHS AND DEATHS IN THE PHILIPPINES WHICH OCCURRED FROM JANUARY 1, 1974 AND THEREAFTER”

  • Decrees the registration of birth of a child within 30 days with the Civil Registrar.


ILO Convention No. 149

  • Provides for the improvement of life and work conditions of nursing personnel.


R.A. No. 6111 

  • “AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE MEDICAL CARE PLAN AND CREATING THE PHILIPPINE MEDICAL CARE COMMISSION, PRESCRIBING ITS DUTIES, POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”

  • Philippine Medical Care Act 



Presidential Decree 1519                 1978

  • Medicare benefits to all government employees regardless of status of appointment including retirees.

  • “REVISING THE PHILIPPINE MEDICAL CARE ACT OF NINETEEN HUNDRED AND SIXTY NINE”


Presidential Decree 1636

  • “FURTHER AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 1161 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS SOCIAL SECURITY LAW”

  • Compulsory membership in the GSIS or SSS Retirement Fund.


Presidential Decree 626

  • AMENDING CERTAIN ARTICLES OF PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 442 ENTITLED "LABOR CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES”

  • Employee Compensation and State Insurance Funds


R.A. No. 6675                    1988

  • Generic Act of 1988 – An act to promote, requires and ensures the production of an adequate supply, distribution, use and acceptance of drugs and medicines identified by their generic names.


R.A. No. 6758                     1989

  • “AN ACT PRESCRIBING A REVISED COMPENSATION AND POSITION CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM IN THE GOVERNMENT AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES”

  • Standardized the salaries of government employees which include the nursing personnel.

 

R.A. No. 6713                       1989

  • “AN ACT ESTABLISHING A CODE OF CONDUCT AND ETHICAL STANDARDS FOR PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES, TO UPHOLD THE TIME-HONORED PRINCIPLE OF PUBLIC OFFICE BEING A PUBLIC TRUST, GRANTING INCENTIVES AND REWARDS FOR EXEMPLARY SERVICE, ENUMERATING PROHIBITED ACTS AND TRANSACTIONS AND PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS THEREOF AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES”

  • Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.


R.A. No. 7160                       1991

  • Local Government Code

  • transfer responsibility for delivery of basic services and facilities of the national government to local government units. 


R.A. No. 7305                      1992

  • Magna Carta for Public Health Workers

  • (a) to promote and improve the social and economic well-being of the health workers, their living and working conditions and terms of employment; 

  • (b) to develop their skills and capabilities in order that they will be more responsive and better equipped to deliver health projects and programs; and 

  • (c) to encourage those with proper qualifications and excellent abilities to join and remain in government service.


R.A. No. 7600                     1992

  • Rooming-in and Breastfeeding Act

  • Enforced by the Milk Code (Executive Order No. 51) 


R.A. No. 7432                        1992 

  • Senior Citizen’s Act 

  • It entitles the elderly to a twenty percent (20%) discount in all public establishments.


R.A. No. 9173                      2002

  • Change in the Philippine Nursing Act of 2002 from R.A 7164.


PRC Resolution No. 2004-17 Series of 2004

  • Re-implemented continuing Professional Education requiring sixty (60) credit units for three (3) years for professionals with bachelor’s degree.