ARTICLES:

Article III - EXAMINATION, REGISTRATION, AND LICENSURE

SEC. 13. Licensure Examination Requirement

  • All applicants for pharmacy practice registration must pass a licensure examination unless exempted under this Act and Section 7(d) of Republic Act No. 8981.

SEC. 14. Qualifications for the Licensure Examination

An applicant must:

  • Be a citizen of the Philippines or a country with reciprocal pharmacy laws.

  • Possess good moral character and reputation.

  • Hold a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy or an equivalent degree recognized by CHED.

  • Complete an internship program approved by the Board and recognized pharmacy associations.

SEC. 15. Scope of Examination

The examination will cover the following subjects in Pharmacy Science and Practice:

  • Inorganic Pharmaceutical Chemistry

  • Organic Pharmaceutical Chemistry

  • Qualitative and Quantitative Pharmaceutical Chemistry

  • Pharmacognosy and Plant Chemistry

  • Pharmaceutical Biochemistry

  • Microbiology and Parasitology

  • Physical Pharmacy

  • Biopharmaceutics

  • Pharmacology and Toxicology

  • Manufacturing, Quality Assurance, and Instrumentation

  • Pharmaceutical Calculations, Drug Delivery Systems

  • Hospital Pharmacy

  • Clinical Pharmacy Dispensing and Medication Counseling

  • Pharmaceutical Administration and Management

  • Public Health

  • Legal Pharmacy and Ethics

SEC. 16. Holding of Examination

  • The Pharmacists Licensure Examination is conducted twice yearly at locations designated by the PRC per the master schedule outlined in Section 7(d) of Republic Act No. 8981.

SEC. 17. Ratings in the Licensure Examination

  • To register as a pharmacist, candidates must achieve:

    • A general weighted average of 75% or higher.

    • No score lower than 50% in any subject.

  • Candidates failing the exam three times must complete a refresher program from an accredited institution before retaking.

SEC. 18. Report of Rating

  • The Board must submit candidate ratings to the PRC within three working days after the exam, barring justified extensions.

  • Ratings will be sent to the address provided by candidates after result release.

SEC. 19. Oath of Profession

  • Successful candidates must take an oath before a Board member, PRC officer, or authorized person before practicing pharmacy.

SEC. 20. Issuance of Certificate of Registration and Professional Identification Card

  • A Certificate of Registration (COR) will be issued to those passing the examination, contingent on:

    • Meeting registration requirements.

    • Payment of prescribed fees.

  • The COR includes:

    • Registration number.

    • Issuance date.

    • Signatures from the PRC Chairperson and Board members, along with official seals.

  • The COR is valid until suspended or revoked.

  • A Professional Identification Card (PIC) will also be issued, renewable every three years with a Certificate of Good Standing (COGS) and proof of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements.

ARTICLE IV - REGULATION OF THE PRACTICE OF PHARMACY

SEC. 26. Affixing RPh After a Registered Pharmacist's Name

  • Only licensed pharmacists may use "Registered Pharmacist" or "RPh" title.

SEC. 29. Display of Certificate of Registration

  • Every pharmacist must prominently display their original COR where they practice.

  • Pharmacists in Category B establishments must display a duplicate copy.

SEC. 30. Dispensing/Sale of Pharmaceutical Products

  • Pharmaceutical products can only be dispensed through FDA-licensed retail drug outlets.

  • Prescription drugs and pharmacist-only OTC medicines must be dispensed by licensed pharmacists

    • Exceptions for emergencies require supervisor notification within 24 hours.

  • All compounding and dispensing must adhere to:

    • Good Manufacturing Practices.

    • Current Philippine Practice Standards.

  • Pharmacists may refuse to dispense or sell products not compliant with these standards.

SEC. 31. Pharmacist Requirement

  • Establishments must employ licensed pharmacists and are classified as:

    • Category A:

      • Requires direct supervision by a licensed pharmacist, including:

        • Retail outlets selling prescription medicines.

        • Pharmaceutical establishments manufacturing, distributing, or selling combination products classified as drugs.

        • Pharmaceutical laboratories involved in research, quality control, and product development.

        • Government and NGOs involved in pharmaceutical procurement and distribution.

    • Category B:

      • Requires oversight from a licensed pharmacist, including:

        • Retail outlets selling household remedies and OTC drugs (excluding pharmacist-only OTC medicines).

        • Satellite pharmacies providing medicines solely to employees or registered members.

        • Lower-class municipal health units involved in pharmaceutical activities.

        • Institutions providing telepharmacy services.

        • Nontraditional outlets for pharmaceutical products, prohibiting the sale of prescription medicines and pharmacist-only OTC medicines.

SEC. 33. Filing and Partial Filling of Prescription

  • All prescriptions must be filled and dispensed by registered pharmacists following:

    • Philippine Practice Standards.

    • Dispensing Guidelines.

  • Partial fillings are allowed, subject to proper guidelines, with a pharmacist responsible for recording completed prescriptions.

SEC. 34. Physician's Sample

  • Pharmaceutical products provided free to health professionals for promotional purposes must not be