NCM 204

Health Related Laws

Bevan B. Balbuena, RN, MN

Learning Objectives
At the end of the lesson, the BSN 2 students
will:

1. identify the various laws related to health

care;
2. discuss the main concepts of health
related laws; and
3. appreciate the importance of health
related laws in the practice pf nursing.
 Magna Carta for Public Health Workers
Republic Act 7305
Declaration of the Policy:
• The State shall instill health
consciousness among our people
to effectively carry out the health
programs and projects to the
government essential for the
growth and health of the nation.
This Act aims:
• to promote and improve the social and
economic well-being of the health
workers, their living and working
conditions and terms of employment;
• to develop their skills and capabilities in
order that they will be more responsive
and better equipped to deliver health
projects and programs; and
• to encourage those with proper
qualifications and excellent abilities to join
and remain in government service.
 Sanitation Code of the Philippines
Presidential Decree No. 856

PURPOSE
• To prescribe sanitation
requirements for food
establishments and refuse
collections and disposal system of
cities and municipalities
DECLARATION
• the health of the people, being of
paramount importance, all efforts of public
services should be directed towards the
protection and promotion of health; and
• with the advance in the field of sanitation
in recent years, there arises the need for
updating and codifying our scattered
sanitary laws to ensure that they are in
keeping with modern standards of
sanitation and provide a handy reference
and guide for their enforcement
 Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999
Republic Act 8749
DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES
• The State shall protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced
and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature.
• The State shall promote and protect the global environment to attain
sustainable development while recognizing the primary responsibility of
local government units to deal with environmental problems.
• The State recognizes that the responsibility of cleaning the habitat and
environment is primarily area-based.
• The State also recognizes the principle that "polluters must pay".
• the State recognizes that a clean and healthy environment is for the good
of all and should therefore be the concern of all.
 Generics Act of 1988
Republic Act 6675
An Act to promote, require and ensure the production of an Adequate supply,
distribution, use and acceptance of drugs and medicines identified by their Generic
Names

STATEMENT OF POLICY
• To promote, encourage and require the use of generic terminology in the importation,
manufacture, distribution, marketing, advertising and promotion, prescription and dispensing
of drugs;
• To ensure the adequate supply of drugs with generic names at the lowest possible cost and
endeavor to make them available for free to indigent patients;
• To encourage the extensive use of drugs with generic names through a rational system of
procurement and distribution;
• To emphasize the scientific basis for the use of drugs, in order that health professionals may
become more aware and cognizant of their therapeutic effectiveness; and
• To promote drug safety by minimizing duplication in medications and/or use of drugs with
potentially adverse drug interactions.
 National Health Insurance Act (PhilHealth)

BACKGROUND

• The national health insurance program (NHIP) administered by the

Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) was established in
1995 with the passage of Republic Act (RA) 7875.

• Philhealth's mandate is to provide health insurance coverage to all

Filipinos.

• RA 7875, is known as the “National Health Insurance Act of 1995″

• RA 10606, known as the “National Health Insurance Act of 2013”

amended RA 7875
 National Health Insurance Act of 2013
RA 10606

Declaration of Principles and Policies.

• It is hereby declared the policy of the State to adopt an integrated and

comprehensive approach to health development which shall endeavor to
make essential goods, health and other social services available to all the
people at affordable cost and to provide free medical care to paupers.

• Towards this end, the State shall provide comprehensive health care
services to all Filipinos through a socialized health insurance program that
will prioritize the health care needs of the underprivileged, sick, elderly,
persons with disabilities (PWDs), women and children and provide free
health care services to indigents.
 National Blood Services Act of 1994
Republic Act No. 7719

Declaration of Policy
• This act promotes
• to promote and encourage voluntary blood donation by the citizenry and to
voluntary blood
instill public consciousness of the principle that blood donation is a
donation to provide
humanitarian act;
sufficient supply of
safe blood and to • to lay down the legal principle that the provision of blood for transfusion is a
regulate blood professional medical service and not a sale of a commodity;
banks.
• to provide for adequate, safe, affordable and equitable distribution of supply of
blood and blood products;
• This act aims to • to inform the public of the need for voluntary blood donation to curb the
inculcate public hazards caused by the commercial sale of blood;
awareness that
blood donation is a • to teach the benefits and rationale of voluntary in the existing health subjects
humanitarian act. of the formal education system in all public and private schools in the
elementary, high school and college level as well as non formal education
system
 Laws of Notifiable Disease
Republic Act No. 11332
• An Act Providing Policies and Prescribing Procedures on Surveillance and
Response to Notifiable Diseases, Epidemics, and Health Events of Public
Health Concern, and Appropriating Funds Therefore, Repealing for the
Purpose Act No. 3573, Otherwise Known as the "Law on Reporting of
Communicable Diseases“

• aims to protect people from public health threats through the efficient
and effective disease surveillance of diseases of public health concern.

• recognizes the disease surveillance and response systems of the DOH and
its local counterparts as the first line of defense against epidemics or
any events that may pose a health threats to the public.
DECLARATION OF POLICY.

• It is hereby declared the policy of the State to protect and promote the right
to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them.

• It shall endeavor to protect the people from public health threats through
the efficient and effective disease surveillance of notifiable diseases
including emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, diseases for
elimination and eradication, epidemics, and health events including
chemical, radio-nuclear and environmental agents of public health concern
and provide an effective response system in compliance with the 2005
International Health Regulations (IHR) of the World Health Organization
(WHO).
DECLARATION OF POLICY.

• The State recognizes epidemics and other public health emergencies as

threats to public health and national security, which can undermine the
social, economic, and political functions of the State.

• The State also recognizes disease surveillance and response systems of

the Department of Health (DOH) and its local counterparts, as the first line
of defense to epidemics and health events of public health concern that
pose risk to public health and security
 National Commission of Senior Citizens Act
Republic Act No. 11350

• An Act creating Declaration of Policy.

the National
Commission of
Senior Citizens,
Providing for its • It is the policy of the State to adopt measures whereby our senior citizens are
Functions, assisted and appreciated by the community as a whole, provide services and
Abolishing the
National activities beneficial to senior citizens, their families and the communities they
Coordinating serve, and establish community-based health and rehabilitation, educational,
Council and and socioeconomic programs for all senior citizens.
Monitoring
Board,
Amending for
the Purpose • Consistent with this policy, the State shall promote the advocacy of and
Republic Act No. collaboration between different stakeholders and senior citizens to ensure the
7432, as effective implementation of various programs and services, particularly on the
Amended, and
Appropriating development of senior citizens and advancing their health, and well-being,
Funds and ensuring a supportive and enabling environment for the elderly.
Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010
Republic Act No. 9994

• An act granting additional benefits and privileges to senior

citizens, further amending RA no. 7432, as amended,
otherwise known as "AN ACT TO MAXIMIZE THE
CONTRIBUTION OF SENIOR CITIZENS TO NATION BUILDING,
GRANT BENEFITS AND SPECIAL PRIVILEGES AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES
PRIVILEGES OF SENIOR CITIZENS
(a) the grant of twenty percent (20%) discount and exemption from the value
-added tax (VAT), if applicable, on the ff:

• purchase of medicines, influenza & pneumococcal vaccines

• professional fees of attending physician/s
• professional fees of licensed professional health providing home health
care services
• medical and dental services, diagnostic and laboratory fees
• actual fare for land transportation travel
• actual transportation fare for domestic air transport services and sea
shipping vessels
• utilization of services in hotels and similar lodging establishments,
restaurants and recreation centers
• admission fees charged by theaters, cinema houses and concert halls,
circuses, leisure and amusement
• funeral and burial services for the death of senior citizens
PRIVILEGES OF SENIOR CITIZENS

(b) exemption from the payment of individual income taxes of

senior citizens who are considered to be minimum wage
earners

(c) the grant of a minimum of five percent (5%) discount

relative to the monthly utilization of water and electricity

(d) exemption from training fees for socioeconomic programs

(e) free medical and dental services, diagnostic and laboratory

(f) the DOH shall administer free vaccination against the

influenza virus and pneumococcal disease for indigent senior
citizens
 Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002
Republic Act 9165

Declaration of Policy.

It is the policy of the State to safeguard the integrity of its territory and the
well-being of its citizenry particularly the youth, from the harmful effects of
dangerous drugs on their physical and mental well-being, and to defend
the same against acts or omissions detrimental to their development and
preservation. In view of the foregoing, the State needs to enhance further
the efficacy of the law against dangerous drugs, it being one of today's
more serious social ills.
 Universally Accessible Cheaper and Quality
Medicines Act of 2008
RA 9502

Declaration of Policy

It is the policy of the State to protect public health and , when

the public interest or circumstances of extreme urgency so
require, it shall adopt appropriate measures to promote and
ensure access to affordable quality drugs and medicines for
all.
 Save the Children Philippines

Save the Children

Philippines is a non-stock,
non-profit organization that is
part of Save the Children
International, the world’s
leading independent
organization for children with
a vision of a world where
every child attains the right
to survival, development,
protection and participation.
Its mission is to inspire
breakthroughs in the way the
world treats children and to
achieve immediate and
lasting change in their lives.
• advocated the passage of Republic
Act 10821 or the Children's
Emergency Relief and Protection
Act
• The law prioritizes the protection of children,
pregnant and lactating mothers during disaster
and emergency situations.
• It also prevents the prolonged use of schools
as evacuation centers to allow children to
resume classes.
 Anti-Violence Against Women and
Their Children Act of 2004.
RA 9262

Declaration of Policy • Violence Against Women is any act of

• The State values the
dignity of women and
children and guarantees
full respect for human
rights. The State also
recognizes the need to
protect the family and its
members particularly
women and children, from • Gender-based violence is any violence
violence and threats to
their personal safety and
security.
gender-based violence that results or
is likely to result in physical, sexual or
psychological harm or suffering to
women including threats or such acts,
coercion or arbitrary deprivation of
liberty whether occurring in public or
private life.
inflicted on women because of their
sex.
 Disaster Risk Reduction Management
RA 10121

The National Disaster The NDRRMP covers four thematic areas, namely,
Risk Reduction and
Management Plan • Disaster Prevention and Mitigation;
(NDRRMP) fulfills the
requirement of RA • Disaster Preparedness;
No. 10121 of 2010,
which provides the • Disaster Response; and
legal basis for
policies, plans and • Disaster Rehabilitation and Recovery, which
programs to deal with correspond to the structure of the National
disasters. Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council
(NDRRMC).
Rooming-in and Breastfeeding Act of 1992 (Milk Code)
Republic Act 7600

An act which Declaration of Policy

provides
incentives to all The State adopts rooming-in as a
government and national policy to encourage, protect
private health and support the practice of breast-
institutions with feeding. It shall create an
rooming -in and environment where basic physical,
breastfeeding emotional, and psychological needs of
practices and for mothers and infants are fulfilled
other purposes through the practice of rooming-in
and breast-feeding.
Advantages of Breast-feeding

• first preventive health measure that can be given to the child at birth

• enhances mother-infant relationship

• the practice of breast-feeding could save the country valuable foreign

exchange that may otherwise be used for milk importation.

• Breastmilk is the best food since it contains essential nutrients completely

suitable for the infant's needs

• Breastmilk is nature's first immunization, enabling the infant to fight potential

serious infection

• Breastmilk contains growth factors that enhance the maturation of an infant's

organ systems
 The Responsible Parenthood and
Reproductive Health Act of 2012
Republic Act 10354

Declaration of Policy

The State recognizes and guarantees the human rights of

all persons including their right to equality and
nondiscrimination of these rights, the right to
sustainable human development, the right to health
which includes reproductive health, the right to
education and information, and the right to choose and
make decisions for themselves in accordance with their
religious convictions, ethics, cultural beliefs, and the
demands of responsible parenthood.
 Mandatory Infants and Children
Health Immunization Act of 2011
Republic Act No. 10152

An act which requires that all children under five years old be
given basic immunization against vaccine-preventable diseases.

Specifically, this bill provides for all infants to be given the

birth dose of the Hepatitis-B vaccine within 24 hours of birth.
 Children’s Safety on Motorcycles Act 2015
Republic Act 10666
GUIDELINES
• The law prohibits any person from driving a A child refers to
motorcycle on public roads with a child on board. any person
below 18
• The law covers all public roads nationwide such as
but not limited to national highways, provincial years old
roads, and municipal and barangay streets.
• This also includes roads where there is a heavy The law does
volume of vehicles, there is a high-density of fast not apply to
cases where
moving vehicles, or where a speed limit of more than the child to be
60 kph is imposed. transported
requires
• This covers any two-wheeled motor vehicles having immediate
one or two riding saddles. medical
attention.
• Sitting in front of the rider is not allowed.
 Children’s Emergency Relief and
Protection Act of 2016
Republic Act No. 10821

• This act mandates the provision

of emergency relief and
protection for children before,
during, and after disaster and
other emergency situations.
• It refers to situations when
children are gravely threatened
or endangered by circumstances
that affect their survival and
normal development.
The Act is guided by the
principles of survival and
development, child
participation, and
consistency with the United
Nations Convention on the
Rights of the Child, as well as
the Children's Charter for
Disaster Risk Reduction, and
the minimum standards for
children in humanitarian action.
 Child and Youth Welfare Code of the Philippines
Presidential Decree No. 603

Declaration of Policy • This code shall apply

to persons below
• The Child is one of the most twenty-one years of
important assets of the nation. age except those
Every effort should be exerted emancipated in
to promote his welfare and accordance with law.
enhance his opportunities for a
useful and happy life.
RIGHTS OF THE CHILD.

All children shall be entitled to the rights herein set forth without
distinction as to legitimacy or illegitimacy, sex, social status, religion,
political antecedents, and other factors.

(1) Every child is endowed with the dignity and worth of a human being
from the moment of his conception, as generally accepted in medical
parlance, and has, therefore, the right to be born well.

(2) Every child has the right to a wholesome family life that will provide
him with love, care and understanding, guidance and counseling, and
moral and material security. The dependent or abandoned child shall be
provided with the nearest substitute for a home.
Rights of the Child.

(3) Every child has the right to a well-rounded development of his personality
to the end that he may become a happy, useful and active member of society.

The gifted child shall be given opportunity and encouragement to develop his
special talents.
The emotionally disturbed or socially maladjusted child shall be treated with
sympathy and understanding, and shall be entitled to treatment and competent
care.
The physically or mentally handicapped child shall be given the treatment,
education and care required by his particular condition.

(4) Every child has the right to a balanced diet, adequate clothing, sufficient
shelter, proper medical attention, and all the basic physical requirements of a
healthy and vigorous life.
Rights of the Child.

(5) Every child has the right to be brought up in an atmosphere of

morality and rectitude for the enrichment and the strengthening of his
character.

(6) Every child has the right to an education commensurate with his
abilities and to the development of his skills for the improvement of his
capacity for service to himself and to his fellowmen.

(7) Every child has the right to full opportunities for safe and
wholesome recreation and activities, individual as well as social, for the
wholesome use of his leisure hours.

(8) Every child has the right to protection against exploitation, improper
influences, hazards, and other conditions or circumstances prejudicial to
his physical, mental, emotional, social and moral development.
Rights of the Child.

(9) Every child has the right to live in a community and a society that can
offer him an environment free from pernicious influences and conducive to the
promotion of his health and the cultivation of his desirable traits and
attributes.

(10) Every child has the right to the care, assistance, and protection of the
State, particularly when his parents or guardians fail or are unable to provide
him with his fundamental needs for growth, development, and improvement.

(11) Every child has the right to an efficient and honest government that will
deepen his faith in democracy and inspire him with the morality of the
constituted authorities both in their public and private lives.

(12) Every child has the right to grow up as a free individual, in an atmosphere
of peace, understanding, tolerance, and universal brotherhood, and with the
determination to contribute his share in the building of a better world.
 Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003
RA 9211
POLICY
• It is the policy of the State to
protect the populace from
hazardous products and promote
the right to health and instill
health consciousness among
them.
• It is also the policy of the State,
consistent with the Constitutional
ideal to promote the general
welfare, to safeguard the Interests
of the workers and other
stakeholders in the tobacco
industry.
The government shall institute
a balanced policy whereby
the use, sale, and
advertisements of tobacco
products shall be regulated in
order to promote a healthful
environment and protect the
citizens from the hazards of
tobacco smoke, and at the
same time ensure that the
interest of tobacco farmers,
growers, workers and
stakeholders are not adversely
compromised.
PURPOSE. It is the main thrust of this Act to:
1. Promote a healthful environment;
2. Inform the public of the health risks associated with cigarette smoking and
tobacco use;
3. Regulate and subsequently ban all tobacco advertisements and sponsorships;
4. . Regulate the labeling of tobacco products;
5. Protect the youth from being initiated to cigarette smoking and tobacco use by
prohibiting the sale of tobacco products to minors;
6. Assist and encourage Filipino tobacco farmers to cultivate alternative
agricultural crops to prevent economic dislocation; and
7. Create an Inter-Agency Committee on Tobacco (IAC-Tobacco) to oversee the
implementation of the provision of this Act.