QuestionsQuestions (Act No. 3111)
The Board of Medical Examiners shall consist of five members appointed by the Secretary of the Department. They must be citizens of the Philippines or the USA, hold a medical degree, be legally qualified to practice in the Philippines, have at least three years of practice, and have no pecuniary interest in medical schools. Not more than two members shall be graduates of the same institution.
The Board shall study conditions affecting medical practice, maintain ethical and professional standards among medical practitioners and midwives, issue, suspend, and revoke certificates of registration, administer oaths, subpoena witnesses, and adopt an official seal for documents.
Two newly appointed members have staggered terms of three and four years, respectively, while subsequent appointments are for five years or until successors qualify. Interim appointments fill only the unexpired term.
A member may be removed by the Department Head for neglect of duty, incompetency, unprofessional, or dishonorable conduct after proper administrative investigation and giving the member opportunity to defend himself.
Members receive five pesos per candidate examined for physician registration and two pesos for each candidate examined in midwifery. Government physicians on the Board may receive compensation in addition to their salary.
No person shall practice medicine without a proper certificate of registration issued by the Board. Practice is broadly defined to include diagnosing, treating, operating, prescribing remedies for any human disease or ailment, offering services, or using any means to deal with human health conditions.
Exceptions include commissioned medical officers in the US Army, Navy, or Public Health Service, interns in legally incorporated hospitals serving without fees, government employees dispensing medicine in free dispensaries, registered dentists practicing dentistry, application of massage for hygienic or aesthetic purposes, and mechanical fitting/selling of lenses or artificial limbs, among others.
Examinations are held in Manila on the second Tuesday of February, May, August, and November each year, with at least 30 days' written notice to candidates.
Applicants must be over 21 years of age, of good moral character, and hold a diploma conferring an M.D., L.M., M.B., or equivalent from a reputable medical school that meets defined criteria for educational standards.
Subjects include anatomy, histology, physiology, biochemistry, bacteriology, pathology, hygiene, symptomatology, diagnosis, surgery, obstetrics, tropical medicine, gynecology, pediatrics, diseases of the nervous system, diseases of the eye, ear, nose, throat, and legal medicine.
A general average of 70% overall, with no less than 50% in any subject, is required for a certificate of registration.
The Board collects a 50-peso fee from physician examination candidates; those taking preliminary exams pay 25 pesos before preliminary and 25 before the final exam. Midwifery certificate fees are 20 pesos. Initial registration with the Registrar of Deeds costs 10 pesos.
Grounds include error or fraud in issuance, unprofessional conduct such as aiding criminal abortion, advertising untruthfully, addiction to drugs, conviction of dishonorable crimes, and willfully betraying professional secrets. Charges must be filed, notice given, hearing granted, and findings reported to the Department Head whose decision is final.
First offense is punishable by a fine of 200 to 500 pesos or imprisonment up to 90 days, or both. Second offense carries a fine of 500 to 1,000 pesos or imprisonment of 6 months to 1 year, or both.
No person may advertise or hold themselves as a physician or specialist or use medical degree titles (e.g., M.D., M.B., L.M.) without possessing a valid certificate issued by the Board or a legally conferred degree.