Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 7600)
Republic Act No. 7600 is officially known as "The Rooming-In and Breastfeeding Act of 1992."
The State adopts rooming-in as a national policy to encourage, protect, and support the practice of breastfeeding.
Rooming-in is the practice of placing the newborn in the same room as the mother right after delivery up to discharge to facilitate mother-infant bonding and to initiate breastfeeding. The infant may either share the mother’s bed or be placed in a crib beside the mother.
Well infants regardless of age of gestation and infants with low birth weights who can suck are required to be put to the breast immediately after birth and roomed-in within thirty (30) minutes.
Infants delivered by caesarian section shall be roomed-in and breastfed within three (3) to four (4) hours after birth.
Exemptions apply to infants whose conditions do not permit rooming-in and breastfeeding as determined by the attending physician, and infants whose mothers are seriously ill, taking medications contraindicated to breastfeeding, violent psychotics, or whose conditions do not permit breastfeeding and rooming-in as determined by the attending physician.
It is the mother's right to breastfeed her child, who equally has the right to her breastmilk. Bottlefeeding is allowed only after the mother has been informed by attending health personnel of the advantages of breastfeeding and the proper techniques of infant formula feeding.
Expenses incurred by private health institutions for compliance with the Act are deductible for income tax purposes up to twice the actual amount incurred, applicable to the taxable period when expenses were incurred, provided compliance is within six (6) months after approval.
The Secretary of Health is empowered to promulgate rules and regulations carrying out the Act and to impose sanctions for violations, including reprimand, censure, and suspension of permits for repeated willful violations.
The Department of Health shall conduct continuing education, re-education, and training for health personnel on lactation management and distribute information materials to pregnant women during consultations to promote breastfeeding.