Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 7600)
Republic Act No. 7600 is known as "The Rooming-In and Breastfeeding Act of 1992."
The State adopts rooming-in as a national policy to encourage, protect, and support breastfeeding, creating an environment where the physical, emotional, and psychological needs of mothers and infants are fulfilled through rooming-in and breastfeeding.
Rooming-in is the practice of placing the newborn in the same room as the mother immediately after delivery up to discharge, facilitating mother-infant bonding and initiating breastfeeding.
Health institutions covered include hospitals, health infirmaries, health centers, lying-in centers, or puericulture centers with obstetrical and pediatric services.
Newborn infants who are well, regardless of age of gestation, and infants with low birth weight but who can suck shall be put to the breast immediately after birth and roomed-in within thirty (30) minutes after normal spontaneous deliveries.
Infants delivered by Caesarian section shall be roomed-in and breastfed within three (3) to four (4) hours after birth.
Infants whose conditions do not permit rooming-in and breastfeeding as determined by the attending physician; mothers who are seriously ill, taking contraindicated medications, violent psychotics, or otherwise unable to breastfeed and room-in as determined by the physician.
It is the mother’s right to breastfeed her child who equally has the right to her breastmilk; bottlefeeding is only allowed after the mother has been informed of breastfeeding advantages and techniques and opts in writing for formula feeding.
Expenses incurred by private health institutions to comply with RA 7600 are deductible for income tax purposes up to twice the actual amount incurred, applicable to the taxable period when the expenses were incurred.
The Secretary of Health may impose reprimand, censure, or suspension of the permit to operate of erring health institutions for repeated willful violations.
Health institutions adopting rooming-in and breastfeeding are required to provide equipment, facilities, and supplies for breastmilk collection, storage, and utilization, as defined by the Department of Health standards.
The Department of Health shall conduct continuing education, re-education, and training programs for all health personnel involved in maternal and infant care on current lactation management.
Health institutions and personnel shall immediately and continuously teach, train, and support pregnant women on lactation management during prenatal, perinatal, and postnatal consultations and distribute written materials free of charge.
The Act takes effect one hundred twenty (120) days after its publication in at least two newspapers of general circulation.