Board of Midwifery Composition
- Board consists of a chairman and four members appointed by the President.
- Members come from registered midwives, obstetricians, and nurse-midwives.
- Associations nominating members must be accredited per Presidential Decree No. 223.
Qualifications and Disqualifications of Board Members
- Members must be Filipino citizens and residents, of good moral character, and at least 30 years old.
- Board Chairman must be a registered obstetrician with 10 years practice.
- Three members must be registered midwives with degrees, 10 years experience (5 in supervisory roles).
- One member must be a registered nurse-midwife with 10 years experience.
- Members cannot have pecuniary interest or faculty roles in midwifery schools.
Term of Office and Oath
- Board members serve three-year terms, subject to reappointment.
- Members must take an oath before starting their duties.
Duties and Functions of the Board
- Enforce the Act’s provisions.
- Administer oaths.
- Issue, suspend, or revoke midwifery certificates after investigations.
- Investigate violations, issue subpoenas, and compel attendance with contempt powers.
- Conduct annual board examinations.
- Monitor and maintain midwifery standards and ethics.
- Adopt an official seal.
- Operate under Presidential Decree No. 223.
Board Compensation and Removal
- Compensation matches that of similar professional boards.
- Members may be removed by the President for neglect, incompetence, or unethical conduct after due process.
Supervision and Records
- Board is supervised by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).
- PRC custodian of all Board records including examinations and administrative cases.
Rules, Regulations and Reporting
- Board sets ethical and professional standards subject to PRC approval.
- Rules take effect after 30 days of publication in two national newspapers.
- Board submits annual reports to PRC detailing activities and proceedings.
Examination and Registration Requirements
- All midwifery practitioners must pass a licensure examination.
- Examination covers infant care, obstetrical anatomy and physiology, bacteriology, obstetrics, midwifery procedures, community hygiene, nutrition, ethics, primary health care, family planning, and related subjects.
Applicant Qualifications
- Applicants must be in good health, of good moral character, and graduates from DECS-accredited midwifery schools.
- Must be Filipino citizens and at least 18 years old upon certification.
Schools of Midwifery
- Must have DECS permit, minimum 50 maternity beds, and affiliation with an accredited hospital.
- Clinical instructor to student ratio is 1:12.
- Students must have attended at least 20 personal deliveries before graduation.
Faculty Qualifications
- Faculty must hold at least a bachelor's degree or be a Doctor of Medicine.
- Must be registered nurse or midwife with one year teaching or ward/community experience.
- Registered midwives with two years experience may supervise students in community wards.
Examination Ratings and Results
- Passing requires 75% general rating with no subject below 50%.
- Results reported to PRC within 120 days.
Certification
- Certificates issued upon payment to successful candidates.
- Certificate evidences right to practice until revoked or suspended.
Nurse-Midwife Registration
- Registered nurses may be certified if they pass the exam and have handled 20 delivery cases.
Fees
- Examination and registration fees prescribed by PRC.
Prohibition and Foreign Reciprocity
- Practice without a valid certificate is prohibited.
- Foreign midwives granted registration only if their country offers reciprocal rights under comparable training standards.
Definition of Midwifery Practice
- Involves caring for women during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum, managing normal deliveries, health education, primary health care, family planning.
- Includes tasks like internal exams (except antenatal bleeding), administration of immunizations, oxytoxic drugs, suturing, IV fluids during emergencies, and vitamin K injection.
- Students and emergency cases exempt from some provisions.
Grounds for Refusal, Suspension, and Revocation
- Certificates refused or revoked for criminal conviction involving moral turpitude, immoral conduct, malpractice, incompetence, abortion involvement, or fraudulent registration.
- Appeals to PRC from Board decisions.
Certificate Reissuance
- Board may reissue certificates or replace lost ones without requiring re-examination.
Penal Provisions
- Practicing midwifery without registration, using false documentation, or misrepresenting professional status punishable by fines (P10,000–P30,000), imprisonment (2–7 years), or both.
- Penalties apply for violating Board rules as well.
Repeal and Effectivity
- Repealed RA No. 2644 and other inconsistent laws.
- Severability clause ensures unaffected provisions remain valid if any part declared unconstitutional.
- Act effective upon publication in two national newspapers.