Law Summary
Objective
- To enhance availability of yellow prescription pads to authorized health professionals.
- To improve usage control and monitoring mechanisms for these pads.
Scope
- Applies nationwide covering all DOH Centers for Health Development, DOH hospitals, and partner agencies such as the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB).
General Guidelines
DOH Central Office Responsibilities
- The Special Concerns Technical Cluster (SCTC) through the Dangerous Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment Program forecasts pad requirements, plans funding, and coordinates printing.
- Materials Management Division handles storage and delivery.
- The program provides updates on shipments to distribution sites.
- Maintains safekeeping of records via the IT database developed by the Information Management Service.
- Collaborates with partner agencies to ensure effective distribution, use, and security.
DOH-CHDs, Hospitals, and Partner Agencies
- FDA Regulatory Officers at CHDs and designated hospital personnel manage sales and distribution.
- Use of a web-based IT database is mandatory for record-keeping, including detailed user information: name, license number, addresses, and telephone numbers.
- Maintain confidentiality and security of records.
- Only licensed S2 professionals (issued by PDEA) may purchase pads.
- Limit of 10 prescription pad booklets per licensee at a time.
- Serial numbers of sold booklets must be recorded within two weeks.
- Used pads must be surrendered and kept for monitoring by PDEA for at least two years.
- Purchasers can only acquire pads equivalent to the number returned/validated.
- Release of pads requires presentation of payment receipt.
- First-time purchasers receive orientation on:
- Carbonized paper use without carbon sheets.
- Legal penalties for unnecessary prescription of dangerous drugs (12-20 years imprisonment, fines of P100,000 to P500,000).
- Legal penalties for unlawful prescription (life imprisonment to death, fines of P500,000 to P10,000,000).
- Stock monitored; notification required when only 10% stock remains.
Price and Payment
- Pads sold at PHP 250 per booklet.
- Payments accepted at CHD/Hospital Cashiers and DDB Cashier Offices.
- Hospitals retain proceeds for use under existing financial rules.
- CHDs and DDB sales are subject to standard auditing and accounting regulations.
Additional Procedures
- Purchasers must present valid PRC License ID and PDEA-issued S2 License.
- Representatives authorized only for second and subsequent purchases with proper documentation and validation.
- Replacement pads for lost booklets require:
- Written report within two weeks.
- Affidavit of loss.
- Police report (blotter) original or duplicate.
Repealing Clause
- Previous inconsistent or contrary issuances repealed or modified accordingly.
Separability Clause
- If any provision is held invalid or unenforceable, other provisions remain effective.
Effectivity
- The guidelines take effect immediately upon adoption on 06 February 2012.