Law Summary
Establishment of Health Positions and Rural Health Units
- Each province must have one Provincial Health Officer.
- Each congressional district must have one Public Health Dentist; additional dentists allocated for districts over 150,000 population.
- Existing charity and government dentists form the core of dental services.
- Immediate creation of Public Health Dentist positions upon law approval.
- Creation of two categories of rural health units:
- Category One (Senior): Headed by a Municipal Health Officer, with a public health nurse, midwife, and sanitary inspector.
- Category Two (Junior): Headed by a physician or public health nurse, with a midwife or sanitary inspector.
- Each municipality or group with at least 5,000 population must have a Category One rural health unit.
- Municipalities with over 35,000 inhabitants entitled to an additional Category Two unit.
- Public health authorities may regroup neighboring barrios to assign appropriate units.
- Creation of four pharmacist positions for drug distribution in rural areas, stationed centrally but assignable to provinces as needed.
Assignment of Municipal Health Officers and Unit Establishment Timeline
- Current officials in sanitary and clinic roles designated as Municipal Health Officers.
- They maintain current assignments until reassigned by the Secretary of Health.
- All additional rural health units required by the Act must be established within four years from its effectivity.
Salary Structure for Health Personnel
- Annual salary ranges set for each position:
- Municipal Health Officer: ₱3,000 - ₱4,200
- Public Health Dentist: ₱2,400 - ₱3,120
- Public Health Nurse: ₱2,400 - ₱2,580
- Midwife: ₱1,440 - ₱1,800
- Provincial Sanitary Inspector: ₱1,440 - ₱1,560
- Pharmacist: ₱2,400 - ₱3,120
- Public Health Nurses receive no cash allowances for quarters, subsistence, or laundry, as per earlier legislation.
- Salaries for Provincial Health Officers are fixed by a separate Republic Act.
Duties of Health Officers
- Provincial Health Officers’ duties align with those specified for District Health Officers under the Revised Administrative Code.
- Municipal Health Officers’ duties include those prescribed for Presidents of Sanitary Divisions and additional responsibilities for Maternity and Charity Clinic Physicians under applicable laws.
Rulemaking Authority
- The Secretary of Health, via the Director of Health’s recommendations, shall issue regulations on the duties, functions, and distribution of public health nurses, midwives, sanitary inspectors, and public health dentists.
- These rules aim to strengthen public health services and sanitation in rural areas.
Funding and Budget
- If the existing Health Fund is insufficient for personnel salaries, deficits are to be covered from funds appropriated under this Act.
- Initial appropriation of ₱4 million for fiscal year 1954-1955 from the National Treasury.
- At least ₱700,000 allocated for medical and dental supplies in rural areas.
- ₱300,000 allocated for medical and dental equipment and instruments.
- Annual appropriations must increase by at least ₱1 million to fund the establishment of additional rural health units and to fulfill the planned number of units and dentists.
Transfer of Clinic Section to Bureau of Health
- Transfer of the Section of Municipal Maternity and Charity Clinics of the Bureau of Hospitals, including personnel, equipment, supplies, records, and budget, to the Bureau of Health upon implementation of this Act.
Repeal of Conflicting Laws
- All existing laws, orders, rules, or regulations inconsistent with this Act are repealed.
Effectivity
- The Act takes effect immediately upon approval on June 15, 1954.