General practice of Midwifery
Any person who shall practice midwifery in the Philippines within the meaning of this Act without a certificate of registration issued in accordance herewith, or any person presenting or using as his/ her own certificate of registration of another or any person giving any false or forged evidence to the Professional Regulation Commission in order to secure a certificate of registration or any person using a revoked or suspended certificate of registration or any person assuming, using or advertising, as a registered midwife or a registered nurse-midwife or appending to his/her name the letters R.M. without having been conferred such title by the Professional Regulation Commission or advertising any title description tending to convey the impression that he/she is a registered midwife, shall be guilty of misdemeanor and shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to a fine of not less than Ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00) nor more than Thirty thousand pesos (P30,000.00), or to suffer imprisonment for a period of not less than two (2) years nor more than seven years, or both such fine and imprisonment at the discretion of the court. The aforementioned penalty shall likewise be imposed upon any person found guilty of violation of any rule & regulation issued pursuant to the provisions of this Act.
Qualification of Board Members
Each member of the Board shall at the time of his appointment:
- Be a citizen and resident of the Philippines;
- Be of good moral character;
- Be at least thirty (30) years of age; and
- Not be a member of the faculty, whether full time, part time or lecturer, of any school, college or university where a regular course in midwifery is taught, and shall not have any pecuniary interest directly or indirectly, in such institution during his term of office as a Board member.
The Chairman of the Board shall at the time of his appointment:
- Be a registered obstetrician; and
- Have at least ten (10) years practice as an obstetrician prior to his appointment.
Three (3) members of the Board shall at the time of their appointment:
- Be registered midwives;
- Be degree holders, preferably in the field of health and social sciences; and
- Have at least ten (10) years practice as midwives prior to their appointment, five (5) years of which are in supervisory positions.
One (1) member of the Board shall at the time of his appointment:
- Be a registered nurse-midwife; and
- Have at least ten (10) years practice as a nurse-midwife.
Republic Act No. 7392
An Act Revising Republic Act No. 2644, As Amended, Otherwise Known as the Philippine Midwifery Act
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:
The practice of midwifery was first regulated in the Philippines with the enactment of Public Act No. 310 on December 4, 1901. The law created the Medical Board of Examiners which regulated both the medicine and midwifery professions.
When Republic Act No. 2382 or the “Medical Act of 1959” was approved, the regulation of midwifery was separated from medicine. A Board of Examiners for Midwives was subsequently created with the enactment of Republic Act No. 2644 on June 18, 1960.
The first Board was composed of Valeriano B. Fugoso Jr. as Chairman and Vicenta Castro-Ponce and Angelina I. Ponce as Members.
Click HERE to view the list of Accredited Integrated Professional Organizations (AIPOs) /Accredited Professional Organizations (APOs)
- Board Resolution No. 7 series of 2017 IRR of RA 7392
- Board Resolution No. 4 series of 2019 - Prescribing New Documentary Requirements for the Midwifes Licensure Examination
- Board Resolution No. 1 series of 2013 - Promulgation of the Tables of Specifications for the Subjects in the Board Licensure Examinations for Midwives not Involving Publication in the Official Gazette or Newspaper of General Circulation
