AN ACT REGULATING THE PRACTICE OF OPTOMETRY, UPGRADING OPTOMETRIC EDUCATION, INTEGRATING OPTOMETRISTS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Nineth Congress
Third Regular Session

[ REPUBLIC ACT No. 8050, June 07, 1995 ]

AN ACT REGULATING THE PRACTICE OF OPTOMETRY, UPGRADING OPTOMETRIC EDUCATION, INTEGRATING OPTOMETRISTS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

Section 1. Title. - This Act shall be known and cited as the "Revised Optometry Law of 1995."

Section 2. Declaration of State Policy. - The State recognizes the essential role of optometry as a profession in safeguarding and enhancing the health and general physical well-being of the citizenry. Optometric services shall therefore be promoted as a regular component of the primary health care system.

Section 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act, the following terms shall be defined as follows:

THE PRACTICE OF OPTOMETRY

Section 4. Acts Constituting the Practice of Optometry. - Any of the following acts constitute the practice of optometry:

Section 5. Prohibition Against the Unauthorized Practice of Optometry. - No person shall practice optometry as defined in Section 3 of this Act nor perform any of the acts constituting the practice of optometry as setforth in Section 4 hereof, without having been first admitted to the practice of this profession under the provisions of this Act and its implementing rules and regulations: Provided, That this prohibition shall not apply to regularly licensed and duly registered physicians who have received postgraduate training in the diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases: Provided, however, That the examination of the human eye by duly registered physicians in connection with the physical examination of patients shall not be considered as practice of optometry: Provided, further, That public health workers trained and involved in the government's blindness prevention program may conduct only visual acuity test and visual screening.

Section 6. Disclosure of Authority to Practice. - An optometrist shall be required to indicate his professional license number and the date of its expiration in the documents he issues or signs in connection with the practice of his profession. He shall also display his certificate of registration in a conspicuous area of his clinic or office.

THE BOARD OF OPTOMETRY

Section 7. The Board of Optometry. - There is hereby created a Board of Optometry, hereinafter referred to as the Board, composed of five (5) members who shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines, upon the recommendation of the PRC, from a list of ten (10) nominees submitted by the duly integrated and accredited national organization of optometrists.

Section 8. Minimum Qualifications of Board Members. - Only persons possessed with the following qualifications may be nominated and appointed to the Board:

Section 9. Term of Office. - The members of the Board shall hold office for a non-renewable term of five (5) years, starting on the date of appointment and until their successors shall have been appointed: Provided, however, That the first appointees to the Board, who may include the incumbent members of the existing Optometry Board, shall hold office as follows: the chairperson for five (5) years and the four (4) other members for fixed terms of four (4), three (3), two (2) and one (1) year/s, such that the term of one member shall be due to expire every year. Thereafter, one member shall be appointed for the full term every year and such member, in the last year of his term, shall automatically become the chairperson of the Board. Vacancies brought about by reasons other than expiration of term shall be filled for the unexpired portion of the term only.

Section 10. Removal or Suspension of Board Members. - Any member of the Board, after having been given the opportunity to defend himself in a proper administrative investigation conducted by the PRC, may be removed by the President of the Philippines for neglect of duty, incompetence, malpractice, or unprofessional, unethical, immoral or dishonorable conduct. During the process of investigation, the President of the Philippines may suspend such member under investigation for a period of not more than sixty (60) days and appoint a temporary member in his place.

Section 11. Compensation of Board Members. - The members of the Board shall each receive compensation in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Professional Regulatory Commission.

Section 12. Functions and Powers of the Board. - The Board is hereby vested with authority to:

Section 13. Quorum in Board Meetings. - The attendance of three (3) members shall constitute a quorum for the Board to officially transact business.

Section 14. Votes Required in Administrative Cases. - To render a decision in an administrative case for unethical practice, malpractice, immortality, dishonesty, and related charges affecting the professional fitness and integrity of an optometrist, the vote of three (3) members must be obtained: Provided, That in case members are disqualified to vote by virtue of their relation to or interest in any of the parties or voluntarily inhibits themselves from participating in the proceedings, the Board shall designate, with the approval of the Commission, an optometrist in good standing who is respected in the optometric community for their probity and integrity to sit in the Board, participate in the proceedings and vote on the case.

Section 15. Supervision of the Board and Custody of its Records. - The members of the Board shall be under the general supervision of the PRC. All records, including examination papers, examination results, minutes of deliberations, records of administrative cases and investigation of the Board shall be kept by the said Commission.

Section 16. Annual Report. - The Board shall, at the end of each calendar year, submit to the Commission an annual report of its activities and proceedings during the year. Other information or data may be requested by the Commission as often as may be necessary and practicable.

THE OPTOMETRIC BOARD EXAMINATION

Section 17. Licensure Examination. - Every applicant seeking to be registered as an optometrist shall undergo an examination as provided in this Act. Examinations for the practice of optometry in the Philippines shall be given by the Board at least once every year in such places and dates as the PRC may designate.

Section 18. Scope of Examination. - The Board of Optometry shall prescribe the scope and prepare the contents of the licensure examination. In the discharge of this function, the Board shall take into account recent developments in optometry as well as the academic standards imposed by the Commission on Higher Education on educational institutions which offer a course in optometry.

Section 19. Requirements for Examination of Applicants. - To be eligible to take the licensure examination in optometry, the applicant must be:

Section 20. Minimum Passing Level. - In order that the candidate may be considered to have successfully passed the examination, he must have obtained a general average of at least seventy-five percent (75%) in all subjects, with no rating below fifty percent (50%) in any subject.

Section 21. Report of the Result of the Examination. - The Board shall report the ratings obtained by each candidate to the PRC within sixty (60) days after the last examination day, unless extended by the Commission. The PRC shall cause the publication of the names of successful candidates in alphabetical order, without the ratings obtained by each, within sixty (60) days of the date the Commission receives the aforementioned report from the Board.

Section 22. Additional Requirement for Reexamination. - Any applicant who, for the third time, fails to pass the board examination shall not be allowed to take the next succeeding examination without submitting to the Board proof that he has taken a refresher course in a duly accredited institution.

REGISTRATION AND LICENSURE OPTOMETRISTS

Section 23. Oath of Optometrists. - All successful examinees shall be required to take their oath before the Board or before any person authorized to administer oaths prior to the issuance of the certificate of registration: Provided, however, That the applicant is not disqualified under any of the provisions of Section 24 hereof.

Section 24. Disqualification. - The following applicants shall not be allowed to take their oath as optometrists nor issued certificates of registration:

Such fact of disqualification shall be communicated by the Board to the applicant by written statement, which statement shall form part of the records of the Board.

Section 25. Registration. - The PRC shall register successful examinees who have taken their oath and thereafter grant them professional licenses to practice optometry. The certificate of registration shall be considered as evidence that the registrant is qualified to practice optometry in the Philippines.

Section 26. Revocation of Certificates and Suspension of Professional Licenses. - The Board may, after giving proper notice and hearing to the party concerned, revoke an optometrist's certificate of registration or suspend his license to practice for any unprofessional or unethical conduct, malpractice, or violation of any of the provisions of this Act or its rules and regulations, or upon the conviction of the optometrist of a crime involving moral turpitude.

Section 27. Appeals. - The revocation of a certificate or suspension of a professional license by the Board shall become final unless appealed to the PRC within fifteen (15) days from receipt of the decision.

Section 28. Reinstatement, Reissuance or Replacement of Certificates. - The Board may, upon application and for reasons deemed proper and sufficient, reinstate any suspended certificate of registration, or issue another certificate in lieu of one previously revoked, and in so doing it may, in its discretion, exempt the applicant from taking another examination.

A new certificate to replace any certificate lost, destroyed or mutilated may be issued subject to the rules that may be implemented by the Board.

Section 29. Renewal of Professional Licenses. - All licenses shall be renewable every three (3) years and shall be considered renewed only upon satisfying the requirements imposed by the Board, such as attendance in continuing education programs and payment of the corresponding fees as may be fixed by the Board in accordance with the schedule of fees fixed by the PRC.

OPTOMETRIC EDUCATION

Section 30. The Technical Panel on Optometric Education. - To attain the objective of upgrading optometric education in the Philippines, the Commission on Higher Education, pursuant to Section 12 of Republic Act No. 7722 shall, within sixty (60) days after the approval of this Act, convene and organize a technical panel on optometric education. For this purpose, senior practitioners, specialists, academicians in the field of optometry and a representative from the accredited national organization of optometrists shall be appointed and tapped to assist in the following:

Section 31. Competence in Pharmacology. - Persons who have been admitted to the practice of the profession prior to the passage of this Act must take a course in pharmacology to be prescribed by the Commission on Higher Education and pass a special certification examination to be administered by the Board before they are allowed to use specific diagnostic pharmaceutical agents.

PROHIBITED ACTS AND PENALTIES

Section 32. Prohibited Acts. - The following acts are prohibited:

Section 33. Penal Provisions. - The commission of any of the prohibited acts listed in the immediately preceding section shall be punished with imprisonment of not less than one (1) year but not more than eight (8) years, or a fine of not less than Ten thousand pesos (P10,000) but not more than Forty thousand pesos (P40,000), or both, at the discretion of the court.

In addition, the administrative penalties specified in Section 26 hereof shall be imposed whenever applicable.

If the violations is committed by an association, partnership, corporation or any other institution, the managing officers and other persons responsible for its commission shall be liable for the penalties provided for in this Act.

PROFESSIONAL AND ETHICAL STANDARDS

Section 34. Foreign Reciprocity. - No foreigner shall be admitted to the optometric board examinations unless he proves in the manner prescribed by the Rules of Court that by specific provision of law, the country of which he is a citizen, subject or national, either admits Filipino citizens to the practice of optometry without restriction, or allows them to practice optometry after an examination on terms of strict and absolute equality with citizens, subjects or nationals of said country, including the unconditional recognition of prerequisite degrees prescribed by the Commission on Higher Education: Provided, however, That the Board, upon approval by the PRC, may grant a special permit to a foreign optometrist to practice the profession in this country whether or not reciprocity exists between his country and the Philippines and under such conditions as may be determined by the Board, if such foreigner is internationally known to be an outstanding expert in the profession or a well-known specialist in any of its branches, and that his services will promote the advancement of the profession in the Philippines. The Board is also hereby authorized to prescribe, upon approval by the PRC, additional requirements or grant certain privileges to foreigners seeking registration in the Philippines if the same privileges are granted to or some additional requirements are required of citizens of the Philippines in acquiring the same certificate in his country.

Section 35. Rules and Regulations. - The Board shall set professional standards for the practice of optometry in the Philippines and adopt such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act, subject to the approval of the PRC. Such standards, rules and regulations shall take effect thirty (30) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or any newspaper of general circulation.

Section 36. Integration of Optometrists. - In order for every optometrist to contribute to his profession and to bear his share of professional responsibilities, all optometrists shall be encouraged to join and be integrated into one national organization which shall be recognized by the Board and the PRC. Every optometrist, upon registration with the Board, may become a member of the integrated national organization. Those who have been registered with the Board before the effectivity of this Act may register as members of the integrated organization within three (3) years after said effectivity.

Section 37. Purposes. - The integrated national organization of optometrists shall promulgate the Code of Ethics for the practice of the profession, define the professional responsibilities of its members, ensure adherence to said professional ethics and responsibilities, improve the standards of the profession and enable all optometrists to discharge their public responsibility more effectively.

Section 38. Membership Fees and Dues. - All members shall be subject to the payment of reasonable fees and dues for the effective discharge of the purposes of the integrated national organization. An optometrist shall receive the benefits and privileges appurtenant to his membership only upon payment of the required membership fees and dues.

Section 39. Other Organizations. - The integration of optometrists into one national organization shall not prohibit the creation of other associations of optometrists organized by individual optometrists themselves.

Section 40. Code of Professional Ethics. - The Board shall adopt the Professional Code of Ethics promulgated by the integrated national organization of optometrists: Provided, That such Code provides that it is the duty of an optometrist to:

The Board shall also distribute the Code of Ethics of the Optometric Profession in the Philippines to all new optometrists during their oath taking.

Any act or omission which violates this Code shall be considered as unethical conduct and a person shall be suspended or prohibited from the practice of optometry, in accordance with Section 26 of this Act.

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Section 41. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act or the application of such provision to any person or circumstances is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or the application of such provisions to other persons or circumstance shall not be affected by such declaration.

Section 42. Repealing Clause. - This Act repeals and supersedes Republic Act No. 1998, otherwise known as the Optometry Law. All other acts, executive orders, rules and regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Section 43. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,

This Act which is a consolidation of House Bill No. and Senate Bill No. 1998 was finally passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate on June 5, 1995, respectively.

Approved: June 7, 1995

(Sgd.) FIDEL V. RAMOS
President of the Philippines