ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS

IN COMMUNITY HEALTH
NURSING
Public Health Laws
● Public Health Laws – any law that have important consequences
for the health of defined populations.

According to Gostin- “public health laws are such legal forces and
duties of organized society, by which the conditions for maintaining
citizen’s health are ensured”.

● Public Health Laws – refers to a statute, or rule or local ordinance

that has the purpose of promoting or protecting the public health.

Importance: Measures to handle emergency response in a health

crisis.

● Public Health – the science of protecting and improving the health

of people and their communities.
Public Health Laws
PUBLIC HEALTH is achieved by:
A. Promoting healthy lifestyle
B. Researching disease and injury prevention
C. Detecting, preventing and responding to infectious diseases

Examples of Public Health Policy

❏ Educating the public about healthier choices
❏ Promoting physical activity and fitness
❏ Preventing disease outbreaks and spreads of infectious
diseases
❏ Ensuring safe food and water in communities
Public Health Laws
Effectiveness of Public Health Laws
❖ By simply making public health laws health problems cannot
be solved. To make the health laws effective, the support of
the following factors is important:
➢ Useful health system for proper solving
➢ Proper economic policies
➢ Community participation
➢ Constitutional support
➢ Periodic review of health laws
➢ Strong political will to implement health laws
➢ Proper resources
Public Health Laws
Characteristics of Public Health Laws

➔ GOVERNMENT – Public health activities are the primary

responsibility of government
➔ POPULATION - Public health focus on the health of
populations.
➔ RELATIONSHIP – Public health contemplates the relationship
between the state and the population.
➔ SERVICES - Public health deals with the provision of public
health services
➔ COERCION - Public health possesses the power to coerce
the individual for the protection of the community
MAGNA CARTA FOR HEALTH WORKERS
REPUBLIC ACT 7305
For purposes of this Act, "health workers" shall mean all
persons who are engaged in health and health-related work, and
all persons employed in all hospitals, sanitaria, health infirmaries,
health centers, rural health units, barangay health stations, clinics
and other health-related establishments owned and operated by
the Government or its political subdivisions with original charters
and shall include medical, allied health professional,
administrative and support personnel employed regardless of
their employment status.
 SANITATION CODE
PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 856 December 23, 1975
CODE ON SANITATION OF THE PHILIPPINES
➔ WHEREAS, the health of the people, being of paramount
importance, all efforts of public services should be directed
towards the protection and promotion of health; and
➔ WHEREAS, with the advance in the field of sanitation in
recent years, there arises the need for updating and
codifying our scattered sanitary laws to ensure that they are
in keeping with modern standards of sanitation and provide
a handy reference and guide for their enforcement;
CLEAN AIR ACT
➔ Republic Act No. 8749, otherwise known as the Philippine
Clean Air Act, is a comprehensive air quality management
policy and program which aims to achieve and maintain
healthy air for all Filipinos. Lifted from: Department of
Environment and Natural Resources. (2003, August).
 GENERIC ACT
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6675
➔ AN ACT TO PROMOTE, REQUIRE AND ENSURE THE
PRODUCTION OF AN ADEQUATE SUPPLY, DISTRIBUTION, USE
AND ACCEPTANCE OF DRUGS AND MEDICINES IDENTIFIED
BY THEIR GENERIC NAMES
➔ SECTION 1. Title. — This Act shall be known as the “Generics
Act of 1988”.
➔ SECTION 2. Statement of Policy. — It is hereby declared the
policy of the State:
➔ To promote, encourage and require the use of generic
terminology in the importation, manufacture, distribution,
marketing, advertising and promotion, prescription and
dispensing of drugs;
 GENERIC ACT
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6675
➔ To ensure the adequate supply of drugs with generic names
at the lowest possible cost and endeavor to make them
available for free to indigent patients;
➔ To encourage the extensive use of drugs with generic names
through a rational system of procurement and distribution;
➔ To emphasize the scientific basis for the use of drugs, in
order that health professionals may become more aware
and cognizant of their therapeutic effectiveness; and
➔ To promote drug safety by minimizing duplication in
medications and/or use of drugs with potentially adverse
drug interactions.
NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE ACT
(PHILHEALTH)
➔ The National Health Insurance Program (NHIP) administered
by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth)
was established in 1995 with the passage of Republic Act
(RA) 7875. ... Phil Health's mandate is to provide health
insurance coverage to all Filipinos.
NATIONAL BLOOD SERVICE ACT
Republic Act No. 7719, also known as the National Blood Services Act of 1994,
promotes voluntary blood donation to provide sufficient supply of safe blood and to
regulate blood banks. This act aims to inculcate public awareness that blood donation is a
humanitarian act.

The National Voluntary Blood Services Program (NVBSP) of the Department of

Health is targeting the youth as volunteers in its blood donation program this year. In
accordance with RA No. 7719, it aims to create public consciousness on the importance of
blood donation in saving the lives of millions of Filipinos.
Based from the data from the National Voluntary Blood Services Program, a total of
654,763 blood units were collected in 2009. Fifty-eight percent of which was from
voluntary blood donation and the remaining from replacement donation. This year,
particular provinces have already achieved 100% voluntary blood donation. The DOH is
hoping that many individuals will become regular voluntary unpaid donors to guarantee
sufficient supply of safe blood and to meet national blood necessities
LAWS ON NOTIFIABLE DISEASE
➔ Pursuant to this inviolable right of every Filipino, this
measure seeks to amend Republic Act 3573, otherwise
known as the "Law on Reporting of Communicable Diseases",
which requires all individuals and health facilities to report
notifiable diseases to national and local health authorities.
SENIOR CITIZEN ACT
➔ The Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010 (Republic Act
9994) defines the privileges all senior citizens are entitled
to. Elderly Filipinos aged 60 and above are entitled to a 20%
senior citizen discount and exempted from the value-added
tax (VAT) on applicable goods and services for their
exclusive use.
 Revised Dangerous Drugs Law
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9165
June 7, 2002
➔ AN ACT INSTITUTING THE COMPREHENSIVE DANGEROUS
DRUGS ACT OF 2002, REPEALING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6425,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE DANGEROUS DRUGS ACT OF
1972, AS AMENDED, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES
[REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10640]
➔ AN ACT TO FURTHER STRENGTHEN THE ANTI-DRUG
CAMPAIGN OF THE GOVERNMENT, AMENDING FOR THE
PURPOSE SECTION 21 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9165,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “COMPREHENSIVE DANGEROUS
DRUGS ACT OF 2002″
ACT ON CHEAPER MEDICINE
➔ R.A. 9502 of 2008, the Cheaper Medicines Act, is intended
to achieve universally accessible and cheaper and quality
medicines by pursuing an effective competition policy in the
pharmaceutical sector. The President subsequently issued
an executive order requiring maximum retail prices for a
number of drugs.
SAVE THE CHILDREN
➔ Save the Children Philippines Chief Executive Officer Atty.
Albert Muyot said that the new law, Republic Act 11188,
“protects thousands of children living through armed
conflict” — particularly those in Mindanao.
VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
➔ Republic Act 9262
➔ Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004
➔ "THE ANTI-VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND THEIR CHILDREN ACT OF
2004“
➔ SECTION 1. Short Title.- This Act shall be known as the "Anti-Violence
Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004."
➔ SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy.- It is hereby declared that the State
values the dignity of women and children and guarantees full respect for
human rights. The State also recognizes the need to protect the family
and its members particularly women and children, from violence and
threats to their personal safety and security.
DISASTER RISK REDUCTION MANAGEMENT
➔ Philippine Disaster Reduction and Management Act (RA
10121)
➔ The Act shifted the policy environment and the way the
country deals with disasters from mere response to
preparedness. ... Through this plan, a coherent, integrated,
efficient, and responsive disaster risk management at all
levels will hopefully be achieved.
ROOMING-IN AND BREASTFEEDING ACT OF
1992 ( MILK CODE)
➔ Republic Act 7600
➔ AN ACT PROVIDING INCENTIVES TO ALL GOVERNMENT AND
PRIVATE HEALTH INSTITUTIONS WITH ROOMING-IN AND
BREASTFEEDING PRACTICES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
➔ SECTION 1. Title. — This Act shall be known as "The
Rooming-In and Breast-feeding Act of 1992".
➔ SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. — The State adopts
rooming-in as a national policy to encourage, protect and
support the practice of breastfeeding. It shall create an
environment where basic physical, emotional, and
psychological needs of mothers and infants are fulfilled
through the practice of rooming-in and breastfeeding.
 RESPONSIBLE PARENTHOOD AND
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH LAW OF 2012
➔ The Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of
2012 (Republic Act No. 10354), informally known as the
Reproductive Health Law or RH Law, is a law in the
Philippines, which guarantees universal access to methods
on contraception, fertility control, sexual education, and
maternal care.
MANDATORY INFANTS AND CHILDREN HEALTH
IMMUNIZATION ACT OF 2011
HEPATITIS B CONTROL
➔ It is otherwise known as the “Mandatory Infants and Children
Health Immunization Act of 2011, which requires that all
children under five years old be given basic immunization
against vaccine-preventable diseases.
CHILDREN SAFETY ON MOTORCYCLES ACT OF
2015
➔ What is RA 1066 or the Children's Safety on Motorcycles Act
of 2015?
➔ RA 10666 or the Children's Safety on Motorcycles Act of
2015 prohibits any person from driving a motorcycle on
public roads with a child on board. The law will take effect on
May 19, 2017 (Friday).
CHILDREN’S EMERGENCY RELIEF AND PROTECTION ACT
OF 2016
[REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10821]
➔ AN ACT MANDATING THE PROVISION OF EMERGENCY RELIEF AND PROTECTION FOR CHILDREN BEFORE,
DURING, AND AFTER DISASTERS AND OTHER EMERGENCY SITUATIONS
➔ Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:
➔ SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Children’s Emergency Relief and Protection Act”.
➔ SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is hereby declared the policy of the State to protect the fundamental
rights of children before, during, and after disasters and other emergency situations when children are
gravely threatened or endangered by circumstances that affect their survival and normal development.
Guided by the principles on survival and development, on child participation, and consistent with the
United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, as well as the Children’s Charter for Disaster Risk
and Reduction, and the minimum standards for children in humanitarian action, the State shall establish
and implement a comprehensive and strategic program of action to provide the children and pregnant
and lactating mothers affected by disasters and other emergency situations with utmost support and
assistance necessary for their immediate recovery and protection against all forms of violence, cruelty,
discrimination, neglect, abuse, exploitation and other acts prejudicial to their interest, survival,
development and well-being.
 Child and Youth Welfare Code of the Philippines
Presidential Decree No. 603
The Child and Youth Welfare Code
➔ TITLE I. GENERAL PRINCIPLES
➔ Article 1. Declaration of Policy. - The Child is one of the most important
assets of the nation. Every effort should be exerted to promote his welfare
and enhance his opportunities for a useful and happy life.
➔ The child is not a mere creature of the State. Hence, his individual traits and
aptitudes should be cultivated to the utmost insofar as they do not conflict
with the general welfare.
➔ The molding of the character of the child start at the home. Consequently,
every member of the family should strive to make the home a wholesome
and harmonious place as its atmosphere and conditions will greatly
influence the child's development.
TOBACCO REGULATION ACT OF 2003
(RA 9211)
➔ REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9211 . AN ACT REGULATING THE PACKAGING, USE, SALE
DISTRIBUTION AND ADVERTISEMENTS OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES.
➔ Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Tobacco Regulation Act of
2003."
➔ Sec. 2. Policy. - It is the policy of the State to protect the populace from hazardous
products and promote the right to health and instill health consciousness among
them. It is also the policy of the State, consistent with the Constitutional ideal to
promote the general welfare, to safeguard the Interests of the workers and other
stakeholders in the tobacco industry. For these purposes, the government shall
institute a balanced policy whereby the use, sale, and advertisements of tobacco
products shall be regulated in order to promote a healthful environment and protect
the citizens from the hazards of tobacco smoke, and at the same time ensure that
the interest of tobacco farmers, growers, workers and stakeholders are not
adversely compromised.