Section 1. Section s two (a), (b), and (c), three, four,
seven, and eight of Republic Act Numbered One thousand eighty-two,
entitled "An Act strengthening health and dental services in the rural
areas, and providing funds therefor", are hereby amended so as to read
as follows:
"Sec. 2. (a)
There shall be in each province a Provincial Health Officer, and in
each congressional district, a dental unit composed of a Public Health
Dentist and a dental helper who is a high school graduate with
experience and knowledge of medicine or allied science: Provided,
however, That a congressional district having a population of over one
hundred thousand but not more than one hundred fifty thousand shall
have an additional dental unit, and a Congressional District having a
population of over one hundred fifty thousand shall have two additional
dental units. The existing charity dentists and dental helpers under
the Bureau of Hospitals financed by the Sweepstakesd and national fund
and the dentists under the Bureau of Health shall constitute the
nucleus for the dental service in the one hundred and two congressional
districts: And, provided, further, That the dental units shall be
created immediately upon the approval of this Act.
"Sec. 2. (b) There shall be created rural health
units of eight different categories or staff of personnel corresponding
to eight population groups of municipalities to be served based on a
more equitable and scientific distribution on the ratio of personnel to
population, as follows:
(1) Category I, consisting of one midwife and one
sanitary inspector, to be allotted to a municipality of Group I with
population up to two thousand; (2) Category II, consisting of one
public health nurse and one midwife or one sanitary inspector, to be
allotted to a municipality of Group II with population from two
thousand to five thousand; (3) Category III, consisting of one
municipal health officer, as head of the unit, one public health nurse,
one midwife and one sanitary inspector, to be allotted to a
municipality of Group III with population from five thousand to ten
thousand; (4) Category IV, consisting of one municipal health officer,
as head of the unit, one public health nurse, two midwives and one
sanitary inspector, to be allotted to a municipality of Group IV with
population from ten thousand to twenty thousand; (5) Category V,
consisting of one municipal health officer, a head of the unit, two
public health nurses, two midwives and one sanitary inspector, to be
allotted to a municipality of Group V with population from twenty
thousand to thirty thousand; (6) Category VI, consisting of two
municipal health officers, two public health nurses, two midwives and
two sanitary inspectors, to be allotted to a municipality of Group VI
with population from thirty thousand to forty thousand; (7) Category
VII, consisting of two municipal health officers, two public health
nurses, three midwives and three sanitary inspectors, to be allotted to
a municipality of Group VII with population from forty thousand to
fifty thousand; and (8) Category VIII, consisting of two municipal
health officers, four public health nurses, four midwives and three
sanitary inspectors, to be allotted to a municipality of Group VIII
with population from fifty thousand and over. Each group of two or
three adjacent municipalities or a municipal districts having an
aggregate population of not less than five thousand shall have a rural
health unit of Category III: Provided, That if, in the implementation
of the provisions of this Act relative to the allocation of health
personnel to the different population groups, the number of health
personnel in a rural health unit already existing and operating in a
municipality upon the passage of this Act shall suffer a reduction in
the number and constitution of the health personnel in that unit shall
not be disturbed. If the public service so demands, the Director of
Health, upon approval of the Secretary of Health, may regroup
contiguous places and assign to each group the rural health unit of the
proper category described above: Provided, That in cities where there
are rural areas, rural health units of the proper category may be
established thereat.
"Sec. 2. (c)
To take care of the distribution of drugs and medicines for the use in
the rural areas, there shall be created fourteen positions of
pharmacists, eight of whom shall be assigned to the regional districts,
the remaining six to be detailed in the Central Office of the Bureau of
Health. These pharmacists may, from time to time, be assigned to the
provinces as conditions warrant."
"Sec. 3. The existing Presidents of Sanitary
Divisions, Municipal Maternity and Charity Clinic Physicians, and Heads
of Units (FOA/PHILCUSA) of the Bureau of Health shall be the Municipal
Health Officers to head the rural health units of whatever categories
operating or shall be assigned to operate within their respective
jurisdiction and shall remain in their present stations as Municipal
Health Officers thereat until transferred by the Director of Health to
such places where, in the interest of public health service, their
services are needed: Provided, however, That the additional rural
health units required in section two (b) of this Act shall be
established in six years from the effectivity of this Act."
"Sec. 4. The minimum and maximum rates of annual
salaries for the positions created in this Act or absorbed in the
implementation of its provisions shall be as follows:
Positions Salary Range
(per annum)
Municipal Health Officer P3,600-P4,800.00
Public Health Dentist 2,400-3,600.00
Public Health Nurse 2,400-3,120.00
Midwife 1,440-2,400.00
Provincial San. Inspector 1,440-1,800.00
Pharmacist 2,400-3,120.00
Provided, however, That the
Public Health Nurses in this Act shall have no cash allowance granted
public health nurses in lieu of quarters, subsistence, and laundry in
accordance with the provisions of Republic Act Numbered Six hundred
forty-nine. The salaries of Provincial Health Officers shall be that
fixed in Republic Act Numbered Six hundred seventy-five for District
Health Officers."
Any provision of law to the contrary notwithstanding all positions
which are absorbed or created in this Act and all other positions, the
services of the incumbents of which shall be utilized by the rural
health and dental units defined in this Act shall be filled by the
Secretary of Health as appointing power, upon recommendation of the
Director of Health.
"Sec. 7. All
municipal districts enjoying or will enjoy the benefits of this Act
shall contribute to the health fund created under section one thousand
twelve of the Revised Administrative Code just like any municipality
and in the event that the health fund is not sufficient to cover the
salaries of the personnel involved in this Act who are paid partly or
fully from said fund, the balance shall be taken from the fund
hereinafter provided."
"Sec. 8. To carry out the purposes of this Act the
sum of four million pesos or so much thereof as may be necessary is
hereby appropriated out of any fund in the National Treasury not
otherwise appropriated: Provided, That the amount of not less than nine
hundred thousand pesos shall be for the purchase of medical and dental
supplies for the use in the rural areas, and the sum of five hundred
thousand pesos for the purchase of medical and dental equipment and
instruments. The amount of four million pesos herein appropriated is
for the fiscal year nineteen hundred and fifty-four to nineteen hundred
and fifty-five: And, provided, further, That one million pesos shall be
appropriated thereafter and beginning with the fiscal year nineteen
hundred and fifty-nine the amount of one million nine hundred
ninety-five thousand pesos shall be appropriated in addition to the
total appropriation of the preceding year for the creation of
additional rural health units each year to establish not less than one
thousand three hundred rural health units of different categories
envisioned at this program including the two hundred sixty-two dental
units: And, provided, finally, That beginning the fiscal year nineteen
hundred and fifty-eight and annually thereafter, an amount of four
hundred and fifty thousand pesos is hereby appropriated out of any fund
in the National Treasury not otherwise appropriated for the immediate
creation of additional dental units. After the completion of the
six-year program envisioned in this Act the total amount appropriated
for the implementation of its provisions shall be integrated in the
General Appropriations Act.
Sec. 2. This Act shall take effect upon its
approval.cralaw
Approved: June 22, 1957
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