Midwifery
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.
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.
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:
Integrated Midwives Association of the Philippines (IMAP)
Pinaglabanan corner Ejercito Streets
San Juan, Metro Manila
Tel No.: 727-5225
Fax: 724-4849
Website: http://www.imap.org/
Re-accredited: Res. No. 600 dated March 28, 2011
In 1947, a number of midwifery graduates from all over the country initiated an alumni association to improve the midwifery profession. The organization, known as the Philippine Midwifery Association (PHIMIDAS), was headed by Atty. Angelina C. Ponce.
The PHIMIDAS held its first national convention in August 1961, an eventful occasion that brought members of the Association together for the first time. The event resulted to the formation of the National Federation of Filipino Midwives (NFFM).
The NFFM was formally registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 22, 1961. Headed by Mrs. Leoncia Chuatoco, it intended to promote more progressive midwifery profession and better health services to the nation.
The increase in membership of the PHIMIDAS and NFFM gave birth to the integration of the two organizations. As a result, the Integrated Midwives Association of the Philippines (IMAP), Inc. was accredited by the Professional Regulation Commission on September 5, 1975 as the national organization of registered midwives. The IMAP was formally registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 17, 1976.
The passage of the Philippine Midwifery Law in 1992 is one of the major accomplishments of the IMAP. In 1994, IMAP started as an annual tradition the awarding of the “Ten Outstanding Midwives of the Philippines” in cooperation with the Johnson & Johnson Philippines.
In 1992, the Association launched the IMAP Inc. Scholarship Program to benefit the poor but deserving children of bona fide IMAP members and the IMAP, INC Birthing Center for the poor and underscored pregnant mothers.
The Association worked for the distance learning or open university program of the Bachelor of Science in Community Health or Bachelor in Community Health Service at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila and Trinity College, Quezon City. The IMAP Foundation School of Midwifery was opened as a pilot school for the three-year community-based midwifery curriculum in Jaro, Iloilo City.
With the issuance by the Civil Service Commission of its Certificate of Accreditation on July 7, 1997, the IMAP became a full-fledged training institution for midwives on maternal and childcare. This created an opportunity for government-employed midwives to enhance their knowledge and skills in their work and to utilize the CSC accreditation for future placementhttp://imapinc.org
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.
