DDB: S2 physicians can prescribe dangerous drugs using ‘regular’ forms
Dangerous Drugs Board temporarily allows use of ordinary prescriptions to prescribe dangerous drugs. Photo from Dangerous Drugs Board/Facebook
MANILA, Philippines — Doctors with special licenses no longer need to use special prescription pads that are difficult to obtain for their patients to access dangerous drugs.
In response to several public health situations locally and globally, the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) issued Board Regulation No. 10, series of 2025, which temporarily authorizes the use of ordinary prescriptions for dangerous drugs under specific circumstances.
The regulation will take effect on July 19 and shall remain valid until June 30, 2026, unless earlier repealed.
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The move is a proactive measure aimed at improving access to essential treatment amid the ongoing threats posed by mpox, the resurgence of COVID-19 cases, and a concerning rise in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections, particularly among the youth.
“This temporary regulatory flexibility is part of the government’s broader response to ensure uninterrupted care for patients affected by these public health threats,” DDB chair Secretary Oscar Valenzuela said.
‘Easing prescription’
“By easing prescription requirements for essential medications, we empower healthcare providers to deliver timely and essential treatments, especially in underserved communities,” he added.
Under the regulation, licensed medical practitioners with a valid S2 license may now issue “triplicate” copies of ordinary prescriptions for medicines and pharmaceutical products containing dangerous drugs, instead of the usual Department of Health (DOH)-issued special prescription forms (also called “yellow” prescriptions because of their unique color).
S2 is a special license issued by Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) for medical practitioners to prescribe dangerous drugs, including powerful opioids such as fentanyl and morphine.
Out of stock
Physicians with S2 licenses have long complained of difficulty in obtaining the yellow prescription pads with 50 pages and priced at P250 apiece. Most of the time, they said, the booklets were unavailable or out of stock in DOH hospitals for several months.
The DDB, an agency under the Office of the President, is the policy-making and strategy-formulating body in the planning and formulation of policies and programs on drug prevention and control. Meanwhile, the PDEA is the implementing arm of the DDB and the lead anti-drug law enforcement agency.
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Under the new policy, the prescribing physician shall issue the ordinary prescription in three copies.
The first copy (marked as “original”) shall be surrendered to the dispensing drugstore or pharmacy.
The second copy (marked as “duplicate”) shall be retained shall be kept by the patient or their authorized representative.
Meanwhile, the third copy (marked as “triplicate”) shall be retained by the prescribing physician.
“The prescription issued in three copies shall contain only one dangerous drug or one preparation containing dangerous drugs. Thus, the physician shall issue as many prescriptions in triplicate copies as the number of drugs or drug preparations prescribed for the patient,” the regulation states.
The doctor may issue a prescription of drug with a supply for up to 30 days — except for the treatment of epilepsy and dystonia where a drug prescription can last for 60 days.
If the condition of the patient requires a longer medication than originally assessed, the physician may issue a supplemental prescription within 30 days of the initial prescription. This should indicate a drug supply good for another 30 days.
For medications exceeding 30 days, the physician may also opt to issue up to three prescriptions simultaneously (or same date of issuance). Each of the prescriptions shall not exceed a 30-day supply for drugs.
The physician shall also indicate the sequence number of each prescription (for example, “1st of 3,” “2nd of 3,” “3rd of 3” ) and provide specific instructions regarding when the drug covered by each subsequent prescription may be taken, following the completion of the previous prescription’s dosage.
Life sentence
Under Republic Act No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, those convicted of unlawful prescription of dangerous drugs shall be penalized with life imprisonment and a fine between P500,000 to P10 million.
According to DDB, the temporary measure is aligned with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) standing recommendations under the International Health Regulations (IHR), which call for improved access to regulated therapeutics during global health emergencies.
It was also in response to the recent DOH report of a 500-percent increase in HIV infections among Filipino youth as of June.
“We are reinforcing our commitment to public health while ensuring the proper oversight of controlled substances. This is a science-based, patient-centered policy that aligns with our duty to protect life while upholding the integrity of our drug control measures,” Valenzuela said.
“These safeguards are designed to balance accessibility with proper monitoring and accountability,” he added. /mr
