Republic of the Philippines

Department of Health

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY

August 16,2011
J

DEPARTMENT MEMORANDUM

No.2ol,r

0252.
ALL

TO:

UNDERSEGRETARIES. ASSISTANT
TORS. CHIEF OF SPECIALTY/ SPECIAL/ RETAINED AND
PRESIDENT/EXECUTIVE

ENTER FOR

HEALTH

TIO}UALIZED HOSPITALS AND DIRECTOR OF ATTAGHED AGENCIES

SUBJECT: Reiteratinq Compliance to Department Memorandum No. 2009-0107 dated-Aoril 29. 2009 regardins Strenqtheninq the Protection of Relisious Riqhts of Muslim workers, includino but not limited to
Students and Trainees in health facilities.

This Office is in receipt of reports of some health facilities not complying with the Department Memorandum issued on April 29,2009 regarding the Strenglhening the Protection of Religious Rrghfs of Muslim Workers, including but not limited to Students and Trainees in health facilities.
As indicated in the complaint reports, the medical student-interns, rotating and assigned in certain health facilities under this Department are not allowed to wear their veil (hijab) and the proper lslamic mode of dressing which is a violation of the above-mentioned Department
Memorandum.

In this regard, headS of offices are hereby directed to strictly implement the policies of allowing Muslim female workers regardless of status in your health facilities, to use their veil (hijab) and wear the prescribed mode of dressing as indicated in the attached Department Memorandum No. 2009-C1AT s. 2009.
For your information and strict compliance.
By Authority of the Secretary of Health

NEMESIO Secretary of Health Internal Finance and Administration Technical Cluster

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Page 1 of

2F Building 1, San Lazaro Compound, Rizal Avenue, Sta. Cruz, 1003 Manila Trunk Line 651 -7800 local 1 1 1 1i 1 107 1112s11132; Direct Line: 71 1 6070; 71 1 -9502; 71 1-9503: g't2-s244 F ax: 7 43 :l 829 . URL: http ://www. doh. gov.ph E-mail: osec@doh. eov.oh

lRepublic of the PhiliPPines

Department of Health OIT:ICE OF THE SECRETARY

Building 1, San Lazaro Compound, Rizal Avenue
Ste . Cruz, Manila, 1003 PhiliPPlnos Tel. No. (+63-2) 711'91i.0203; Trunkllne:743-83-01 toc. 1125 Fax 743'1829 E-mail Add ress: osecgtdo h. qov. ph W eb site : httpJlyvrnnalr d oh'op.v,'8,,E

April29, 2009
DEPARTMENT MEMORANDUM No.2009 -0101
TO:

ALL

UNDERSECRETARIES. ASSISTANT SECRETARIES, BUREAU/SERVICE/CENTER FOR HEALTH DEVELOPMENT DIRECTORS, CHIEF OF SPECIALTY/
RENATIONALIZED HOSP]TALS AND PRESIDENT/EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ATTACHED AGENCIES.

SPECIAL/ RETAINED

AND

SUBJECT:

Strenothenino . the Protection of Relioious Rights of Muslim workers. includingbut not limited to Students and Trainees in health facilities.

Pursuant to the constitutional rights of Filipino citizens to freedom of religion and non-discrimination on the basis of sex, religion, creed or color, all healthcare institutions should strive to ensure that the rights of workers, students and trainees. are protected.

The lslamic Medical Association of the Philippines, Inc. has called the attention of the Department of Health regarding the plight of Muslim workers, studeqts and trainees in the hospital wherein certain policies and practices
infringe on their religious rights.

In view hereof, all healthcare institutions, both public and private are advised to review and ensure that their policies are sensitive to the religious rights of healthcare workers, students and trainees.
The Department of Health advises the healthcare institutions to observe the following policies:

'

Muslim female workers should be allowed to use their veil (hijab) and wear their prescribed mode of dressing inside the premises of all healthcare institutions, especiaily, in areal such as the wards, operating

room, intensive care units and burn units, among others. However, this mode of dressing can be modified to conform to the prescribed uniform of health institution in accordance with its rules and regulations concerning infection control and aseptic techniqies but still obierving the religious rights of Muslim workers.

ln special areas where sterility must be maintained at all time, the following policies shall be adopted:

Veils must be:

and

garment.

Outer garment (uniform);

a loose long pants;

'

rolled-up to mid-arm so that the edge will not be soiled during hand washing and scrubbing respectively; and

For information, guidance and

illl,
th

MD, MSc

HmcJKALIM{9{569

STRENCTHENING THE PROTECTION OF RELIGIOUS zucFITS O{ WO'RKERS, INCLUDI}{F E}.ITS AND TRAINEES, [N HEALTHCARE INSTITUTIONS
I

Pursuant to the constitutional guarantee on the rights of citizens to fi'eeclorn of religion and nondiscrirnination on the basis of sex, religion, creed-or color, all h'ealthcare institutions"sftould strive to ensure that these rights ofworkers are protected and strengthened.

2.

The Islamic Medical Association of the Philippines, Inc. has ialled .attention tb the plight of Muslim workers, students, and trainees in the hospital where ceftain ;polici"es and practices infringe on their religious rights.
.,.,1...

andtrainees.,
4.

thereof, all healthcare institutions, both public and private" are directdcl to review their -view policies to'ensBre that th-ese are sensitive to the religious rights-ofhealthcarer-workers, studerrts,
In

,'i,i

;,,'r,
.'4.-'',.'...

,,

In the specific case of Muslim workers, including but irot limited to stticlents afld trainees, the
following policy shall be

adopted:

a'

j" Muslim female workers should be allowed to use their veil (hijab) ahd prescribed,,ulbOe of dressing, inside the premises of the healthcare institutions, includ'1ng but not limited to
: ^,.

.:

,.

hospitals, free-standing treatrnent and diagnostic centers, in. areas lik'E, 11'r. :wgfils, operating room, intensive care and burn unitso among others. This node of dressing c. + be'modified to conform to the prescribed uniform of the health institution in accordpnib'-vriittr its rules and ,i'r;;' regulations concerning infection control and aseptic technique s. , ; , ,,

5. In special areas where sterility of surounding must be rnaintained and;to

infection, the following policies shall be

adopted:

a.

Veils must

be

.l .:::'

.tt

"uoiO
:
,

spreacl

of

:,

treated equal to the hair;

r . .
b.

freshly laundered; i covered by a surgical cap over it, ifno spare is availablp; worn in neatly and change<i when going out of the assigned area; and, its dangling portion must be tucked in at least to the outer garment.

o o o

r
6.
7.

' ,l Outer garment rnust be loose and not fitting to the the length of the blouse must be at least just above the knee, with a loose long pants;. the sleeves must be at least two-thirds arm length and may be rolled up to mid-arm so that the edge will not be soiled during hand-washing and scrubbing, respective ly; and, freshly laundered.

(uniform):

body;

'i

Department field offices are hereby enjoined to ensure that these policies are strictly complied with in all healthcare institutions under their jurisdiction. For immediate and wide dissemination.

$ AN[irr
aF

Republioof the PhilipPines

OFFICE OF TI.IE PRESIDENT COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION
,

." ,,lrli:)ii:;i
.

TCI

ALL CONCERNED HIGHER, EDUCATIOI{ INSTITUTION$ (HErS)

;

SUB.IECT

DIRECTING ALL IIEis TO GtvE RESPECT Al{D UTMOST CONSIDERATi: 9N ON TIfi WEARING Oil' VEILS/IIIJAFS BY TIIE MU$LIM .FEMALE I\TURSING STUDENTS DTIRING IIOSPII'AI, DUTIES

DATE

August 26, 2008

Please. be informed that during the 319th Regular Commlssion Meeting held on the 14h of August 2008, the Commlssion.en Banc approved the endorsement of ther TechnlcalCommittee for Nursing Education TTCNE) and the'Technical Panel for Health Ftofessions Education ([PHPE),'ln response to the concgrn regarrJing the prohibition imposed among female Muslim nursing students on the wearing of vells/hfiab durlng hospitalduties, to give du+ reepect and utmost conrideration on the wearing of vells/hijabs by Muslim female nursing students during hospital duties provided that institutional rules and regulations concerning infeotion controland aseptic techniques are observed; In view of tho foregoing, all HEls are hereby dlrected to giant unto tho concerned .
,,

Muslim,nursing students utmost respmt and consideration on their wearing of veils/h'tjabs during hospital duties provided that institutionalrules and regulutions concerning infection control and aseptic techniques Are obsorved.
For V;ur information and guidance.

#k4{,t*-*--rt^g
r]R. NCiN!A $. RICAFORT i; ;f:cer_irt_Charg;e / Ollice of tho Ghalrman

'

-[ffi-c
Yd:

REPUBLIKA NG Pi]-IPN\IA REpUBI_IC Oi:'rH ! pt-{lut 0lt,lFJ

KAGAWARAN Nc EDUIiASYON, KULTLTRA AT ISPORTS

DEPARTI(ENT OF EDUCATION, CULTURE AND SPOI{TS
DEC$ Complcx, Merslco Avcnuc Pasig City. Fhilippincs

Sema-Sams sa DECS

Tanggapan ng Kalihim

Office

oJ the

Seuetorlt

0rT 2 e 2$fi1
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ORDER NTo. 5 3 -. s. 200I

STRENGTIIENING THE PROTECTION CF RELIGIOUS

RIGHTS OF STTIDENTS

To :

Llndersecretaries arrd Assistant Secretaries

Regional/Fureau Directois
Schools Division

Superintendents

Principals of Public and Private Schools

I.
a

Pursuallt to the Constitutional guaraut"e on the rights ofcitizens to freedorn ofreligion and uon-discrimination on tbe basis of sex, rel.igion, crecd or color, all scbools should suive to ensure that these rights of students are protected and streugtbened. The National Youth Comr:rission ltas called'attention to the plight of Muslirn studenls attending scltools where gettain policies and practices infringe on their religious rights.

In vieu' thereof, all schools, both public and private, ale direcled to review their policies
to ensute that flrese are sensitive to the reli_eioLls rights ofstudents. In tlre specific case of Muslim students. tlre l"ollorving poiicies shall be adoptecl:

c.
5.

Fernale Muslim schoolchildren should be allorved to use their veil or headdress (hijab)irtside the sclrool cantpus Itt Physical Education (PE) classes, Iv1uslini girJs shall..rt be required to rvear shorts; they shall be allo'ved to ivear appropriate clothing in accoroance with their religious beliefs Muslim students shall not be required ro panicipate in non-Muslim religious rites.

conrpli ed u,itb'iu
6.

Depann:ent field offices are hereby enjoined to ensure that these a I schoo.ls undel their jur.i sdiction.
J

are strictly

For irrmediate and wide disserlirration.

Ru*--s g',DepEd'RSR C,O0006

RAUL S. ROCO
Secretarl.
Altlaputl snrdar

rt

relilJion

llrch

i goct.

Tel,

#
,

633.7228
633-7200

Fax#' 636.4876