Psychologists oppose regulatory board resolution on clinic operations

The Psychological Association of the Philippines (PAP) has expressed disapproval over a recently implemented resolution which detailed rules and regulations that would allow a psychology or psychometrics facility to operate in the country.

The Professional Regulatory Board (PRB) of Psychology earlier released Resolution No. 4, effective July 16, to implement Section 33 (B) of Republic Act 10029 or the Philippine Psychology Act of 2009, on the issuance of a psychology or psychometrics office, center, clinic, or facility a permit to operate.

Among the qualifications stated for the permit to be issued is that the head of the Psychological Services Unit (PSU) “must be a registered and licensed psychologist who possesses a master’s degree in Psychology, with at least seven years of experience as a psychologist, three years of which is in a supervisory capacity.”

The number of psychometricians employed must also be commensurate with the number of clients to be served per duty, with at least one psychometrician serving an average of 30 clients per day.

PAP argued that this provision violates the psychologists’ right to due process as it prevents those who passed the licensure exam starting 2017 and are already heading their own psychological services unit to be tagged as eligible.

“The resolution effectively precludes psychologists who passed the licensure examination from 2017 and beyond from engaging in some aspects of practice because when they choose to open an independent private practice or a sole proprietorship, they become the head of their own psychological services unit, but they would then fail to meet the new requirements set by the resolution despite having already met the requirements set forth by RA 10029 itself,” the group said.

PAP also said that some provisions of the resolution do not show respect for the acquired knowledge and competencies of licensed psychologists, and are not empathetic to their and their clients’ plight.

With this, it expressed concern that Filipinos would be deprived of sound mental health services at a time when there is a rising demand for such.

“Over-regulation does more harm than good to public health by limiting the already limited numbers of practicing psychologists which, by current estimates, is roughly 1,700 licensed psychologists, of which only around 800 are in active clinical practice. Resolution 4 will significantly limit that number to less than 100 entities,” it added.

For students alone, the Department of Education (DepEd) disclosed in February that at least 400 learners died by suicide, while over 2,000 learners attempted suicide in the Academic Year 2021-2022.

In 2018, then-President Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act 11036, or the Philippine Mental Health Law.

The measure provides basic mental health services down to the barangay level while increasing the capacities of mental health professionals.

GMA News Online contacted the PRB of Psychology and the PRC for their reaction and will post their response as soon as available.—LDF, GMA Integrated News